Footholds For Muskrats

[bnolan]

I am looking into getting a dozen new footholds for the rats after this season. I see that Bridger makes the Surehold that looks alot like the older Victors, I really don't like them all that well so that kind of rules them out but I hear that the newer style Duke guard trap was a good trap. How big is the pan on the Dukes? Or what do all of you use or suggest?

[woody]

I use Duke #1's and #1 1/2's for rats I like the #1 1/2's for there weight and they will hold a coon if I get one in my set for a rat. I put all my traps on a drowner and the Duke #1 1/2 comes with a drowning swivel on the end of the chain alread Both traps bed nice on a feed bed or a hut also. just my 2 cents worth. woody

[timwilcox]

The Duke 1 1/2 is a great trap for Rats, Coon & even Fox if there's no coyotes around.

[bnolan]

I have some Duke #1 coil springs that I use for rats and will be geting a couple dozen new 1.5 Coils after I see what the new Montana's going to be like. Just thought about a guarded/surehold trap for the rats.

[dj88ryr]

The only time you really need a stop loss or guarded trap is if you do not have deep enough water to drown the rats. I used to think this was a problem, but just started making the sets close to the shallow feed beds, but where the water was deep enough, the rats found the sets. They are easy enough to drown, I also like the 1.5 size coil spring for rats, mink, and coon.

[trappnman]

stoploss traps are ok-

when trapping the marshes we used them- but only in non drowning situations- keep in mind we also checked 2X nightly.

And if yo uare trapping shalow water- and are checking early- use them. Otherwise, a live rat attracts a lot of attention- non good.

And they are hard to set sometimes- their rigid shape (hard to explain until youve used them) makles it hard in many locations to get the trap exactly where you want them.

Better for rats and water trapping in general- buy 1.5 coils. And unless you really want another brand- the Duke 1.5 is as good a water trap as there is. Not to get into detail- but I use 5-6 brands of 1.5 coils- and of the ones I use- the Duke keeps the most fur. For whatever reason- lever position, springs, jaws- they are my first choice.for general coon, mink, rat trapping Stock out of the box.

[mustelameister]

Maybe you should just wait wait 'till the BMPs on muskrats come out and you'll find out there ain't a foothold trap made we can use.

[dj88ryr]

AND DROWNING IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE METHOD OF DISPATCH ...WTF?

jUST SOMETHING THAT i HAVE HEARD IN PASSING....

arrghh, left side of keyboard....middle key...

[Steve Gappa]

The Canadians have some strange trapping laws- but on footholds for rats, I believe they are right on:

ANY foothold is a rat trap on a drowning set.

[Wright Brothers]

When anchoring in deep enough water, I like 1 longs but that is what I learned with and I have them. Just looked in magazine ad and the 1 ls is the same price as 1 1/2 coils. If I was buying new I'd get the coils.

[bnolan]

I have been using my Duke #1 coil springs at feed piles and were they enter and exit the water with good success, I run them down a drowner slide,. just thought that the guarded would help. I never make a foothold set where I can't drown the animal. If its going to be on land I will do something with a 110.
I'll stick with the Duke #1's. I plan on getting some more 1.5 after the season for mink, just waiting to see what the Montana's will be like.
Thanks again guys!

[Bogmaster]

