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04-06-2015, 12:36 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Copperhead Road, Morinville
Posts: 19,289
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TFNG
Hunterdave- I'm not going to be surprised if someone more experienced thinks your rats are overpopulated. You're probably going to have to thin them out.
I was also wondering how it's been getting around the fields? Are most walking everywhere? Trapping off the roads?
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That was my thought as well, I have to check the manual and see what it says. It's far to early for them to be mating so I figure that the bit rats must have been chased out of huts, or something along those lines.
I can drive within 100m of where I'm trapping and I pull an otter sled to the slough. It works good for pushing in front of me to break up the ice. With the warmer weather coming I should be able to stash my 10' jon boat in the weeds and not have to deal with ice on the surface. Until then, I'm doing mid-afternoon checks to give the ice a chance to melt a bit.
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04-06-2015, 07:25 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 968
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A lot of fields are drying up east of Calgary. A lot of farmers around here don't want you driving around the fields regardless. But I also capitalize on any sloughs by roads as well. I noticed with rat trapping that there are many ways to trap them. Many different ideas and sets to make. Its a good time.
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04-06-2015, 09:25 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: AB
Posts: 530
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Dave I got my first one with bite marks today. There was quite a few, some were even healed over and some looked kind of infected (puss). Pretty gross actually. It came from the exact same pond as the last 13 that had no marks. The only difference is that it was definitely the smallest of the bunch. On a brighter note I got another beaver today and put out three more 330's and it's warming up!
Last edited by MB1; 04-06-2015 at 09:32 PM.
Reason: pictures
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04-06-2015, 10:39 PM
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AO Sponsor
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,481
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Here's mine... They are the real thing.
Duke 1 1/2 coils with springs changed out so I can set them all day long with my ruined hands! The clips are designed to be used with 1 1/2 coils and Dukes fit them very well.
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04-06-2015, 10:49 PM
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AO Sponsor
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,481
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Hmmm... This post was supposed to be a video. Maybe it'll work tomorrow? Maybe not.
Looks like if I leave the link on then everybody gets to rummage thru my account??? Not gonna happen!
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04-07-2015, 07:17 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,308
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty S
Here's mine... They are the real thing.
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do you sell them?
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04-07-2015, 08:08 AM
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AO Sponsor
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,481
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I have a few in stock. Lots of Duke 1.5 coils and carry the change out springs too. I don't use them stock, no sense using a trap that's strong enough to hold a wolf on a muskrat!
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04-07-2015, 08:17 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,308
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makes me want to sell all my floats/LS's.
any aspiring rat trappers want 30 floats complete 60 traps? must live atleast 150km away from me. make me an offer.
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04-07-2015, 10:15 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Nanton,AB
Posts: 1,025
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Quote:
Originally Posted by braggadoe
makes me want to sell all my floats/LS's.
any aspiring rat trappers want 30 floats complete 60 traps? must live atleast 150km away from me. make me an offer.
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LOL I just did exact same thing Paul floats only though,may sell 1 LS and get more 1 1/2's
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04-07-2015, 10:47 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,308
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i bought 3 dozen sleepy creeks 1.5 and probably another 3 dozen used 1.5 LS's.
could of bought atleast 10-12 dozen duke 1.5 CS's. probably even more if i shopped around, for the same amount.
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04-07-2015, 01:52 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Nanton,AB
Posts: 1,025
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Quote:
Originally Posted by braggadoe
i bought 3 dozen sleepy creeks 1.5 and probably another 3 dozen used 1.5 LS's.
could of bought atleast 10-12 dozen duke 1.5 CS's. probably even more if i shopped around, for the same amount.
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Yep going duke 1 1/2 and i'll get spring change outs as well,ight weight here I come
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04-07-2015, 02:08 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: In a house
Posts: 7,770
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And I am the one wishing I had some floats now. haha
I think you guys are on the right track. I love my stick in the mud sets. This system with fiberglass poles and springs is a step up. I might have to re rig myself
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04-07-2015, 03:58 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,308
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funnel/colony traps are the way to go.IMO. fall,winter,spring. but its impossible to cover every single rat run in a slough. you still need another arrow or two in the quiver.
the biggest plus, being adjustable, the pole,clip,CS's. wouldn't be a tangled mess, and not take up much room.
looking forward to next season. sick and tired of skinning muskrats thou.
time to go steelhead fishing.
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04-07-2015, 04:11 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: In a house
Posts: 7,770
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Quote:
Originally Posted by braggadoe
funnel/colony traps are the way to go.IMO. fall,winter,spring. but its impossible to cover every single rat run in a slough. you still need another arrow or two in the quiver.
the biggest plus, being adjustable, the pole,clip,CS's. wouldn't be a tangled mess, and not take up much room.
looking forward to next season. sick and tired of skinning muskrats thou.
time to go steelhead fishing.
