No snow, what alternatives?

[RangerJack]

Trapping is really slow right now, for me anyways. The bait doesn't stink (frozen), the fox are getting smarter, the snares aren't producing because I can't find active fox trails, I'm getting frustrated! Time to do a snow dance! I'm building "narrow spots" in drainage ditches, and I'm hoping they'll be good snare spots come snow. I have also been looking for muskrat houses in cattail sloughs, to place roadkill by, in hopes that a fox makes it his lookout station. Night hunting is a bust too. No artificial lights until Jan. 1st...BAH! Enough complaining!

What have all you trappers/predator hunters been up to?

good luck!

[kobear]

Rats! With no snow the bubble trails are like a road map to set your traps by. I run baited under ice sets, what a winter it's been for that!

[lichen fox]

Ranger...if your bait doesn't stink just because it's cold out, it can't be very good bait! Try some comercial lures and baits...as for trails to snare on, you can easily make your own with an atv or even a pickup...I used to find grassy area's with field on each side...drive the same tracks back and forth a few times then walk back and set snares in the tracks on both ends and/or in the middle, if you want you could add some scent to make the critters work the area...If I was still trapping I'd be droooooolllling over a fall like this to trap with no snow!!

[1johntimm]

What do you use for bait for Muskrats? I'm assuming you put them in a conibear set?

[RangerJack]

Ranger...if your bait doesn't stink just because it's cold out, it can't be very good bait! Try some comercial lures and baits...as for trails to snare on, you can easily make your own with an atv or even a pickup...I used to find grassy area's with field on each side...drive the same tracks back and forth a few times then walk back and set snares in the tracks on both ends and/or in the middle, if you want you could add some scent to make the critters work the area...If I was still trapping I'd be droooooolllling over a fall like this to trap with no snow!!

lichen, I don't use commercial baits or pee right now. from my experience in my area, it scares away the majority of the fox for some reason. I just haven't found that perfect lure.

I use chunks of pheasant and rabbit (or cat) meat down dirt holes, but as of late it just freezes up.

Here's one I got today on a snare:

[lichen fox]

There's alot of really good commercial baits and scents out there...our favorite was always grawes out of wapeton...also urine on/around your sets is a great way to help cover any scent you may have left...

[kobear]

For muskrats I use parsnips, cost is more but I think they do better than carrots. Much easier to break up and get on the bait nail. The bait nail comes up off the angled 1x6 old fence board my #1 Long spring sits on. The board goes through the ice at a 45 degree angle with the bait just below the ice and the trap just below the bait, touching is best or they get a foot in between and toss the trap. Wire your bait on to make them work on it harder. I put them right in the bubble trail between big huts and the feeders, or bank den and feeders.

Old School.

I run some huts setup with stoploss traps on the weekends when I can do 12 hour checks. The boards don't spook the whole colony because captured rats can't reach the surface so they expire quickly, then sink out of sight so there is no urgency to get them checked.

[certified jumbo]

trapping in general is usually more difficult without snow. i'm not going to start until we get snow. i only use snares and find it much easier with snow. but i'm not a die hard trapper.