Author Topic: weasel box sets? (Read 2296 times)

backwoodsboy · « **on:** January 29, 2006, 11:27:27 AM »

i found a link for the construction of a weasel box on www.trapperman.com, i would like to try it becuase it sounds like a totally pet proff land set, i am curiouse if anyone know's if this a productive method of catching weasels, if so how do you set and what kind of bait do you use?

thanks, cory

OldCoon · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2006, 01:43:33 PM »

Like all sets the weasel box set is only going to be effective if made where there's plenty of weasel activity. It seems to me that we had more weasels years ago here in Pennsylvania than we do now. I have no idea what the populations are like where you live.

While I have never used the weasel box I have seen them used and to some effect but this was years back. The way I saw the worked was the boxes were put out a few weeks before the actual start of trapping operations. A handful or two of chicken scratch feed was placed on the ground and the weasel box placed over the grain. Many times a flat rock was placed atop the box to prevent larger animals from overturning it. If all went according to plan within a week or so you would begin to see signs of mousy activity entering to box for the free eats. The live mice were actually the weasel bait. When the trapper want to begin operations he merely placed a number 0 or 1 sized trap inside the box at each end at the holes and waited. If he was lucky he caught weasels. If he was unlucky he caught nothing. Back when Pennsylvania paid a $1 bounty on weasels there were men who specialized in trapping them. But in those days chicken ranges were fairly common and there's nothing like a chicken range for attracting the tiny killers.

Mallard · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2006, 06:27:11 AM »

I run mostly weasel boxes, but do play with the can set and what not. I've gone to snap traps in the boxes, lowered the hole, and put the biat right in their face. I like both chicken or muskrat liver right on the trigger, and a dab of lennon's weasel lure on the underside of the lid overhang.

Here's a photo:

North country · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2006, 02:22:32 AM »

Mallard,

That is one beautiful pic! Its obvious that whoever took that photo of you is very highly skilled, smart, funny, handsome...and modest, too!

Oh, and congrats on the weasel catch :grin:

-NC

Bogmaster · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2006, 06:33:59 AM »

So North Country----I take it, you took the photo of bill. lol
Tom

Asa Lenon · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2006, 11:00:54 AM »

Back when I was growing up I caught probably 300 or more weasels in weasel boxes so guess I would have to say they are effective. The secret is knowing the type of areas weasels frequent and then being able to identify weasel tracks in the snow. I very seldom placed the boxes at any location where weasel tracks were not observed first. When tracks are identified, the weasel will generally travel the same hunting route over and over. The hole in the box is great eye appeal so the hole should always be facing the anticipated approach of the weasel, and not far off the travel route. I always used chicken or rabbit as bait in the back of the box and my Weasel Super All Call lure underneath the bait and some smeared underneath the overhang on the box. Weasel gland lure is really beneficial in getting big weasels with a full stomach to enter the box. Ace

Mallard · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2006, 07:05:16 AM »

Quote from: North country

Mallard,

That is one beautiful pic! Its obvious that whoever took that photo of you is very highly skilled, smart, funny, handsome...and modest, too!

-NC

Not to mention you smell like weasel gland to boot! :eek: You're wife is one lucky gal! :wink:

Dand · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2006, 10:47:03 PM »

A friend of mine loaned me a recent trapping magazing (Dec 05?) Trapper and Predator Caller or some thing like that. It has an ermine on the front cover. There was quite an article about using weasel boxes and one guy who traps them exclusively.

OldCoon · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2006, 12:09:30 PM »

Ermines are beautiful little animals. I can see why they used them to trim the king's robes. However in my section of Pennsylvania, southcentral part, the weasels don't turn white but stay brown year-round.

Sadly we don't many any more. Every year when the game commission releases it's annual fur report less and less numbers of weasels being caught and sold are reported.

For a trapper in my section to attempt to specialize on them is an object in futility.