2018/19 learning as I go!

[steelhead4life]

This is only my second season trapping and after a tough learning season last year I'm excited to get out and trap some fur this year.
Friday night was a late one making my first sets for the year.  Dropped in a couple of Bruce's swim through traps and a dozen colony traps.  Pulled them this morning and scored a nice muskrat, but both swim through traps had been tripped, but empty! 
I had set both in different slides that are in around 3 feet of water.  One is "funneled" with cattails and the other is +/- 8 feet wide. It's like they some how triggered it from outside the trap or swam through without getting caught.  I figured I would ask if this is something that occurs often with you guys?  Possibly I need more funneling?
I don't want to educate them.

[jasnt]

Could be debris setting them off.

[steelhead4life]

Thinking about it, they could be dragging stuff past them.  Are slides a good trap location? Both sets are in ponds. 

[jasnt]

Got a picture of the set or location?

[steelhead4life]

I don't.  Next weekend I will be back at it again.  They are there, I just need them to cooperate.

[Trapper John]

It could be debris.  I had the same problem with his traps last season.

I would hold off on going after beaver until Christmas or the end of the year.
Beaver don't "Prime Up" until that time of the year and than their only worth $10.00.

I would spend my time going after Muskrats.  They should be close to prime and this time of the year they are big.
Plus, there easier to skin and put up and less time than beaver.

Grab your varmint rifle and go shoot some coyotes, that is where the money will be.
JC 

[lewy]

Are you running a dive stick on both ends? If not they may be tripping the cage by going over it. Also like mentioned above debris on the trigger in current may trip the trap, if so drive a stick a few feet in front of the cage to catch the debris but not so close that it restricts enrtry into the cage. Another thing to consider is those cages seem to trip easier in one direction than the other due to the mechanism so face them accordingly with current

[Humptulips]

In my experience if they are tripped it is because they climbed over the top of them. Make sure you have some substantial dive poles at each end.

[3nails]

 You'll have great success this season from what you learned last.

[steelhead4life]

Thanks everyone for the advice and kind words.  I decided to put a couple game cameras up on my sets and possibly catch some of the action.

[Buck457]

What are the rules to trapping with in city limits, on public property?
There is a pretty sweet spot (a set of trails along many water ways) in a near by town. I understand that most of the locals are not keen on trapping. So, i understand that i will have to be discrete with my traps and set locations. I just can't find any regulations prohibiting recreational trapping with in city limits. Any help is much appreciated. 

[steelhead4life]

Most of the ground I am trapping is state, BLM, and national forest.  State parks are off limits and city property is by permission only.  For me, there is way more time invested in scouting areas then trapping.  There are some great areas that are just off limits and believe me people figure out what you are up to no matter how discrete you think you are.  Just make sure you are in the rite before setting out that trap.  Phone calls from the warden are not pleasant.

[Buck457]

I took your advice and found a slew not too far from my house on public hunting land. i set my first traps EVER yesterday morning, i saw some otter (I do not have traps for otter yet) and an incredible amount of muskrat feed piles. Thank you for you advice.

[Buck457]

I have that X-Large Duke cage trap and I am having trouble catching beaver in it. I have tried castor mound sets and I have tried a dam set. What are your guys' recommendations on trapping beaver with a single door trap?

[Norman89]

Fatslinger I believe your best to answer this question. Karen does good numbers with single door traps