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Offline tbmaker

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Best muskrat leghold?
« on: December 20, 2011, 04:54:50 PM »
Planing for next season already, haven't trapped rats in years. Thought about it this year then realized how few footholds I had left. Want to pick up a couple of dozen to go along with the 110's.
Anyone use the new Sleepy Creek, Bridger, or Dukes?
I've used the old B&L and Victor styles (Bridger and Dukes now) since I was a kid.
How's the quality now a days on these guys?
Like Sleepy Creek brand but not hip on their stop loss design.
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Offline Bogmaster

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2011, 06:00:48 PM »
 The majority of my muskrat traps are #1 stop loss.I worked with Bill Duke on redsigning their stop loss. I have Dukes,Bridger,Blake and Lambs,Northwoods and Victors-- I don't have any sleepy creeks and nevr will.
 Tom
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If you need trapping supplies---call ,E-mail , or PM me . Home of Tom Olson's Mound Master Beaver Lures  ,Blackies Blend--lures and baits.Snare supplies,Dye ,dip,wax,Large assortment of gloves and Choppers-at very good prices.Hardware,snares,cable restraints and more!Give me a call(651) 436-2539
  I now also carry --- The WIEBE line of Knives and their new 8 and 12 inch fleshing Knives.

Offline Macthediver

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2011, 02:00:29 AM »
I'm in Tom's corner on this one I sold all my odd mix of stoploss type and bought the Duke #1 guarded. I like the idea of reaching in the boat and knowing the trap I grab sets and works just like the last next one will. Before I bought the Dukes I had a mix of 2 style Victors, some Blake & Lamb and a few of something else I don't know what? In my opinion the Dukes are more than enough trap for rats at a fair price. I've held a few pretty big coon too that stumble in to them.
Mac
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Offline tbmaker

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2011, 09:34:40 AM »
Thanks Tom and Mac.
Tom, don't like Sleepy Creeks in general?
Good to know they hold up, lower price can always back fire on a guy.
Wayne
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Offline Rock Home Isle

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2011, 11:39:47 AM »
We've been trapping rats for about 2 weeks...We've caught only one rat. But we've caught 4 mink. Looks like the mink have driven all the rats out of my old trapping area.
 
Been doing best with a 1 1/2 Longspring.
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Offline bblwi

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2011, 01:31:04 PM »
I use several dozen #1 Victor round pan stoploss traps. I had these b4 Tom worked with Duke company. I like to reach in the bucket and the traps are the same too.
I also have 2 dozen 1.5 single longs I like in larger feed beds or platforms next to the deep water sides of houses etc.
 
I have several dozen 1.5 coils I use for coons and use them for rats where water is deeper and vegetation hangup is minimal.
I have never been a body grip rat trapper. I should take the time to learn that skill.
 
Bryce
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Offline Bogmaster

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2011, 05:24:37 AM »
 Rock,I doubt that the mink is the main reason for the decline in your muskrats.
 Look to the skies--your hawks,eagles and owls are probably your main culprit.
 Since all raptors have been given total protection--as their populations have increased--muskrat populations have declined.
 Tom
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If you need trapping supplies---call ,E-mail , or PM me . Home of Tom Olson's Mound Master Beaver Lures  ,Blackies Blend--lures and baits.Snare supplies,Dye ,dip,wax,Large assortment of gloves and Choppers-at very good prices.Hardware,snares,cable restraints and more!Give me a call(651) 436-2539
  I now also carry --- The WIEBE line of Knives and their new 8 and 12 inch fleshing Knives.

Offline Rock Home Isle

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2011, 05:33:48 AM »
Yeah Bog...you are most likely right. There is a Great Horned Owl that we kick out everytime that we go and check the sets. Kicked him out again this morning.
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“Lost?? Hmmm... been fearsome confused for a month or two, but I ain't never been lost!”
Henry Frap the "Mountain Men"

“Ain't this somethin'? I told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Mother Gue said to me; ‘Make your life go here, son. Here's where the people is. Them mountains is for Indians and wild men.’  "Mother Gue", I says "the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world," and by God, I was right. Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.”
Del Gue in "Jeremiah Johnson"

Offline rzwieg

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #8 on: December 31, 2011, 10:35:15 AM »
I like #1 1/2 longsprings. (Victors or Sleepy Creek. The old B&Ls would shear a rat's leg off.)  I also have a small assortment of #1 guard traps like B&L, Duke , and Victor. #2 Victor square jaw coils work really well in deep water too...see they are useful after all!
Truth be told I seldom target rats except in ponds for control purposes.
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Offline RdFx

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #9 on: January 01, 2012, 03:55:31 AM »
The nbr 2 square jaw victor is a great rat trap as mink.  You set in shallow water  like a body grip and  it works like a body grip!  My favorite stoploss is the B&L nbr one with the  stoploss spring coming back toward the longspring.  Havent used any Duke stoploss and that is becuase i  set some at a rondezvous and the springs were stronger than the B&L and i dont need that as  trap jaws would act like  shear!!
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Offline Bogmaster

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #10 on: January 01, 2012, 05:04:45 AM »
Lee,the trap jaws did not act as a shears.Thye worked just fine on rats--to many guys over think some things--us included. The spring was changed about 3 years ago to a lighter spring--so you haven't seen the latest version.
 Next time I see you,I will show you the newest model.
 Tom
 
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If you need trapping supplies---call ,E-mail , or PM me . Home of Tom Olson's Mound Master Beaver Lures  ,Blackies Blend--lures and baits.Snare supplies,Dye ,dip,wax,Large assortment of gloves and Choppers-at very good prices.Hardware,snares,cable restraints and more!Give me a call(651) 436-2539
  I now also carry --- The WIEBE line of Knives and their new 8 and 12 inch fleshing Knives.

Offline RdFx

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #11 on: January 01, 2012, 07:24:32 AM »
Ok , remember to show me.... probably at Dist 1-2-3
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Offline Macthediver

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #12 on: January 02, 2012, 04:55:54 AM »
Tom
I never said anything to anyone about it but I did notice the spring change. In fact I just noticed it this fall when we were putting new tags on some of the dukes my son picked up. All of my Duke guarded must have come out of the older stock as the main springs look much like the old Vic #1 spring some what triangular shaped. The spring on the dozen Dukes my son picked up are narrower. As for shearing I've never noticed any shearing from the traps I have. I have seen spring rub on occasion, but I've seen that over the years on various different type traps.
 
Mac
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Offline rzwieg

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Re: Best muskrat leghold?
« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2012, 05:43:50 PM »
Quote from: RdFx on January 01, 2012, 03:55:31 AM
The nbr 2 square jaw victor is a great rat trap as mink.  You set in shallow water  like a body grip and  it works like a body grip!  My favorite stoploss is the B&L nbr one with the  stoploss spring coming back toward the longspring.  Havent used any Duke stoploss and that is becuase i  set some at a rondezvous and the springs were stronger than the B&L and i dont need that as  trap jaws would act like  shear!!

Yes RdFx the old #2 coils work great in shallow water on rats and mink but coons often chew out.  >:(
 
You know, I've never had a Duke shear a critters leg but have had coons twist up the guards up badly...oh well, trapping is like life: you take the good with the bad. :)
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