Hi everyone, I'm new to trapping and trying to start out with muskrats. I've got some equipment and I've studied up some, but I've got two major questions.

First, I am having trouble finding locations to trap and am wondering what bodies of water are most conducive (depth, current, vegetation, etc). I live in the Shenandoah Valley of VA and most water around me is farm creeks and ponds but I would appreciate any advice from y'all on how to tell a potential muskrat spot from a distance rather than looking for huts, bank dens, runs, etc. In other words, is there anything that rules out the possibility of muskrats in an area?

Second, here in VA we do not get much ice on our water so I'm wondering if y'all had some recommendations for trapping in warmer water.

I have 110 conibear traps and am trying to find some used #1 steel traps, so let me know if you have any of those as well! Thanks for taking the time to read my post and merry Christmas everyone

Scout and look for sign. Only use the #1 in a drowning set.

Muskrats love cattails

Join your state trapping association and see if there is anyone locally who can mentor you. You will be light years ahead with a someone who would be willing to take you along and answer your questions first hand.

For used traps watch Trap Shed forum on here some of us always have used traps on there for sale. Oh welcome to the addiction. Once you start catching critters you will be hooked. Like said above if you have cat tails you should have rats. Plus like 20scout mentioned join your local organization and start asking questions. You will get a lot of help on here also.

Thanks to everyone for the tips!!

Is there anything that rules out the possibility of muskrats being in an area.?......Yes.... Large trees, I never find rats in areas that has trees

Here are a few trap shopping and trapping tips:
1. Used traps on the Trap Shed are usually overpriced plus postage and are still used traps.
2. New traps are usually a better value. They are new without some possible damage, crazy modification, or half rusted away. They are sometimes no more expensive than used traps plus postage.
3. Buying new traps, you know what you will receive and when.
4. Check out Minnesota Trapline Supply for their beginner kits - traps, lure, gloves, etc. They have what you need In a kit at a good value.
5. PCS Outdoors is a good company to shop with as well. Maybe they will start offering beginner kits too.
6. There are many good to great muskrat lures. I have caught loads of muskrats with Hawbakers muskrat lure. It smells like trapping!
7. Scout everywhere to get permission to trap as much muskrat territory possible. In trapping, I have only ever been limited by land access. Landowners are usually happy to let you get rid of problem muskrats for them. Without anywhere to trap, you are just a trap collector.

What would be ideal is a mentor. The Shenandoah is a big valley, so I don't know where you are. I know a trapper hear Harrisonburg who may help.

Creeks through cattle pasture never have rats for me.

That said - any water in any ditch or creek will have a rat or two - even if it is small. One tip off is if you glance at a grassy banked creek and the water is muddy - the muddy water is probably from rats. If you have rocky streams there are fewer rats. If the water is clear it doesn't always mean there are no rats but there are probably fewer. One thing those 110 traps are great for is setting in narrow spots in creeks. You want to set them in little narrow spots so the water runs through them. Rats will go through those narrow spots with running water in them. When you get a storm come through rats will move more than normal and the travel up and down stream with the high water and will go through your traps. A really great thing to look for is a pond or lake by a creek. Look for a small trail up the back of the dam between the creek and the pond. Set your 110 in that trail and you will get almost every rat in the pond and the creek eventually. These cross overs are great to catch a mink too. I use 110 traps a lot in little places. They are a great trap. Here are a couple pictures of spots they worked well for me.

Trail through grass along a creek;
Cross over on a dam;
Double on rats in a trail with running water around a spill way;
Rat in a little run with a hole at the end of it;
110 in front of a little pipe;
Brick wired to a 110 set in front of a pipe under water;
mink in the same set- see the tail in the water;
This last one is a small run along a wall where I narrowed the water with the rock you see and used the rock to prop up the 100.;

Check your laws and see if the 110 is legal to use this way. My laws might be different than yours. use your imagination and set little trails or runs you find. Sometimes rats leave very little sign. Sometimes when you catch a rat and you set your trap back you can get many rats from the same trap over and over so do the same thing over and over. I have gotten over 20 from the same set before trapping like this. As a rule you will get the local rats in 3 or 4 nights but more will come and if you set the travel routes like the creeks and cross overs you will have a steady drip drip of rats all season long plus you will get a few mink.
All of these posts give good advice. A mentor is the best. It's best to walk the streams. Its good to get your feet wet and look for tracks and sign and set on sign. Sign has o be fresh. Trapping like I do like this - the only sign I see is trails between water.

Lots of the dams I trap look like this; ste your trap in the taller grass so you can see the trail;

Many are even close to people. Check your traps early and even two times a day if you have time. This time of year rats move all day. Soon they will be moving more looking for a mate. Stop trapping when you start to see bite marks in the hide or when your rules say you have to stop. Good luck! Send us some pictures.

I trap a lot of creeks like this;
A lot of these are knee deep or less. See the rat on the left? See the muddy water? That says rats! That told me there were muskrats in this creek so I made a set with a small foothold. Make sure you have a long chain or wire if you use a foot hold trap so they make it to deep water.

As another beginner, I would recommend you check a used auction site, I have been purchasing a lot of used traps off there. I am ok with some of them missing bits and bobs, I just don't want to buy newer stuff if older, used, works the same is available for less. I also recommend reading and I would call the state on tips on where to trap in your area, and specific laws to watch out for. Goodluck and hope you catch stuff!

Thanks to everyone who responded, it's been a lot of help! Larry and Willy, thank you for taking time to write especially thorough advice! It means a lot!

-Isaac

I actually live right outside of Harrisonburg and would love to connect with him/her if you could PM me contact info

Isaac - send me a pm if you have questions. Glad to help a new friend.
Another tip - buy traps made from good materials. Good steel lasts longer. Cheap traps have uses and reasons to buy them but better is better.

Found tracks, scat, and several bank dens. I'll start trapping the area shortly. Thanks to everyone for your guidance!

-Isaac