#420780 - 11/19/07 07:53 PM
Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
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cj's trapping
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 1782
Loc: NW Ohio-Almost 38
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I've seen numerous posts and questions on here over the last couple of years on how to catch muskrats along ponds, streams, marshes, ditches, wetlands.....you name it. The easiest, no frill, no bait, no nothing, is sign trapping. Make a fake "mud slide" along the bank, ditch, muskrat hut (cabin)...anywhere, and place a #1 or 1 1/2 at the base. Stake the trap out a bit to deeper water, and you will catch them. They see and smell that fresh mud, and BAM, they are yours to harvest.
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#420840 - 11/19/07 08:15 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: cj's trapping]
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suredve
trapper
Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 707
Loc: mn
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how close can you put each set from each other?
i have a pond i just found with lots of chewed up cattails, and wore down shore line.
will 110s work?
what if the bottoms not solid enough for a disposable stake?
should i try driving in a wooden stake?
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#420891 - 11/19/07 08:31 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: cj's trapping]
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suredve
trapper
Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 707
Loc: mn
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how big in diameter for those willows?
fresh willow?
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#420894 - 11/19/07 08:32 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: suredve]
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suredve
trapper
Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 707
Loc: mn
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#420908 - 11/19/07 08:36 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: suredve]
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cj's trapping
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 1782
Loc: NW Ohio-Almost 38
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#420910 - 11/19/07 08:37 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: cj's trapping]
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illinitrapper15
trapper
Registered: 10/17/07
Posts: 143
Loc: Illinois
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So this set really works? Is it a sure thing or a long shot I mean obviously it connected at least once for you lol
_________________________
Poor Season so far
Total catch:
Coon: 8
Possum: 8
Muskrat: 3
Si Vis Paca Para Bellum
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#420918 - 11/19/07 08:40 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: illinitrapper15]
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suredve
trapper
Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 707
Loc: mn
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think i'll go talk to mr beav. lol
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#420940 - 11/19/07 08:47 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: cj's trapping]
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illinitrapper15
trapper
Registered: 10/17/07
Posts: 143
Loc: Illinois
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Wow!!! Good enough for me lol I will have to give it a try so how does it hold up if you dont know if there are rats in the area is it a good way to find out if they are there or do you have to know there is a stable population to work?
_________________________
Poor Season so far
Total catch:
Coon: 8
Possum: 8
Muskrat: 3
Si Vis Paca Para Bellum
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#420943 - 11/19/07 08:48 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: cj's trapping]
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huskershane
trapper
Registered: 01/07/07
Posts: 13
Loc: platte river, columbus,ne
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suredve,
this is what is working for my girls and i so far. my daughter thought of this invention! we use wooden lats from the lumber yard. they are about 4-5' long and fit perfect in a ring. push in the mud and you are set. the stake works as a drowner stick also. the lats look just like a cattail at night though, so we put reflective tape on the lat and is easy to find! try it with 110's also, works great as a stabilizer.
huskerkids
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#420959 - 11/19/07 08:55 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: huskershane]
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suredve
trapper
Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 707
Loc: mn
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ive used wooden lats on the 110s from old snow fence, but not for the legholds.
ive got some leg rap tape from tractor supply. works pretty well
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#420964 - 11/19/07 08:56 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: huskershane]
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cj's trapping
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 1782
Loc: NW Ohio-Almost 38
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Results from the top pic. Sign trapping.
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#420967 - 11/19/07 08:57 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: cj's trapping]
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illinitrapper15
trapper
Registered: 10/17/07
Posts: 143
Loc: Illinois
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Ok I do think I will give it a shot
_________________________
Poor Season so far
Total catch:
Coon: 8
Possum: 8
Muskrat: 3
Si Vis Paca Para Bellum
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#420975 - 11/19/07 09:01 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: illinitrapper15]
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snowman
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 3286
Loc: Michigan
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could you dig your own "ledge" and just transplant that mud?
I ask because the area where I trap has a QUICK dropoff, and there is no place to bed a trap, but if I dug my own ledge and used the mud to make a slide, it would work.
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#420989 - 11/19/07 09:05 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: snowman]
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suredve
trapper
Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 707
Loc: mn
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nice pics cj looks great.
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#420993 - 11/19/07 09:06 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: cj's trapping]
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snowman
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 3286
Loc: Michigan
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ahh, a method to trap the dikes that doesn't involve finding the den entrances...i like it, i'll use it in a week and report back 
lol
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#421015 - 11/19/07 09:14 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: snowman]
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cj's trapping
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 1782
Loc: NW Ohio-Almost 38
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snowman....most are taking this post for granted.....trust me.
Good luck suredve
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#421019 - 11/19/07 09:15 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: cj's trapping]
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snowman
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 3286
Loc: Michigan
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that's probably a good thing
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#421043 - 11/19/07 09:29 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: snowman]
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logan
trapper
Registered: 12/27/06
Posts: 1977
Loc: Pigeon Mi
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cj how do you use this set in the marsh?
