Those Royal Royce traps go for $ 10 bucks up here.
thgreenwing , weasels sometimes like SEE throughs, so maybe a hole in the back might help, lets the odour get out as well. Since there is no blood on the box, expect next time I see this,after the wkn, there will be....mustelidae blood in a pic.

I bought that several years ago. I figured it was easy for the kids to work with as you just rock the top of the trap back over center and it is set.

I believe I payed about $5

what about just some small holes in the back. I like one trap in a box so will just some small holes work?

Yeah, some small holes in the back might really help if you are having problems with refusals, like seeing tracks right next to the entrance hole but the animal wouldn't go in.

Maybe about 3/8" diameter, just so they can see some daylight.

How much are weasels attracted to sound? If not for the cost, I would really like to try one of those electronic all-weather squeakers that GritGuy sells on here.

Weasels are the first predator to come into when I am pred calling, well actually right behind the horned owls that is.
Play one at a bait site and see what happens.

I just might do that. Maybe set a few #4 traps there too for larger critters, and justify the expense

Trapper Knox
I do not believe you need to worry too much about frozen bait! If you use the tried and true method of preping your bait with anise and use a good lure in the vicinity, you will catch lots of weasels on rock hard frozen bait.There is plenty of odor in that box and you are snapping him before he knows the condition of the bait
I have caught lots of ermine on old dry bait that looks like dried jerkey
I still advocate adding fresh bait as often as convenient but no need to make it an obligation
Some of the literature suggests using salt to keep things thawed. I do not believe this would be helpful as it cures flesh and alters its natural odor.

Got the first bunch of my ermine put up and off to NAFA(about a third of my catch so far). No for sure contest winner yet. Have caught several that I thought were "way" larger but all put up they vary very little more than 1/4" in length.

Nice job on the weasels! Still running boxes in MN? They have been on the move here in MI the past few weeks with the nice weather. Congrats!

OT

Good catch laid out there.

Very nice catch Drake ! Looks like you will hand me my hiney this year in the Weasel woods.

I have yet to peel even one !

Drake
This photo speaks well for your trapping and photography skills! You sure found a honey of an area! Your County even puts up a big black steak to mark the culverts and you never have to go more than about 10 paces from the truck,and best of all, they are about 1/4 mile apart in prime habitat on a straight road! LOL

Kool!

Nice catch and great handling job.

You are splitting the tails, there will be a happy grader now.

Nice put up, and a great catch!That's a lot of culvert hopping!

Heavy hard snow, melt water and snowmobiles have eliminated about 50% of my culvert setting so I have been hitting the heavy cover, cattails and ditches away from the roads(lot more work) with some success. Been having several misses w/ ermine musk present last couple of runs(9 in one run). Only two misses whole rest of season. This happened late season last year as well. I don't know if this is a pattern or why it might be happening. Have four styles of boxes and is occurring in all. Anyone else seeing this?

Are the little boys decended yet, with some dark fur around them ends. Marking territory when they smell another weasel(old trapped weasel) would be my guess.
New box & no prior spray would tell you if this was so.

Here's pics from earlier this season when Crazyweasel came along for the day on the ermine line for a little comradery. Cold but a sunny windless day. The weather "true" MN's live for(keeps away the killer bees). All photos courtesy of Crazyweasel(I waive all rights and knowledge of their existence-unless they're worth money). Hope you enjoy and not too many.

One of my four type boxes. Fits raised bar and modified wood traps.



"Caught with the goods"



Supersized "Culvert". I have caught ermine from 6" ones to this. What they lead between is what is most important.



"Anticipation".



Always what you want to find. Maybe a little bigger.



This size.



Marked culvert in good ermine habitat.



Modified wood trap in vinyl box.



"Perfect catch".



Can't catch one in every box - but I'm working at it.



Almost a box full. Don't believe this type box would hold a Longtail.



Reversed raised bar trap take more large ermine than "pan to hole" direction, which seems to just wack them on the head and not always get a head hold. Took a couple dead ermine found with bloody nose outside box to learn that lesson.



"Ermine ball"



No crushed skulls.



I love the raised bar style trap design but unfortunately they are expensive and not made to last(especially in severe cold). This one is going to need a wash.



The 2poor catch. Always nice.



Do you guys(and/or gals) place your trap "tight" to hole? I'm experimenting.



Experimental "periscope" box. Most shrew resistant design yet, but some ermine refusal as well. Still testing and seeing which style trap works with it best.



Always hang a little cable on the weekend if I can. The day before our run I was up with the kids for winter paintball so I put a couple snares out. This guy almost made it thru clean(rear foot catch). It's hard to have a loop perfect for both Reds and greys. Greys are as slick as cats.



Perfect specimen for the Taxi-man.



I know that guy with the grandpa hat is in most every picture(must have a good agent) but whenever we tried to get one with Crazyweasel the camera "froze", literally. And when we asked a curious driverbye if he wanted to get in one he insinuated we were crazy. Like what would you expect from grown men, crawling around in the snow, in the ditch, on a sub zero day, trying to catch a weasel? Smile when you picture that.

Excellent pictures Drake errrrr I mean Jim !!

Nice pictures.