Tips?

[Feanix]

This my first year trapping and am looking for any helpful tips from the experienced trappers about.  I've only been at it about 3 weeks now, (I know, late start) but with moving to a new area and all that goes with it, this is the first I have been able to get traps out.  I live in the Tonasket area and have been scouting around there on public land.  I've been mostly targeting Bobcat, but am trying to learn what areas/techniques I should employ for any other species in the area.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Machias]

Check out culverts and small bridges, they are usually little animal highways.  Great places to pick up coons, mink, and muskrats.  Keep in mind cage trapping bobcats is a patience game, might take two or three weeks before they make a circut.  

[Feanix]

Thanks.  I figured I wouldn't be piling up the cats, so to speak, but it's the only thing I had even remote familiarity with, since I just moved to the area.

[Hannibal]

Best tip I can give you is to look at the ground
 If you learn to age sign, you will not be wasting you valuable cages

Set on sign

with the 24 check, don't waste a lot of time walking

gang set for coon

male mink should be traveling so use a lure formulated with female secretions.. Lenons mink #3 is a good choice

I pull colony traps for muskrats on the second day,,,,,can usually have most of them by then

Don't be afraid to get in the water, it can give you a better view

Learn to age sign

[Feanix]

Thank you!

[wingnuts]

I agree with hannibal.....Get in the water!! I don't, but my boots leak.....but I don't spend alot of time skinning!

[Feanix]

Found an area yesterday with a bunch of beaver sign in around a small creek.  Any suggestions when it gets warmer and they are more active?  Swim-thoughs near slides and such?

[Humptulips]

Try to find some channels long enough to fit your traps in and set now. They'll be out even in cold weather. If you can't find a channel long enough maybe you can do a little construction yourself to lengthen or deepen a spot out. You might need to let something like that rest a few days before the beaver get used to it. I'd still set the trap unless I needed it for somewhere else. It won't catch anything in the back of your truck.

[Feanix]

Good point, thanks.

[fatslinger]

I try to figure out where they are entering and leaving the water. My traps are about 15"x15"x36" and I set so the opening is just in the edge of the water. Trap must be bedded solid so it won't wiggle when stepped in. I toss a couple handfulls of mud/sticks/leaves  into the back of the trap to simulate a castor mound and  drop a gob of castor onto the mud. I also put a small amount of my castor mixture in the water near the opening of the trap. Then I get in the water and make a 'trail' in and out of the trap w/ my boot so it looks like other beavers are coming and going. Add a couple of branches or sticks near the front of the trap to keep them from going around it. Good luck and keep us posted!

[70sdiver]

is that a double door trap?

[fatslinger]

No. Just a single door.

[Hannibal]

Good job......   Lat time I tried that with a Havahart the beaver tore the door off........

[Sno-King]

fatslinger----what is the best way to dispatch them in a Havahart in that shallow water? I have couple 15x15 I'am going to give them a try and see if the door holds.

[fatslinger]

In shallow water I think the most humane way to dispatch is a .22 to the head. At this particular location, I was able to push the trap out just a little  ways and drown him. I handle the cage w/ a couple of hay hooks or a gaff hook; that way I can still keep my distance until he expires.