we cant set with in 10 feet of the hut in maine so i hav no use 4 all this arguing i like the info about trapping huts be arguing about it has no help to people .



. pesky critter. dont be a intagonist . we r all set in our way if some people like trapping in the hut its there biusnes . .

. thank every 1 four talking about it

In NY we cannot set within five feet of a house either... which is why our tactics here have evolved by necessity into systems that target rats away from houses in their prime travel zones. But if I were operating somewhere that legally permitted hut trapping, I'd have no qualms about adding that to my approach as well

Staying away from the house 5' or 10' would be a major bummer in the open water, we were at 6' years ago but luck we got that changed , staying away just makes it take longer , maybe you trappers could get things changed for the better , we just got are season extended ,not as long as we like but atleast a month , it really came in handy this past season seeing we dint get much of a winter , are your guys rat numbers way down like I'm hearing , I know are numbers were way down. There were more coons than rats at the auctions . What was weird the rats in the ponds,lakes,marsh the numbers were way down but in the creeks they were higher than ever ,it was like the rats were just moving around all season , I ran a long line for mink along the Ohio border and found some crazy high numbers of mink there catching 1 mink for every two rats . That was fun I love to trap mink . I just hope the rat price will hold . I just keep adding on my rat ares . Having insurance is a big help when getting on some of these places . In the summer time if I get trapping job on a lake I just ask about the rat trapping and how it's free come season , I get a hold of the lake association and talk to there leader ,take me to your leader , last year I got this one lake that I've always wanted on ,and then the lake [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot] on the lake accross the street called saying hey, so it ended up two lakes all because I had insurance that's only 500 a year . There wasn't much for rats but I could see we're they we're last year ,so when they make a come back I should be could , there both weed choked lakes , with only conibear and colony trap type bank runs , bottom edge sea wall sets , I guess will never understand setting inside the house but it sounds like you guys just love it ,so good luck with it

it isnt to bad just set bank dens and runs and some baited set get most in runs and baited sets around here

So you can set right up to the bank dens , thats good , I remember we had to stay 6' back that was tough on the lakes . Two years ago this duck hunter comes up telling me you know the DNR is out here sometimes , I go I know they sent me out here said this where the rats are , he's like all your traps are too close to the holes, I chuckled and said oh know they change that law . He goes they did then went into his old war story's, back years ago there were lots of trappers around , now there doesn't seem to be many people out there , just to much work I guess , hardly see any kids , even at the auctions hardly any , doesn't granpa take the time anymore

Our language in the regulations was simplified to "muskrat house" which cleared up any ambiguity for trapping bank hole locations. Truth is, as many or more bank holes in most places are actually feeders and not dens. Those are key locations where you can catch 6 - 10 adult rats in three checks... actual bank dens have fewer residents than bank feeder holes.

Keep in mind that all muskrats spend much more of their time away from houses and dens. In other words, they are swimming thru their core areas way more than they sit on a house or in a den. The hottest locations for cross-traffic muskrat trapping are feeder dens and key funnels in their travel zones. That's there the bulk of group activity is concentrated each night

The bulk of the group activity--is concentrated at my skinning table each night.
Sorry Austin--I just had to do it.
Though I much prefer skinning beaver over rats.
Tom

huge grin... and I enjoy skinning beavers but prefer rats. Someday when MN allows me to buy a license there, we can team up and I'll peel all the rats we can catch. Just don't expect me to lug all the beaver you catch uphill thru the tag alders and willow thickets back to the truck, though. I must draw the line somewhere

I prefer to skin rats it's just the numbers that can get to be a pain. Beaver are a little nicer than coon and coyote at least you don't need a machine for them if you have a bad shoulder. I wouldn't mind lugging them beaver for the education I think I could receive while doing it good thing my legs still feel young.

you're hired! soon as MN opens for non-residents, I'll team up with Tom for a spell... you can carry all the beaver, I'll skin all the rats and Tom can spend his time setting traps and telling stories.

works for me

the law states A muskrat den is any cavity which is capped by muskrats with vegetative matter, including but not limited to hollow stumps and bank cavities. Holes in the bank not capped with vegetative matter are not considered to be muskrat dens. and most if not all our bank dens r not capped by muskrats with vegitation so we r good

Now we just gotta work on that law that has everyone up in arms. I can't believe we would come out on the short end of the stick on that one but a lot of people seem to think so. I don't want to open that can o worms here though. When we do get it changed I look forward to that day Austin.

just wondering what you all think. square pan vs round pan on victor stoploss? which ones better?

Round pan for me mostly because it is easier to adjust the pan

round pans for me...I hate those square pan vics

Got rid of all my square pan vics a long time ago.
Tom

Ya them square ones just miss a lot , so do the jump traps , the jumps work good on the board sets ,

Stop the presses! Must be a full moon or something!

I agree 100% with pesky's most recent post. Seriously, 100%

me too

Jump traps work good on feedbed and at lodges!