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SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
#6190645
03/17/18 07:35 PM
03/17/18 07:35 PM
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 57
Ontario,Canada
The North
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 57
Ontario,Canada
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So I wanted to start a topic on how you trap muskrat in the spring. Mostly interested in large volume trappers for rats. Floats, 110's in runs, houses, you name it! I'm running about 40 floats for this spring with 2 to 3 traps on each, hopping to beat my record of 250. Any advise or tips would be great 
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6190916
03/17/18 11:59 PM
03/17/18 11:59 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,888
Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,888
Wisconsin
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Keep on doing what your doing just run more floats.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6190929
03/18/18 12:11 AM
03/18/18 12:11 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,777
Nebr
Rich Kaspar
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,777
Nebr
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run the most amount of sets, in the best areas, in the least amount of time,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,D If in SD, be the first guy to check the 50 floats in a given mile in the morning.....just make sure to reset the 40 that aint yours, and they'll never notice the difference.......at least thats how the locals did it anyway. ....... 
Last edited by Rich Kaspar; 03/18/18 12:19 AM.
If you are considering yourself to be someone of influence and importance, just try ordering someone elses dog around sometime.
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6190987
03/18/18 05:51 AM
03/18/18 05:51 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,973
South metro, MN
Calvin
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,973
South metro, MN
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Yep, I had a lot of float traps re set differently than I set them, Rich. I also have a few traps with "war wounds" of SD that I notice each year as I set them. One has a bent jaw from being shot with a .22 and another has a bullet hole through the pan. They still catching rats, though. Makes me giggle every time I pull a rat out of them.
North...All of the above, but If floats work in your area (they don't here at home) I'd run as many as you can per day. And get a trap that will almost fire on it's own. Any pan tension for rats, and you are losing rats.
Better yet, set up a cam on your floats...and watch the rats do the Cha Cha all over your traps, then swim off with their middle finger in the air. Changes ones mind on rat trapping.
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6191381
03/18/18 01:31 PM
03/18/18 01:31 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,973
South metro, MN
Calvin
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,973
South metro, MN
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BUT stiff competition will make you a MUCH better (and more efficient) trapper.
Some people pay for personal trapping instruction. Trap around a bunch of hardcore trappers and it's free, in your face, daily teachings. Pros and cons to everything I guess.
Last edited by Calvin; 03/18/18 01:34 PM.
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: Calvin]
#6193972
03/20/18 07:17 PM
03/20/18 07:17 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,635
Pottawatamie co. IA
LLtrapper
"The Coon Combine"
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"The Coon Combine"
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,635
Pottawatamie co. IA
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BUT stiff competition will make you a MUCH better (and more efficient) trapper.
Some people pay for personal trapping instruction. Trap around a bunch of hardcore trappers and it's free, in your face, daily teachings. Pros and cons to everything I guess. That is how I learned. Still a few of those guys around here too. LLL
Isaiah 51:6 But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6194147
03/20/18 09:44 PM
03/20/18 09:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,568
Southern, MI
HAGz
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,568
Southern, MI
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160 suspended with triggers horizontal 1-2" above water surface impaled with a carrot or parsnip. Super fast and not too cumbersome to carry in large volume.
--- HAGz J3 Outdoorz - HAGz Brand Trapping Products www.j3o.com
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6194235
03/20/18 11:00 PM
03/20/18 11:00 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,888
Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,888
Wisconsin
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Those types of sets work "IF" you don't have any wave action. In protected areas they work just fine, but I have had lots of those type set sprung by any type of wave action.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6194256
03/20/18 11:28 PM
03/20/18 11:28 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,592
james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,592
james bay frontierOnt.
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Common problem when trappers bait the trigger.
Better to attach bait with wire around the rivet.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6194596
03/21/18 10:12 AM
03/21/18 10:12 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,568
Southern, MI
HAGz
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,568
Southern, MI
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Didn't know the OP was asking for sets that fit any condition, environment and weather proof. If that's your take Beav, curious how floats work in freezing conditions for ya, lol... In all seriousness though, we have to assume common sense comes into play. There is not 1 single set, float or otherwise that is impervious to all environments and weather conditions, not even bottom edge sets.
So back to the OP - The North, YOU CAN catch hundreds of rats on a suspended carrot, works great and IMO works better than floats FOR FEEDING RATS. Put it in your tool box if your not trapping in freezing conditions, shipping channels, gale force winds, etc... If you are, set accordingly.
Sometimes I wonder why I ever respond... ... ...
--- HAGz J3 Outdoorz - HAGz Brand Trapping Products www.j3o.com
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6194664
03/21/18 11:19 AM
03/21/18 11:19 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,888
Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,888
Wisconsin
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I'm not using floats In freezing conditions. Well just a little bit. Since where you have some moving water running Into large culverts you will have open water for floats or stools. And since that area Is open before all the other areas are open that's where you will find some rats.
If you have ever trapped In ND you will understand the wind a wave action and how It effects rat sets. There are times when the wind blows so hard It will create wave action that It will pull the stakes that are holding your floats or stools In position and toss them up on the shore.
