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Post by trappnman on Dec 9, 2011 9:20:03 GMT -6
wasn't a big rat- but have to admit it made me smile. actually- it was...."hey, there is a rat here! guess i'll leave it here"  |
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Post by mustelameister on Dec 10, 2011 7:02:12 GMT -6
I'm sure liking them. Am getting the "walking" winter line out now that the boat is put away, and so far I haven't set one bodygrip. Replaced 'em all with colony traps. Remember this picture from last year?  That catch sticking up was the problem. Forgot what my damage/stolen percentages was due to eagles, hawks, owls, mink, otter, and 'coon on these bleeder streams, but so far the predator problem is zero. Nada. Another pic from last year. This was a great spot last year, but again damages and predators stealing the catches was unacceptable. This year the tile spade doubles as a staff and I can clean out and deepen a section like this quickly with it and inset the colony trap.  With the big packbasket I can pack in about a dozen and a half of these collapsibles at a time. Sure has changed my winter line. |
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Post by rk660 on Dec 10, 2011 23:16:48 GMT -6
Id forget bottem edge w/ colonies, and think "whole edge" bottom, top, sides and the middle.
takes a lot of traps but right places used en mass is the ticket. I have been guilty of setting as many colony traps, as some guys own, in one location a time or 2. Think box culvert 6 ft wide and 3 ft deep. I would say that I run on ave 2-3 traps per setup, when blocking streams and flowages.
Your gettting the hang of it I can tell Mike. Most guys never figure out the need for a tile spade when colony trapping. About like a dirthole trowel for land trapping.
My other "tool" is my "rat dog". Checking a large colony trap line and especially after dark, I pull a fair amount of live rats out. Ever try to wait out a rat to drown when in a hurry? Open a door, and yell "Get the rat Zip!" I used to let them out all the way up top the road by the truck, just make sure the dog wasnt asleep and they could make to the drink. Now we just let them out 3-4' from the water. LOL. He never misses.
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Post by foxman on Dec 11, 2011 1:35:52 GMT -6
rich, with a name like zip i would hope he can catch em!!
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Post by musher on Dec 11, 2011 6:20:51 GMT -6
And Zip is a what breed.
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Post by rk660 on Dec 11, 2011 18:27:16 GMT -6
a hammerhead jagdterrier, with a dose of rat terrier thrown in
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Post by RdFx on Dec 11, 2011 21:03:27 GMT -6
Now there is a dog and trapper companion!
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Post by trappnman on Dec 13, 2011 7:48:25 GMT -6
definitely seeing the use of colonies- caught a couple rats yesterday in them, no doubles yet-
I can see rks point about blocking whole waterway or a good portion of it, but doubt I have enough concentrations of rats in my streams to make that a plan- but the bottom edge type setup is working
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Post by elkchaser on Dec 13, 2011 11:50:16 GMT -6
I have using colonies this year as BE in areas that cattails stick out in creek and form a point seems to be working, with just one trap in three feet of water.Like other folks have said better then stacked in the shed.
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