AvonLKHunter Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 I was down on my property bow hunting one last time and noticed my dam on my pond is getting destroyed by muskrats. Any good ideas on getting rid of these things? I never see them in the summer or I would shoot them, I was thinking about a conibear trap. Any info would be great. Thanks, JIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimfrompa Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 Re: Need help, NOT deer related!!!! Gotta trap them out thats for sure. I knew a guy that would do that to get rid of them and make a few bucks on the fur. mighty few though$$$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbucks Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Re: Need help, NOT deer related!!!! i would set a trap hey mabye youll find a new hobby you never new you had give it a shoot!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbucks Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Re: Need help, NOT deer related!!!! or if you can do this dont know if its legal but set out thier with a .22 lol and do some target shooting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Re: Need help, NOT deer related!!!! [ QUOTE ] or if you can do this don't know if its legal but set out their with a .22 lol and do some target shooting! [/ QUOTE ] illegal I used to trap muskrats when I was a kid for extra money. Back then the leg-hold trap was legal. I don't know how they use the new fan-dangle traps they have out today, but the best way I knew of was to build a mound of dirt/mud/debrea in about 21/2 ft of water, to a point where the top of the mound is just above the water line, but it has a step on it that is just under the water line. You always had to carry a hoe around with you to freshen the mounds up while checking the trap-line. Then you cut yourself 2 willow stakes. One long and straight, the other the same length with a fork in it. You set the trap and put it on the little bench, just under the water-line, and put the stake with the fork in it, through the loop in the other end of the chain, and stick it straight down into the mud, to secure the trap. The long straight stake is called the drowner stake, and it get stuck into the mud at an angle, at the base of the other stake. Muskrats have a natural instinct to swim along and climb up on any mounds or protrusions rising above the water line, so when he comes along to climb the mound, he gets trapped from the unseen trap on the bench. When he gets his foot stuck he jumps off and starts swimming, but because the other end of the trap is anchored, he starts swimming in circles around the 2 stakes. Because the drowner stake is pushed into the mud on an angle, the chain from the trap tightens and gets wrapped around the 2 stakes, but is held down at the bottom because of the drowner stake. Thus the muskrat has no way of getting himself back to the surface and drowns. Without using this method, all you will catch is feet. YES FEET .....If he is allowed to have high ground to rest on, he will chew his foot off and escape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drkillemquick Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Re: Need help, NOT deer related!!!! This will probably get move, but I am with the other guys, either find someone to trap it for you, or if it is legal for you to do it trap them yourself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
need2hunt Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Re: Need help, NOT deer related!!!! My neighbor used to use conibear traps for muskrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest buckchaser Posted January 13, 2006 Report Share Posted January 13, 2006 Re: Need help, NOT deer related!!!! like the guys are saying a 110 conibear works great just put a slice of orange or a carrot on the trigger and submerge the trap half in the water simple but deadly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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