I think I mentioned that the baited body grip would work just fine under certain conditions. So why are you getting your undies In a bundle. LOL
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6194885
03/21/18 03:20 PM
03/21/18 03:20 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,568
Southern, MI
HAGz
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,568
Southern, MI
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So the question is now ND specific, got it, lol ... I'm glad I rat trap in MI so I don't have to deal with mother nature... and quit talking about my undies Beav. I was joking about freezing floats - Wasn't sure why you weren't identifying all the way's a float could fail as well - Must be you just like me You did see my common sense mention right? ... Sorry to derail your post The North. If you can set on the hut I like to target 4 traps per hut - 2 traps on the hut, 1 trap on feed bed, 1 trap with bait (baited body grip or stool set) - That is my method, we will have to wait to see if the Beav approves.
--- HAGz J3 Outdoorz - HAGz Brand Trapping Products www.j3o.com
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6195288
03/21/18 09:57 PM
03/21/18 09:57 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,777
Nebr
Rich Kaspar
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,777
Nebr
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conis fair just fine in the wind, even ND wind....Id be one to know as I had a trap manufacturers kid with me in ND and he brought 30 doz that spring......you set with your lath or 1x2 facing outward to lake and it will block the waves from hitting full force om the trap......I usually like the trigger on bottom, so I can suck my carrot up to ends of trigger wire for a more sensitive trigger, but in wind you can set them just the opposite and suck carrot closer to trigger for more tension........when youve got THAT much wind its blowing waves over tops of traps its shoshing legholds off stools and float, and/or firing them too, and your rats aint running to a huge degree in the whitecaps anyways......so the notion that baited conis wont work in wind is pretty hogwash......
1x2 staked traps will fair better than flimzy lath due to fact they dont flex and whip from waves as much which will cause problem, more from the trap slipping loose than being fired.o....sucking down the size of your carrot from full size carrot pcs to single baby carrots helps too.
Nimzy have you ever tried baited conis? I would think they would be just the ticket in those little thawed out patchs around the reeds, and if your jumping around them a little poke type boat, space and weight would be a factor, and reason to try NOT to use something bulky as a float
If you are considering yourself to be someone of influence and importance, just try ordering someone elses dog around sometime.
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6195298
03/21/18 10:01 PM
03/21/18 10:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,777
Nebr
Rich Kaspar
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,777
Nebr
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also bout 1/2 the time your setting flooded road ditches with reeds both sides of ditch, and waves aint much a problem.....on large bodys of water you try to get behind and obstruction that blocks the wind,,,,cattail patches, dead timber, rat huts etc.......when you get back in ends of slew without a lot of large water immediatly in front of you wind isnt a major issue, and the back end of slews is where ya should be anyways if the wind is beating the main body of water to death
If you are considering yourself to be someone of influence and importance, just try ordering someone elses dog around sometime.
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: The North]
#6195373
03/21/18 11:09 PM
03/21/18 11:09 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,777
Nebr
Rich Kaspar
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,777
Nebr
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depends what type of country your in.....SD ND, bout anything works long term up there, around home in the fall they go about 50% first check, 30% 2nd......less than 1st check on huts, but your setting them whereever on yoour travel route, and not going out of your way tp set.....I have found using BOTH legholds on huts and fair amount baited conis, plus any gravy colony setups, Im done in 2 checks for most part, on normal hut covered lakes and slews, if no huts and all bank rats that you cant find dens, 3-4 checks about right
If you are considering yourself to be someone of influence and importance, just try ordering someone elses dog around sometime.
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Re: SPRING MUSKRAT TIPS AND TRICKS!
[Re: Rich Kaspar]
#6195672
03/22/18 09:32 AM
03/22/18 09:32 AM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,069
WI
nimzy
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,069
WI
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conis fair just fine in the wind, even ND wind....Id be one to know as I had a trap manufacturers kid with me in ND and he brought 30 doz that spring......you set with your lath or 1x2 facing outward to lake and it will block the waves from hitting full force om the trap......I usually like the trigger on bottom, so I can suck my carrot up to ends of trigger wire for a more sensitive trigger, but in wind you can set them just the opposite and suck carrot closer to trigger for more tension........when youve got THAT much wind its blowing waves over tops of traps its shoshing legholds off stools and float, and/or firing them too, and your rats aint running to a huge degree in the whitecaps anyways......so the notion that baited conis wont work in wind is pretty hogwash......
1x2 staked traps will fair better than flimzy lath due to fact they dont flex and whip from waves as much which will cause problem, more from the trap slipping loose than being fired.o....sucking down the size of your carrot from full size carrot pcs to single baby carrots helps too.
Nimzy have you ever tried baited conis? I would think they would be just the ticket in those little thawed out patchs around the reeds, and if your jumping around them a little poke type boat, space and weight would be a factor, and reason to try NOT to use something bulky as a float Yes I have they work ok. poles work better under the circumstances described as well as overall, for my applications.
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