Amount of traps per stream mile...

[Jeremy S]

I took my trappers test a few weeks ago and now I'm super motivated to scout trapping areas/build my traps for my first season next year. I've found a couple good slow moving creeks with beaver sign in my deer area that got me pretty excited. I have been reading quite a bit and can't find an answer as to how many traps would be reasonabl for a certain distance or area. For example, lets say I have a quarter mile of slow moving stream I can access fairly easliy with sign all along it it. Would it be reasonable to put out 5 muskrat colony traps in that area? How about 5 beaver sets? Any advice will be greatly aprreciated, and links to other good reads are welcomed as well. Thanks all. 

[3nails]

I took my trappers test a few weeks ago and now I'm super motivated to scout trapping areas/build my traps for my first season next year. I've found a couple good slow moving creeks with beaver sign in my deer area that got me pretty excited. I have been reading quite a bit and can't find an answer as to how many traps would be reasonabl for a certain distance or area. For example, lets say I have a quarter mile of slow moving stream I can access fairly easliy with sign all along it it. Would it be reasonable to put out 5 muskrat colony traps in that area? How about 5 beaver sets? Any advice will be greatly aprreciated, and links to other good reads are welcomed as well. Thanks all. 

If there was really good rat sign in that stretch I'd drop in up to 20 traps. Pound them hard for a few days and move on. For beaver maybe just 2. I'd trap a couple for personal use and quit. If you planned on selling them there's not much value in them anymore compared to the work they require to put up. Imho.

[Humptulips]

There is no easy answer. Experience will give you the answer and it will vary for every location.
Probably not the answer you wanted.
On that stretch of stream you might find that perfect set or two for beaver and that is all you will put in. On the other hand you might have a hard time finding what you think of as a great set so end up putting in a few more sets. And then there is the time factor. Maybe it is close by and you are happy to trap it over a long time, then maybe one trap. Could be you want to set it and be done in one or two checks, then you need to drop in more sets. Want to catch some otter there? Then you are going to stick around longer and be more selective with your sets.
Time of year is a factor too. Are they breeding and moving more?
See why it's a hard question to answer?
On rats though I would set every good run and move after a couple checks but if they are running you might find a few spots that will keep getting traveling rats. Again experience!

[Jeremy S]

Thanks for the advice. I figured that I'd have to experiment a little, just didn't want to get too crazy and over do it.

[Da stump]

The only reason I like to take beaver is to use the carcass as bait and the castor for making lures. I am slow at putting up the fur and a couple beav is all I want to do in a day anymore