Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Trapping => Topic started by: bearpaw on August 09, 2024, 12:10:57 PM

Title: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: bearpaw on August 09, 2024, 12:10:57 PM: When I was young I trapped a fair amount but never much for muskrats. I now have a pond with too many muskrats and need to get rid of some this winter, it's in Idaho so body gripping traps are fine. I've heard colony traps are good but don't really know. What would you recommend as best for solving a muskrat problem?
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: JakeLand on August 09, 2024, 12:25:45 PM: Colony traps set in runways and den entrance , but really a 110 conibear is my favorite but a colony you can catch a half dozen rats in it at a time
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: bearpaw on August 09, 2024, 12:33:33 PM: Quote from: JakeLand on August 09, 2024, 12:25:45 PM
Colony traps set in runways and den entrance , but really a 110 conibear is my favorite but a colony you can catch a half dozen rats in it at a time

I know where they like to swim around the edges of the pond but don't know where their holes are at. Would a floating colony work well with bait along the edge of the pond where they like to swim or does it need to be at the entrance of their den?
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: TeacherMan on August 09, 2024, 05:40:29 PM: In my opinion there is nothing better than a drowner set (just a piece of 14 ga wire off the trap chain out to a tangle stick in 18” or more of water) with a 1.5 LS on a feed bed. Feed beds are natural spots they will always swim into. My dad and I used to catch hundreds every season this way. You don’t have to but carrots, apple slices or apple sauce are good attractors along with anything peppermint smelling.
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: JakeLand on August 10, 2024, 10:45:22 PM: Quote from: bearpaw on August 09, 2024, 12:33:33 PM
Quote from: JakeLand on August 09, 2024, 12:25:45 PM
Colony traps set in runways and den entrance , but really a 110 conibear is my favorite but a colony you can catch a half dozen rats in it at a time

I know where they like to swim around the edges of the pond but don't know where their holes are at. Would a floating colony work well with bait along the edge of the pond where they like to swim or does it need to be at the entrance of their den?
yes they do but start by spreading carrots and apples around so they get the taste for them then set floating colony traps I’ve got a few that mike money made and they work well
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: lewy on August 11, 2024, 10:07:53 AM: Colony traps are stupid easy and affective. You can make em yourself to if your looking to kill a little time in the shop
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: bearpaw on August 11, 2024, 04:48:25 PM: Thanks for the great advice everyone! :tup:
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on August 11, 2024, 06:36:31 PM: 110 Conibear, they work in so many applications.
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: UrbanTrapper on August 19, 2024, 07:34:08 PM: What's a good summer lure for nuisance muskrats. I've tried carrots and peppermint toothpaste with some Lennon's with no success.
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: 3nails on August 19, 2024, 08:30:11 PM: Another vote for colony traps. The great thing about them is that you can custom build them to fit anywhere and they catch multiple rats at a time. Set them in runs or like Jake said stuff them into their dens. Cheap and super easy/fast to make. Here's one I made for a specific location.
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: TeacherMan on August 19, 2024, 08:35:02 PM: Quote from: UrbanTrapper on August 19, 2024, 07:34:08 PM
What's a good summer lure for nuisance muskrats. I've tried carrots and peppermint toothpaste with some Lennon's with no success.

Food is so abundant in the summer lures and food don’t have much affect. But going back to my vote with a drowner setup on a feed bed. It’s a blind set in reality. They use the same feed beds day in and day out.
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: bearpaw on August 25, 2024, 07:21:40 PM: Thanks again for advice everyone. :tup:
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: big wood on August 27, 2024, 10:00:50 PM: Find a toilet or feed bed, and use a 1 1/2 long spring wired to a stick toward deeper water. Guaranteed rat in the morning
Title: Re: Most effective muskrat traps?
Post by: birddogdad on August 28, 2024, 06:55:42 AM: back in the day 2 sets were money, conibear 110's in runs fenced in to dive thru and pan trap on feed cash with apple slice on stick just out of reach over top...