Hey guys!!
I'll be trapping for 3 weeks in january and filling my otter tag is priority #1 for that time.
I've got a decent understanding of otter from books, but I'll be making sets in trout streams where we have seen otter sign the past few winters (slides in the snow, toilets, etc.). None of my books really focus on winter trapping or stream trapping, they're all open water.
So my question is what type of sets can I make in streams that will take otter?
FYI - I have 8 330's and 2 CDR's that I plan on setting.
Also I only cn catch 1 and I have access to alot of streams, so should I set a few here and there or gang set 1 stream?
Hi,
Here's an idea for trapping otter, goes into detail for icy conditions, I got from an e-book on trapping I bought.
You can see the e-book I'm quoting from here:
http://self-teaching.com/trapping/Its a bloody good book. I've even figured how to use one of the traps in it to catch kangaroos with (I'm an Aussy so we don't get much ice
I'll just post a bit here I thought was good about otter in icy conditions:
"...In the winter when the snow is on the ground, the otter navigates by sliding, and when on the ice he may often be seen to run a few steps and then throw himself on his belly and slide the distance of several feet. They are very fond of playing in the snow, and make most glorious use of any steep snow-covered bank, sloping toward the river. Ascending to the top of such an incline they throw themselves on the slippery surface and thus slide swiftly into the water. This pastime is often continued for hours, and is taken advantage of in trapping the playful creatures. A short search will reveal the place where they crawl from the water on to the bank, and at this spot, which will generally be shallow, a steel trap should be set on the bed of the river, about four inches under water. The trap should be secured by a stout chain, the latter being ringed to a sliding pole which will lead the animal when caught into deep water. If deep water is not near at hand, the spring pole may be used, the object of either being to prevent the animal from gnawing off its leg and thus making its escape.
The trap may also be placed at the top or the slide, two or three feet back of the slope, a place being hollowed out to receive it and the whole covered with snow. To make success more certain a log may be laid on each side of the trap, thus forming an avenue in which the animal will be sure to run before throwing itself on the slope. Care should be taken to handle nothing with the bare hands, as the otter is very keen scented and shy. Anoint the trap with a few drops of fish oil or otter musk. If none of these are handy, ordinary musk will answer very well.
The trap may also be set and weighted with a heavy stone and chain, as described for trapping the beaver. Another method still is to find some log in the stream having one end projecting above water. Sprinkle some musk on this projecting end and set the trap on the log in three or four inches of water, securing it firmly by a chain, also beneath the water.
A rock which projects over the stream may also be utilized in the same way as seen in the page title at the opening of this section. Smear the musk on the edge which juts into the water, and secure the trap by the chain as before. When the animal is caught he will fall or jump into the water, and the weight of the trap and chain will sink him. In every case it is necessary to obliterate every sign of human presence by throwing water over every foot print, and over everything with which the naked hands have come in contact. Where the traps are thus set in the water it should be done while wading or in a boat. In the winter when the ponds and rivers are frozen over the otters make holes through the ice at which they come up to devour their prey. Where the water is a foot deep beneath any of these holes the trap may be set in the bottom, the chain being secured to a heavy stone. When the otter endeavors to emerge from the hole he will press his foot on the trap and will thus be caught. If the water is deep beneath the hole the trap may be baited with a small fish attached to the pan, and then carefully lowered with its chain and stone to the bottom. For this purpose the Newhouse, No. 3, is best adapted, as the otter is in this case caught by the head.
The beaten track of the animal may often be discovered in the snow in the winter time, and a trap carefully sunk in such a furrow and covered so as to resemble its surroundings, will be likely to secure the first otter that endeavors to pass over it. A trap set at the mouth of the otter's burrow and carefully covered is also often successful, using the sliding pole to lead him into deep water.
Every trapper has his pet theories and methods of trapping all the different animals, and the otter has its full share. We have given several of the best methods; and anyone of them will secure the desired result of capture, and all of them have stood the test of time and experience.
The skin of the otter should be removed whole, and the operation may be performed in the following manner: Slit down the hind legs to the vent; cut the skin loose around the vent, and slit up the entire length of the tail, freeing it from the bone. With the aid of the knife the skin should now be peeled off, drawing it backward and carefully cutting around the mouth and eyes before taking it from the head.
With the fur thus inside, the skin is ready for the stretcher and the tail should be spread out and tacked around the edges.
The sliding pole , and the spring pole are real easy to make BTW..I made em myself for a try with Platapuss..can't say it worked cause thats IS illegal here in AU unlike rabbits etc.
Hope this was a bit helpful.
Kind regards
Rommel
