Post by dj88ryr on Nov 22, 2006 21:20:36 GMT -6
I just had someone stop while I was setting traps in a farm pond, and asked if I could come to their house, to trap their pond, they have seen lots of muskrats, and aren't all that happy with the collateral damage. I agreed, but when I got there I wasn't prepared for what I saw. It was a 1 acre or so pond, that is totally enclosed around the edges with concrete and rock retaining wall about 18" thick and 24" high. The water at the very edge is 8" deep. ABout 3 feet out from the wall are clumps of cattails in about 24" of water. The water is murky and stained, so I was unable to see any den holes, but I have a feeling they are in deeper water that is going to be near impossible to set up. There is sign of rats there, chewed up cattails, and other swamp grass, and droppings on the few floating pieces of downed branches. I checked the whole thing out and all I could come up with for a set was the old floating set that has been discussed many times here. I decided to build one yesterday, just to see if this will be an option for taking at least some of the rats out.
Scribbled out plans in a note book almost like I knew what I was doing, then set off to Lowes last night to gather up what I needed, and planned on just getting it started, but after I got going, I decided to finish it.
List of Materials:
2) 24" X 24" X 5/8" Exterior plywood, sanded.
1) 24" X 96" X 2" Blue Builders board ( Makes enough for 4 floats )
1) 1/2" X 3/4" X 6' clear pine
1) 1 1/2" X 6" Pvc sink Tailpiece
1) 3/8" X 1 1/2" Eye Bolt
4) 3/16" X 1 1/2" Eye Bolt
4) 1/4" X 20 X 3 1/2" Carriage Bolts
14) 5/16" Flat Washers
9) 1/4 X 20 Hex Nuts
5) 36" Green Vinyl covered metal garden stakes
Mark both pieces of plywood, corner to corner forming an X
In center of top piece, use a 1 1/2" hole saw to cut a hole to slip the tail piece up from the underside.
On bottom piece of plywood, drill a 3/8" hole in the middle, and 4 3/16" holes, at the center of each side.
Install appropriate size eye bolts, use washers.
With eye bolts facing down, place builders foam, over eye bolt tag ends, and press down, making sure foam is lined up with edge of plywood. Place top piece of plywood over foam with tail piece sticking up.
Mark the top lines from the center out at 2" intervals out to 12" from tailpiece.
Use carriage bolts to hold all pieces together, be sure to use washers on nut side. Then drill out the holes you marked along the lines, just through first piece of plywood.
Measure garden stakes at 6" intervals, and cut to make 30 6" pieces.
Gently pound stakes into 3/8" holes, into the foam until you make contact with bottom piece of plywood.
Cut you trim piece into 14" pieces ( 4 ) and then finish nail into plywood after centering. Use 3d finish nails to make bait holders in close to tailpiece for each section.
Finished product.
I went out this afternoon after work and set the platform. First I took mud
and smeared it a good 1/2-3/4 inches thick. Then I took chopped pieces of cattail and scattered them over the mud. Attached the 1.5 CS traps using quick links to the eye bolts on the bottom and used brickes and wire to anchor the platform out from shore. A couple cotton balls soaked in Muskrat lure go down the tailpiece, and a slice of apple, potato, or Carrot go in the finish nails. Those pictures will follow tomorrow.
Scribbled out plans in a note book almost like I knew what I was doing, then set off to Lowes last night to gather up what I needed, and planned on just getting it started, but after I got going, I decided to finish it.
List of Materials:
2) 24" X 24" X 5/8" Exterior plywood, sanded.
1) 24" X 96" X 2" Blue Builders board ( Makes enough for 4 floats )
1) 1/2" X 3/4" X 6' clear pine
1) 1 1/2" X 6" Pvc sink Tailpiece
1) 3/8" X 1 1/2" Eye Bolt
4) 3/16" X 1 1/2" Eye Bolt
4) 1/4" X 20 X 3 1/2" Carriage Bolts
14) 5/16" Flat Washers
9) 1/4 X 20 Hex Nuts
5) 36" Green Vinyl covered metal garden stakes
Mark both pieces of plywood, corner to corner forming an X
In center of top piece, use a 1 1/2" hole saw to cut a hole to slip the tail piece up from the underside.
On bottom piece of plywood, drill a 3/8" hole in the middle, and 4 3/16" holes, at the center of each side.
Install appropriate size eye bolts, use washers.
With eye bolts facing down, place builders foam, over eye bolt tag ends, and press down, making sure foam is lined up with edge of plywood. Place top piece of plywood over foam with tail piece sticking up.
Mark the top lines from the center out at 2" intervals out to 12" from tailpiece.
Use carriage bolts to hold all pieces together, be sure to use washers on nut side. Then drill out the holes you marked along the lines, just through first piece of plywood.
Measure garden stakes at 6" intervals, and cut to make 30 6" pieces.
Gently pound stakes into 3/8" holes, into the foam until you make contact with bottom piece of plywood.
Cut you trim piece into 14" pieces ( 4 ) and then finish nail into plywood after centering. Use 3d finish nails to make bait holders in close to tailpiece for each section.
Finished product.
I went out this afternoon after work and set the platform. First I took mud
and smeared it a good 1/2-3/4 inches thick. Then I took chopped pieces of cattail and scattered them over the mud. Attached the 1.5 CS traps using quick links to the eye bolts on the bottom and used brickes and wire to anchor the platform out from shore. A couple cotton balls soaked in Muskrat lure go down the tailpiece, and a slice of apple, potato, or Carrot go in the finish nails. Those pictures will follow tomorrow.
. today I am going to use some anthill dirt instead to bed the trap in. 