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I think for you guys down south those funnels are the way to go but up here I find the habbitat may be different and the bank dens are harder to find and deeper. I have noticed you guys have open prairie sloughs where as I mostly have Cat tails and swamp to deal with. The few spots I have used them though they are killer for sure.
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04-07-2015, 04:33 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Stony Plain
Posts: 16
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Marty , whats your price on the fiberglass pole and both spring clips / bait -trap holder , Thanks
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04-07-2015, 05:36 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Copperhead Road, Morinville
Posts: 19,289
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I would love to be able to use colony and sub traps effectively during the spring where I am trapping. Unfortunately, there are no banks on the slough that I trap thus no bank dens to target. I put out my first sub trap today at a hut that the ice has opened up around. Everything else is a float set.
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04-08-2015, 10:07 AM
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AO Sponsor
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,481
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I don't have stuff priced yet, I haven't brought it in bulk yet. Meanwhile the manufacturer is completely out of stock. The trap clips will have to be a little over a buck and the bait clips slightly less. The poles need to be the right diameter, I know one guy that bought some poles locally that the clips didn't fit on, just a little too thin, so we might have to bring some of them in too.
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04-08-2015, 10:16 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: North Eastern Alberta
Posts: 891
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Spring trapping.
Well, rats have been slow do to weather. I have managed to pick up 150 or so through the ice though. Finally got some beaver sets out on a creek that opened up. Picked up a couple nice beavers yesterday in the 2 traps I had out. Set another 7 330's, still slow for rats, but it is warming up! This was the heaviest pack I have ever carried with 2 40ish lb beavers in it!
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04-08-2015, 12:38 PM
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AO Sponsor
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,481
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Off topic....
Spruce, what the heck does that big buck in your avatar score?
Sorry guys, just had to ask!
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04-08-2015, 02:09 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: North Eastern Alberta
Posts: 891
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Whitey
No problem Marty, not the first one to ask. He grossed 189 and change, didn't net well, as it was a deduction machine. Here is a picture of Dobson's finished product, a lot easier to see the mass he carried around.
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04-11-2015, 03:26 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: AB
Posts: 530
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Six more rats today, all in cage traps. Saw another two swimming should of had the .22! Beaver are still beating me at this game! Got back in the truck just before the storm!
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04-12-2015, 04:39 PM
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AO Sponsor
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,481
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Is Edmonton and north country open yet?
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04-12-2015, 05:55 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Alberta
Posts: 1,259
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty S
Is Edmonton and north country open yet?
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The wind is moving the ice around the last couple days and things are just starting to open up. Some of the smaller sheltered sloughs are still iced up but thawing fast. Creeks and rivers are open with run off.
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04-12-2015, 06:26 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Copperhead Road, Morinville
Posts: 19,289
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty S
Is Edmonton and north country open yet?
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30kms north of Edmonton I've been trapping muskrats along the open edges of a slough since 1 April. Beavers started to swim in the drainage ditches about a week ago.
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04-13-2015, 12:01 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: North Eastern Alberta
Posts: 891
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Yesterday's catch
Well beavers are finally on the move in the rivers and creeks. Still a little ways away from getting on the bigger water, and a couple weeks for the lakes. Here is yesterdays work.
Happy Trapping, Spruce
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04-13-2015, 12:03 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: North Eastern Alberta
Posts: 891
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty S
Is Edmonton and north country open yet?
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Not here Marty, some dug outs, and moving water. Ice edges on smaller stuff also. Another week, maybe less with this god forsaken wind.
Spruce
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04-14-2015, 09:07 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 968
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Here is a couple of pics of rats on my floats. I had some lath sets and 110 over holes. But due to my butter fingers I don't like having the phone near the water.
I have now pulled all my sets. Busy putting up rats before the last receiving date. Good luck at the sale.
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04-21-2015, 09:03 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: North Eastern Alberta
Posts: 891
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Coming along
Spring trapping is coming along nicely. I have pulled all of my rat stuff, as they have started to fight and the pelt value has plummeted. Beaver production has been really good, cracked the 50 mark yesterday. Also threw in a picture of what I dropped off in Westlock yesterday minus a few Beaver.
Spruce
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04-24-2015, 05:15 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Copperhead Road, Morinville
Posts: 19,289
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Anyone still chasing muskrats? I'm still going strong here just north of Edmonton. Initially I caught a lot of rats with old scars from the winter but that has improved significantly. I've yet to catch a muskrat with a fresh bite and I'm working on my second load of fur for the depot. I'm hoping to keep going until the end of the month but I guess that they'll soon be mating and it'll be time for a few days break and time to start building decks.
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04-24-2015, 05:34 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 968
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I was done about 2 weeks ago. I am east of Calgary and the beaver have been springy for a while. I am envious of you guys up north. I could be still going strong. Well that's trapping. Keep at her there will be lots of time this summer a guy wishes he would still be trapping. Keep posting the pics.
Thanks
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