Well seeing that I helped in the redesign of the New Duke #1 stoploss trap,I will make a few comments:
1. The pan is nice and large 1 and 5/8 inches across,it is a round pan.
2.The pan does not need to be flipped to the right before setting the guard--the Bridger and victor require a trapper to flip the pan before setting the guard spring---if you forget to flip the pan and start to depress the longspring,you end up with a bent guard spring and an unsetable trap.Then you either have to stop and rebend the guard spring--exactly right or the trap is unsetable.
3.The springs on the New Duke stoploss are the strongest on the market.
The longspring is much like the old Blake and Lamb,but a bit wider--thus stronger.
The Duke sells for $72.95 a dozen-----which is 16.00 a dozen cheaper than the Bridgers.The victor stoploss has not been made for many years.
I use one main trap for my rat line--other than a few colony traps and this is the stoploss.
This trap will also hold coon and does a nice job on mink.
While I do use this trap in shallow water,it is the large amount of vegetation in good rat marshes---that accounts for a lot of muskrat losses--thus a stoploss trap pays its way here.
I have taken thousands of rats in stoploss traps and would not even consider hauling #1 1/2 coils along ,unless it were for specific coon sets.While I catch several coon a year in my stoploss,when running strictly coon --it is 1 1/2 coils.
So in answer to your first question,The New Duke #1 stop loss is a winner in my book--but then I am prejudiced.
Tom Olson

[vttrapper]

I prefer stoploss traps as well for many of the reasons Bogmaster said. The vegitation and in my case, tree roots can and do lend them selves to wringouts if the rat does not go down the slide wire. With a stoploss trap, he will be right there waitng for you. I still have many of the old stoploss traps and do not know anything about the new versions.

frank

[dj88ryr]

I used to have a lot, but sold them off, and gave some to kids when I was with Traps4Kids. I still keep 18-20 of them in inventory, because I am sure at some point I may have to use them again, I do not expect to stay in PA for ever, with changing habitats comes changing situations. Here I can keep them in the shed, as I have been able to use the brick and wire with a 1.5 and haven't had any live or wring out.

[Bogmaster]

LOL--DJ---I wouldnt have a boat big enough to haul 150 to 200 bricks .I want to trap rats not build a basement----lmao---But that is where our habitats are differant.
Tom Olson

[dj88ryr]

You are a big time trapper Tom, I am a hobby trapper, but Nittany Lion does have about 225 sets out using bricks, but we are blessed with being able to trap out of our trucks. You are right habitat differences, in NH, I could never have used the brick method as much as here, I had to walk there, no roads, no water that you could use a boat in, efficiently.

[trappnman]

putting a stoploss guard on a #1 still makes that a #1.

Its not a heavy enough trap- thus the try to make it more efficent (ie reducing losses) with a guard.

most of our "non drowning" situations were sets stakes to house.

A 1.5 coil cuts down on rat losses better- in my opinion, of course.

Use 1.5 coils and #2 dlsprings (now there is a perfect at trap!) and you get a higher grip and minimal if any looses cause the trap is heavy enough to to the job.

Spent many a year trapping big marshes- I'd love to have the chance again with good 1.5 coils rather than #1 be them stoploss or regular.

[Edge]

**Spent many a year trapping big marshes- I'd love to have the chance again with good 1.5 coils rather than #1 be them stoploss or regular. **

I been thinkin the same thing;except with the 1.75.......I have seen Beavs pix of rats and mink in the 1.75.......aint no twist out there.........a mugging maybe,but not a twist out.

Edge

[Bogmaster]

Here is where we get into opinions--yours and mine.
And you can bet they are worlds apart.
You know ,I am right and you are wrong lol.
If we agreed on everything,we wouldnt be trappers,we would be robots.
My style of rat trapping works for me,and very well at that---its the same with Beav,what works extremely well for me is how I will continue to do things--now that isn't your style.
Comfort zones is where we end up as trappers ,what works well for us is the best and only way to do things.
I have been using stoploss traps for 40 years,and now that I have one made to my specs---nothing could be better. I never did like the #1 1/2 stoploss.Most other trappers must not have either---as it was the first one to fade away into never never land.
Just as I never liked #1 1/2 coils on rats.
But then I will agree to disagree steve,otherwise life would be boring.
But as far as the original question goes,I think I have not strayed from what was asked---and I believe I have answered it.
If you want a good stoploss,the New Dukes will do the job,and then some.
Tom Olson

[trappnman]

Different strokes for sure Tom...not that I don't like stoploss...just like 1.5 coils better.

Heck, even an old rusty 1.5 longsrping is a good rat trap.