Need help with colony sets

[Carp Commander]

 I started using colony sets for he first time this year. I built them with 2x4 mesh, 14 guage wire. My colony traps are 6x6, 36 inches long. I am trapping a canal ditch and it is full of rats. I set fifteen colony traps in the ditch and have in two days not cuaght a single rat. I am a little worried that I should have went with 1x2 mesh but I couldn't find it at any local hardware stores and I couldn't imagine a rat being able to make it through the 2x4 mesh. The first day I put them out I was spooking rats out of dens in the bank so I know its not because of the lack of critters.

Can any would offer up some advise on this?

Thanks

[onetrapper]

hi,
i built mine out of 1 X 2  or 1x1 welded wire. I buy it in 48" rolls and cut it so I get a 22" and 24" long colony each cut.  Work great. Look on U tube and you can see some.  Where are you setting the traps...they need to be in the runs or entrances to den.  i will be headed to Walla Walla in a couple of days if you need any more info
Darryl

[Carp Commander]

I am setting them in runs and den entrances. Because of heavy grass and silty bottom the runs are not always that easy to make out but the den holes are. Im confident about the technique but concerned with the trap design.

[onetrapper]

36" is definetly overkill and maybe they are getting out of the 2" wire.  It has too much flex. Not frozen there yet?

[Carp Commander]

I was afraid that "settling" for available wire was going to bite me in the butt! I have since found 1x2 inch mesh, 14 gauge cage wire and I can tell the difference. Nothing is frozen here. It is getting into the high 20's at night but we are having 40 degree day time temps.

[onetrapper]

Cool hope it stays that way will set a few traps while visiting my daughter next week

[pnwmtnmn]

2x4 wire will slow the rats down but not hold them, they can get out of 2x2 wire mesh. 1x2 is the smallest to go with. Bleyhls farm supply in Pasco has the wire you need. I used to live in Pasco and that is the only place in the tri-cities are that carries it.

[Carp Commander]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Are you guys dying the colonies? Or does the shine not bother rats?

[pnwmtnmn]

After a week in the water the shine goes away, becomes a dark grey.

[Carp Commander]

Since starting this thread I have remade all my colony traps. Thanks again for all the advise! I remade them with 14 gauge, 1x2 inch mesh, 24 inches long. I set them yesterday and ran this morning. I had 16 traps in and caught 11 muskrats, all of which appear to be large to extra large. I'm happy with the 11 of 16 ratio but here's the kicker. I caught all 11 in just 4 traps. Again 11 out of 4 is good but 4 out of 16 isn't, at least I don't think so. Is this a typical catch ratio for colony sets?

Tried several times to load a photo with out sauces. Will try to get a picture posted soon.

[Carp Commander]

With out "success"! Spell check got me again.

Still having trouble with the photo. Any suggestions?

[70sdiver]

hey im in the tri-cities also.Shiney wire wont matter on the colonies.Have you buikt ant beaver cages yet?

[Carp Commander]

Working on a swim through but haven't finished yet.

Since I am just getting back into trapping and having to relearn everything here in the great republic of Washington, I am easing into it with colony, mink and coon. Easier on the pocket book which keeps the wife happy.

I am running with two cage traps for coon, two cage traps for mink and 20 colony traps for rats. Once I get the swim through done and tested, I will try and mass produce through the summer for next fall. I have some fantastic beaver areas and it's killing me I can't use steel!

[Carp Commander]

Colony Traps Photo

[onetrapper]

looks like its working for you nowv
Darryl