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Logan
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#421110 - 11/19/07 09:57 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: cj's trapping]
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frozentoes
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 359
Loc: Holmen, WI
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The problem I have with using footholds is wring outs so I quit using them. Even with deep water, they are not drowning. I totally agree with your technique and I end up passing on a lot of sign just like you have pictured due to the rats escaping  I have already lost half a dozen with footholds this week alone.
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#421133 - 11/19/07 10:07 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: cj's trapping]
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cj's trapping
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 1782
Loc: NW Ohio-Almost 38
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Foot note:
If you happen to have a subscription to T&PC, I wrote an article on this very topic. You may have to dig, but it's in the 2002, Aug issue, entilted, "Mudslide Muskrats"
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#421137 - 11/19/07 10:10 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: cj's trapping]
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Jonathan
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 1814
Loc: Northwestern New York
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CJ's thread describing his intent and description has worked for my muskrat trapping efforts, long before his ink, for well over 50 years of trapping for them. The advice is simple and deliberate. No need for a #110 in this situation; however, they do have their place in the muskrat drama, but not here.
My "willow" stakes punched securely into the muck through the trap's ring in Wisconsin marshes for forty years of muskrat trapping, with a 1-1/2 long spring Victor nailed through it, has been sufficient to capture my target muskrats. And, without fault, to catch and drown incidental raccoon, mink and otter that happened by. Never lost one of either in that incarnation of the set.
Jonathan
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#421138 - 11/19/07 10:10 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: frozentoes]
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waspshooter
trapper
Registered: 11/13/07
Posts: 237
Loc: Iowa
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Frozentoes, how long are the chains on your traps? I add 18"-24" of chain to all my rat traps, and stake the trap so the rat can't get out of the water. I very seldom have a wring-off, and very seldom have a rat that isn't drowned.
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#421149 - 11/19/07 10:16 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: cj's trapping]
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SNIPERBBB
trapper
Registered: 12/26/06
Posts: 1289
Loc: Rodney,Ohio
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The problem I have with using footholds is wring outs so I quit using them. Even with deep water, they are not drowning. I totally agree with your technique and I end up passing on a lot of sign just like you have pictured due to the rats escaping I have already lost half a dozen with footholds this week alone. The weight alone of a 1 or 1 1/2 will drown a rat if you have deep enough water....WITH NO abstructions...ie...cattail, weeds, etc. This is a sure fire set. If you have rats getting away, there is something other than deep water allowing it.
What kind of setup are you using on your traps frozen? I use a lot of 1.5's for rats and most of them are drowned in less than a foot of water even on sliders.
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#421446 - 11/20/07 07:26 AM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: UncleFester]
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frozentoes
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 359
Loc: Holmen, WI
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I have some old #1 longsprings with the factory chain. I then added about 2 feet of wire to the end of the chain. I then wire the trap to a stake and set on the runs much like was described above. But, I will admit that I did place them in places where there were reeds and stuff. From reading some of the replies, I can see I need to be in "cleaner" areas so the rat will head to the water ASAP. I still have a few in the boat and I think I will give this another try and do it the way it is described here
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#421505 - 11/20/07 08:26 AM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: frozentoes]
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kylevandyke
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 862
Loc: Michigan
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i know i sure am trying it this afternoon when i get out of school!! Great post CJ!
_________________________
whitetail madness all..... year....long!!!
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#422494 - 11/20/07 07:39 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: kylevandyke]
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suredve
trapper
Registered: 12/25/06
Posts: 707
Loc: mn
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put 15 or 20 sets out today and stepped down there runs so theres about a foot or so of water. they could get on the side of the run in shallower water, but i tried staking as far out as could. i used lots of #2s and 110s. are these heavy enough to keep them inside the runs?
also i actually put my wet suite on instead of working from the shore line, and mudded up the runs like you said.
i even kicked some mud up on the road trail between two ponds in hopes of a mink smelling the mud also.
do you think i did the right thing?
will it work?
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#422618 - 11/20/07 08:19 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: suredve]
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lobo
trapper
Registered: 12/27/06
Posts: 218
Loc: Illinois
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suredve, it might work. Just remember it's a simple set, so just like all trapping sets, none of it is rocket science. Just keep it simple and it will work.
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#422639 - 11/20/07 08:29 PM
Re: Sign trapping muskrats....EASY PICKING'S
[Re: lobo]
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kylevandyke
trapper
Registered: 12/23/06
Posts: 862
Loc: Michigan
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put 16 sets out, half were #1 long springs in the method as described above, except i set quite a few existing mud slides and made a few of my own, i staked the traps as deep as i possibly could to keep the trap where i wanted, will my Long springs weigh enough to drown the rats alone or not?? I also made a few floats today i will set out after work tomarrow afternoon, thanks again for the GREAT post CJ and the helpful info from everyone else!!
_________________________
whitetail madness all..... year....long!!!
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