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Post by BadDog on Oct 6, 2012 8:36:05 GMT -6
When is the rat season open in your state or province? Here in Southern Alberta, it opens on Oct 15. Not far north from here it opens on Oct 1. It would be interesting to hear when your rats seasons open, in particular south of the border where the fur likely would be lighter/thinner than the north.
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K-zoo
Demoman...
Posts: 163
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Post by K-zoo on Oct 6, 2012 9:14:10 GMT -6
We have 3 zones here in MI.
Zone 1 (North) Oct. 25 - Mar. 1
Zone 2 (Mid) Nov. 1 - Mar. 1
Zone 3 (South) Nov. 10 - Mar. 1
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Post by trappnman on Oct 6, 2012 12:08:24 GMT -6
usually last sat of oct, occasionally 11-2,3
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Post by mattduncan on Oct 6, 2012 16:42:40 GMT -6
Oct 5 in the north , oct 25 in southern ontario
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Oct 7, 2012 8:13:49 GMT -6
Marty the best rats come out of the US so the fur might not be "likely lighter or thinner", also leather thickness plays an integral role in the quality of the rat.
My rat season here starts too late and ends too early as far as I'm concerned.
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Post by mattduncan on Oct 7, 2012 13:10:23 GMT -6
not all the best rats come out of the u.s. our rats in southern ontario are top of the line as well
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swifty
Tenderfoot...
Posts: 37
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Post by swifty on Oct 7, 2012 19:42:50 GMT -6
Our trapping season, including muskrats, starts on the first Wednesday following the second Saturday of November, at noon. This can be anywhere from Nov 12 to 18, depending on that year's calendar.
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Oct 8, 2012 19:26:13 GMT -6
Matt southern ontario could just as well be the US.
Heck I'd wager a dollar I live north of you and the further north you go the lesser the mushrat is.'
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Post by thebeav2 on Oct 9, 2012 10:35:29 GMT -6
We will be setting traps on the 27th of Oct In ND
Just checked In with NAFA and my 123 bought back rats sold for a $11.20 average. Looks like rats are still selling and at advancing prices.
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Oct 9, 2012 12:12:46 GMT -6
did they sell them all gary
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Post by thebeav2 on Oct 9, 2012 12:42:43 GMT -6
THey sold all of mine. But I was told there are still some left In the system.
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Post by mattduncan on Oct 9, 2012 18:54:53 GMT -6
Matt southern ontario could just as well be the US. Heck I'd wager a dollar I live north of you and the further north you go the lesser the mushrat is.' Yes Steve I'm sure you are way north of me I'm about the latitude of Minneapolis . I'm going to trap some rats off my new registered line in the north this year it will be interesting to se the difference in my rats from around home to the ones from 7.5 hours north of me |
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Oct 9, 2012 19:35:08 GMT -6
Minneapolis?
Thats basically northern Iowa.
Rats I caught at home in January and early February did a buck 80 less than the ones I caught in southern MN in Mid to late February.
Bigger and heavier leather and it wasnt because of quality of feed.
Thanks for the info gary.
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Post by bblwi on Oct 9, 2012 20:16:21 GMT -6
In WI our best rates come from the south central sections near and around Horicon Marsh and in the areas with lots of cattails and crops.Those rats are bigger with more fur and good pelt heft but not all leather. Our northern WI rats are thinner skinned, smaller and have less fur as well. I don't know how much is genetics versus habitat but there is a difference. Some buyers will not buy northern WI rats in the round due to the lower pelt values.
Bryce
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Post by thebeav2 on Oct 9, 2012 21:29:45 GMT -6
These were ND spring caught rats.
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Post by RdFx on Oct 10, 2012 5:53:34 GMT -6
Beav you catch the rats im yoting on the ND -Montana border. Maybe even a few coon. Da 27th is the starting date for stringing steel......
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Post by trappnman on Oct 10, 2012 7:10:06 GMT -6
Bryce-
my thoughts on rat quality- its both.
when it varies by region- as you, Steven state the further north in MN, WI the smaller, less fur etc rats only genetics explains t.
but when you are in a region, and the rat quality varies by habitat within that region- then it has TO BE habitat meaning food.
for example on the upper Mississippi pools, we have what we call a marsh rat- bigger to a degree maybe, but more a much heavier leather and denser fur.
mere miles away on the creeks, the rats are what we locally call paperbacks (as a derogatory term comparing them to marsh rats) where the leather is very consistently thinner (and its NOT how they are stretched, so please don't go there in response)
the consensus of the locals, and mine as well, is its the different food choices available in the marsh, vs on the creeks.
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Post by thebeav2 on Oct 10, 2012 7:32:28 GMT -6
Good luck Lee
The only coyotes Id trap Is for the Live market, you can get your coyote trapping rush without having to skin them and $100.00 per yote Is just icing on the cake.
Hey Steve you should try It I can set you up with all the land you can trap + big time otter and beaver ground. And 5 star accommodations. Just say the word
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Post by blackhammer on Oct 10, 2012 7:43:44 GMT -6
I think feed quality makes a huge difference. I have caught rats from ditches and creeks that are on par with any southern Mn marsh or river rat.
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Post by thebeav2 on Oct 10, 2012 7:47:11 GMT -6
This rat thing has always had me stumped.
You take a prime cat tail marsh In WI and you can take some beautiful rats. You go to ND and trap the same beautiful cat tail marshes and there Is no comparison In fur quality. So In this situation It's not the feed. So It's either the rat Itself or the water. Even fall rats are short on leather and spring rats are even worse.
I can understand creek rats being a lesser rat do to a lack of a quality food source.
A little tip for putting up those paper rats. Is do not OVER DRY them . Over night on the stretcher Is plenty.And leave every bit of fat on them and when you take them off your forms wipe that leather down with a greasy rag.
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