Let's talk muskrat/mink traps

[jasnt]

I'm starting to build up my colony traps and I started wondering how long is too long. How short is too short?  Triple door or double, 5",6", or 7"

I'm using 1x1" 14 ga, first one I did is 36" and I think I'll be able to make it a triple door

I'm liking the folding trap style.  I made one colony trap that's 6x18x36 for placing under my beaver sets in the beaver runs, any thoughts on this?

[Carp Commander]

I'm starting to build up my colony traps and I started wondering how long is too long. How short is too short?  Triple door or double, 5",6", or 7"

I'm using 1x1" 14 ga, first one I did is 36" and I think I'll be able to make it a triple door

I'm liking the folding trap style.  I made one colony trap that's 6x18x36 for placing under my beaver sets in the beaver runs, any thoughts on this?

When it comes to length I will only use 24". I have found that the 36", although they have their place, are a hassle to carry for no additional reward. The only time I found a longer colony useful is when your trapping level bottomed runs that are parallel to the flow of water. If your trapping those areas where the rats climb out onto feed beds and toilets or den holes, then there will almost always be a slopped bank. The longer colony traps tend to create a steeper angle and if it's too steep then your only trapping rats coming into one end of the trap.

As far as widths I make three different sizes. I make 5x5, 6x6 and 7x7 so they fit inside each other. Now the collapsible traps sure make life easy when your storing them but I find that packing them around in my Otter Sled is easier when they are connected to together and not sliding around as individuals. Plus they are ready to go with out any set up.

I am becoming very, very fond of putting bite bars on my colony traps. They prevent the rats from biting off and stopping-up the doors. they catch more rats, period! However they come with problems. You cant fit them together and now your packing individual traps.

1x1 wire is by far my favorite choice. You can use 1x2 but that is the limit. Any bigger mesh and the rats will get out. The 1x1 will make a stronger trap.

I came up with a really cool way to use a couple of 2x4 to make a bender on the edge of my work bench. It will give you near perfect bends and you can burn through a ton of traps in a hurry. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to describe it well enough with out pictures. As soon as start to dig out my gear for the season I will take a few pics and post it on the tips and tricks forum.

 Doug

[jasnt]

Thanks for the info.   Here's a few I've gotten finished.  I'll stick to the 24"

[Trapper John]

I have a couple hundred 6"x6"x24" and maybe a dozen of 5".  I don't see any benefit from making them any bigger or longer either.   I have caught a lot of three rat catches in the 24" trap at the same time.

95% of mine are all ridged or solid the other 5% are collapsible traps.

If I need them wider to fill up an area say across a ditch, I will put one or as many as I need together and zip tie them together.  I find with one large or bigger in width and length have a lot more problems than they are worth.   As for collapsible traps here again I have only a dozen of them.  There nice to pack around when your trapping out of a boat than ridged but I find them a pain to stack together and set up.  If you want to get out a lot of colony traps for the day and cover a lot of ground than collapsibles are not the way to go.

As for doors: I say double doors, one on each end even on your three footer.  1"x1" size is great it make it a stiffer trap and not so flimsily.
JC   

[jasnt]

Thanks for the info guys. I got six more done tonight.  6x6x24 folding style 
I'm working on a bending setup that should allow me to be more efficient with wire and use less j clips but this year most my area is going to be boot burning in almost a mile and working a 3 mile section of slow river (small river)