If any of you are interested, Central North Dakota has more rats in it than I have seen in 10 years. I have hunted ducks out there for 24 years and, even though the water is low, I have rarely seen this many muskrats in the ponds. I don't know how they will survive the winter but they are there by the boatloads. Just passing on information. Don't ask where I was because I won't tell you other than north central part of the state.

You mean muskrats correct?

So if you won’t say why post this , last time I looked ND was a big state

I’m sure you are making the local trappers happy!!!

I think the guy was just giving general information on the rat population in north central ND. I don't blame him for not giving the exact area where he's killin ducks !!

X2

If you don't mind, can you put an X on the slough that's loaded up with rats.....

Central part of the state for the most part from southern border to the northern border looks like this..

Local trappers?

I spent a few years trapping rats In ND never ran Into any local rat trappers. I kind of know where the OP is talking about.
The thing about ND rats Is they are inferior to rats on the east side of the big river. It's about a $2.00 difference In price. And the way the rat market Is now you would have to pay the fur buyer to take them off your hands. And with license fees and housing and fuel prices you are SOL.

Pretty sure that's US 83 going past that rice farm.

And that is why North Dakota is an awesome place.

Grumley that serial is missing something.

ICE!!!

Gary I just crossed into North Dakota from South Dakota to central part of the states. The pickup says 13° it doesn't look like it's going above freezing for at least a week. A couple inches of snow on the ground too.

We were going to head out that way to do a little fishing and do some duck scouting for a couple of buddy's. But checked the weather and decided to call It off.

I’m just kidding anyway about the general info , sure looks like a lot of potholes

Glad to hear there are ‘rats somewhere, most places today got invasive cattails, herbicides and eagles.

Better pack a chisel. Weather channel says 8 in Bismarck this morning.

You won't need a chisel by me. You will bust through the ice every step. It was 3 for the low the last two morning, but we got quite a good shot of snow. It started as rain then went to a mix of rain and snow. If you kick down to the ground it is a soggy mess of wet snow. A water balloon will not freeze over night at -20, if covered with a foot or more snow. So we are not making much ice. It will be a while before you can walk on the sloughs. You will walk on the bigger water first that is still open.

In that case you may be limited to road banks, the ol North Dakota two step. Two steps from truck to trap. Snow can even complicate ttat method however soft ice and snow usually rots Those hot runs Could be a bonanza.

In the 24 years I have been hunting ND and talking to locals, I have met exactly zero trappers. Most of the farmers ask me to shoot the rats as they undercut the field roads. They ask me to come out and shoot yotes as well.

Non residents can't shoot rats. I was getting gas and a local pulled up at the next pump. I noticed about 20 some rats In the back of his truck. I asked if he was a trapper. He said me and the wife get a sixer and we go out and shoot rats. And the dog retrieves them. He said you want them I said sure.
I stopped at a farm to ask permission to trap. I see the lab In the yard dragging around some rats. I knock on the door the lady of the house answers the door. I ask about trapping but they didn't own any of the land. I asked about the rats. She says my son comes home from school and takes the 22 and 4 wheeler and the dog and they go out and shoot rats. I said tell him I'll give him $.200 a rat. She no you won't It's hard enough to get him to do his home work the way It is. She told me how to get up with land owner.

Beav Resident or Non resident, you can not buy fur with out a license in ND. So there is that too.