Trapping and varmint calling tips and tricks

[Gordie]

Thought this would be a good place to share the little tips and tricks for trapping and hunting hopefully we can start a good thread and then get a sticky for it .

Do any of you guys run colony traps for rats?

If so what's your favorite way to set them?

[RangerJack]

Red fox calling tip:

Start with a "raspy woodpecker" or "ranting red bird" sound, after a few minutes, pause for 5 or more minutes. Repeat if you want, otherwise switch to "red fox pup distress." For some reason the male red fox always (okay, sometimes=P) come tearing in! I think the bird sounds attract them and the pup distress closes the deal! I've had good luck with it. The pup distress is my favorite fox call, but I always start with bird sounds for some reason=P

Good luck!

[catfishkid]

Hey guys I made some the colony traps the other weekend. I put this on another site but thought you might like it as well. I made a bending break out of some scraps we had around. It is about 3 feet long. I took a scrap piece of plywood that was 1/2 thick and cut one piece about 10 inches wide and the other is 16 inches. I then added a 2x2 under both of them. Next I cut out a notch for each hing. This way it is almost flat. It has a small bump, but it works good. The top side I ripped a 2x4 with an angle on it so I could bend past 90 degrees. A hole was drilled through both the 2x4 and the plywood. I added a rope loop with a knot on both sides of the top. This is to step on to hold the material down while bending it. Next time I will lay a 2x4 on the bottom of the loop and step on it that way I wont have to reach under so far.

I hope this makes sense and the pictures will help. I did use J Clips to put them together. Make sure you buy a good pliers and not the cheap one for 10 dollars. It bent before I could finish the first trap. I was able to use a regular slip joint pliers to finish the rest of them.

One thing I did change from the original was to put the hinges on top instead of between the two halfs. The top two pictures show the best way, the bottem pictures show the way I started. It still worked but it is just easyer with it on top.

I hope this helps anyone trying to build traps. It is easier then beating them across a board.

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[strait-meat]

Red fox calling tip:

Start with a "raspy woodpecker" or "ranting red bird" sound, after a few minutes, pause for 5 or more minutes. Repeat if you want, otherwise switch to "red fox pup distress." For some reason the male red fox always (okay, sometimes=P) come tearing in! I think the bird sounds attract them and the pup distress closes the deal! I've had good luck with it. The pup distress is my favorite fox call, but I always start with bird sounds for some reason=P

Good luck!

Are you using hand calls or electronic calling? Both or what do you find you get the most response from?

[strait-meat]

Hey catfish--sorry I am new to trapping but would like to learn--how does this colony trap even work? Do you attach traps to the wiring or what? I must be missing something except for the empty Miller Lite can/cans that made this project a success.

[jstrommen13]

Just wondering how long you guys sit on a set and call? I have sat for an hour and been successful with yotes.

[RangerJack]

I use a FoxPro digital call and work the volume levels constantly. I haven't been using mouth calls at all this year.

good luck

[K_Josh87]

we typically sit 15-20 min per spot... maybe this is to short, we may be missing out on some yotes??? The ones I have had come in typically have been within the first 5 mins...

[catfishkid]

strait-meat.

check out this video on colony trapping. It shold give you a good idea on how the process works. This guy also has more videos on trapping that should give you some of the basics.

good luck.

[Gordie]

I have caught few episode on trapping on show called f& t northamerican trapper

They show some pretty good stuff and detailed sets also

I myself would like to start using colony sets

[catfishkid]

I went out this year for the first time in about ten years. I had so much fun that I am working on projects this winter for next season. I have never used colony traps, but being able to put one in a run and get more then one in a trap per check is a no brainer.

I am also going to make some drowner rods for pocket sets. They are a 5ft piece of 5/16 smooth rod. there is a nut welded on it about ten inches up from the bottem and a washer welded on the top end. A 2ft T stake of the same material is used to stake it down.

I did try using the pogo stakes this year and really liked them. I used the 2" size as I was mostly trapping creeks and the soil can be soft. Once they were driven all the way in There was no way I could pull it out. I know that there isnt a coon alive that could ever pull on out.

These are some things I am doing I hope it gets you thinking about projects for the winter.

[Gordie]

If you could post a few pictures.

They sound like the would work really good

[catfishkid]

I havnt made any of the drowner rods yet, but here is a link to a video from the maker of pogo stakes. It gives a good demo of how they work and the holding ability. Once I get the drowner rods made I will add photos of them.

[Gordie]

Those are sweet and I 've known those being called disposables

I will be building those for sure I think its timwe to start getting ready for next season.

[catfishkid]

I purchased 2" fender washers at the hardware store and ordered the heavy duty J hooks. You will have to open up the J hook a bit to get that big of wash on it. I used wire instean of cable on mine and had no problem. Just make sure that you wrap the wire good on the hook.

This year I am going to try to have them pre-made. A 1 1/2 coil with 5ft of wire on a pogo all ready to go. That way you can dig a pocket and push in the pogo and your done. I think it is around 30 cents per anchor. At the end of the season I pulled or dug some of them or I would just cut off the wire close to the ground.

[Saw557]

Not sure if colony traps are legal in MN

[catfishkid]

Saw557 I spoke with a CO just this evening, He stated that they are completly legal. I am going to set them out this coming season for sure.

[Gordie]

I thinking of setting these also they look to be a great way to pile up the rats . There are some really great DVD's out on how to use these I cant rememeber the names of them but I will find them and post them

[catfishkid]

I recently got a video by gary schumann called rat race. He covers early season through late season. It is mostly colony trap with leg holds at late season. I would recomend it. Aprox 2.5 hrs.

[Gordie]

I recently got a video by gary schumann called rat race. He covers early season through late season. It is mostly colony trap with leg holds at late season. I would recomend it. Aprox 2.5 hrs.

Yep this is the video I was thinking of. I think I want to get this vid also.