Badger questions - first badger

I caught my first badger Thursday. Since it's my first I'm going to keep it and self tan.
I snared it - I just have bent washers for locks - they relax and don't kill.
Apparently I made the loop too big and it hip snared; also I had an extension cable on it and it went back down into the hole. Snared as it was, when I pulled it turned sideways and blocked the tunnel. I tried to dig out the deeper part with a spade but by the time I got it out it had a bad snare burn around it's middle.
Also, the back end (from the snare back) is caked with clay. I stuck it in the freezer to hopefully freeze dry the mud but how they're still not brushing out well.

So -
Snare loop just big enough for a fist? Or preferably a 220...
Ever have one with enough line to get back in its hole like that? Suggestions on getting it out?
Suggestions on getting that sticky, packed clay mud clumps out of the fur?

Also - what kind of population density do they have? I read in one place they're solitary and another they live in setts.
Thanks!

Congrats on your first badger, I have never snared them, so no help on loop size. I use footholds on them, but I am going to try try 220s this spring.

As far as getting them out, sometimes you just have to get out the shovel and sometimes you wish you had a back hoe.

I have caught them in the gumbo and they were so muddy you just have to hose them off.

I find they are generally solitary, but where there is plenty of food, they will congregate. I have caught up to 6 adults off the same irrigated circle with a high gopher population. Several times I have caught 3 in one check on the same circle.

Congrats on your badger.

i use loop little biger than a 220..... skin him washe him in soapy water... i bet snare mark wont show so bad..

I wash all muddy animals when I get home with the hose till water runs off them clear. Then put them on a gambrel to dry. Don't comb out caked frozen clay as you will most certainly damage the fur. Congrats on your badger

Nice job. I have a one badger limit here, but have never caught one. Most of the terrain around me is dense swampy forest, so not great habitat

Body caught is the most often way they get snared not much of a neck on them really, the first thing you do after removing it from the snare is to grab the middle of the back fur and pull/shake the badger to make less of a snare impression. The one I caught the other day was caught by one hip and the base of the tail.

The best way to keep them from going down the hole is to give them as little cable as possible to begin with, set your loop toss the swivel behind the hole as far as you can, stake it then check your loop. This also acts as a stabilizer for the loop without using a wire of any kind as if the badger goes down the hole there’s no slack if he’s coming out of the hole there’s no slack that way either thus the lock moves smoothly. I like to line the hole with the snare tilted back when possible or around the top if he angle goes straight to to lessen the kick outs issues.

Skin it wash it, as washing it in the carcass it will still get bloody over and over if you shot it plus with the clay your going to have to wash it anyways. Hang it up the use a hairdryer , never wash in hot water the hair will come out.

Good luck and congrats on your first badger.

Thanks for the replies!

Keep in mind they bump your snare the are not spooked slap one with a coni they are gone if you miss them.

Congratulations

Thanks, Law Dog. That's what I like about snares. Your suggestion on anchoring sounds really helpful, just wish I could put it into use now. Season closes today.
I need to spend more time on predators in general.
I've only trapped one coyote and I washed it but didn't have a fan on it and it slipped. I was a bit scared of hosing down the badger for the same reason.

I have 3 snare loops in a tree outback for whole critters and a light pole with nails in for skinned stuff I have washed and need to dry, snapping the water out of it helps speed up the drying or rolling it in the snow if it’s very sunny I’ll put a fan on it in the shed to finish drying.

I tried to wash a big coon in hot water once it slipped like crazy never again I use cold or close to cold now that never did me wrong, I did have a shot yote slip once it was shot under the skin and no telling when the guy that gave it to me shot it.