austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Apr 16, 2013 6:39:14 GMT -5
I took a ride around the local muskrat ditches here on private ground where last year... just like every year... I cleaned out all available muskrats to be caught. As usual, I trapped it hard early in the season and once again late in the season to pick up remaining stragglers.
And once again, just like every year, the muskrats are back to repopulate. I flushed several rats off the banks while feeding on fresh green grass. I saw prints and clawmarks everywhere in the mud. I saw droppings on every log and object jutting above surface of the waters.
I saw the framework of a healthy muskrat population once again this fall.
**
Right now all of our water tables are restored to nearly normal levels. If they remain this way pretty much all year, we should have ample muskrats to work with across the state next season.
Provide rodents with enough acceptable habitat and they'll fill in the voids. Here's to praying for rains and normal to modestly high water tables this fall!
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Post by whartonrattrapper on Apr 16, 2013 7:06:57 GMT -5
likewise, I played golf at the local course yesterday where I trapped all the rats a year ago. saw a rat swimming and a couple feed beds in one of the small ponds, this after not seeing any all last year.
Also took a Blanket female beaver, large male, 3-55" and 2 kits. out of the beaver dam this year after hunting season. now the dams built back and fresh peelers. Got love it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 9:41:25 GMT -5
That is normal, except where there is usually a dozen or so eating along the bank, I have only seen one or two. Because of the drought last year, and overtrapping due to high fur prices, the remainder of the rats you see will become dinner for birds of prey. Unless the rat seaon is closed for a few years don't get your hopes up for a large harves anytime soon. The rat population is not going "magically apear" like many hope.
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Post by Lonny Mattison on Apr 16, 2013 9:44:37 GMT -5
I SEEN ALOT OF RATS TRAPPED IN A WEEKS TIME THIS SPRING!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 9:51:29 GMT -5
And that is what kills the population.
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Post by Lonny Mattison on Apr 16, 2013 10:20:25 GMT -5
I HOPE SO!!
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Post by Lonny Mattison on Apr 16, 2013 10:20:47 GMT -5
Then the whining can begin
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Post by Lonny Mattison on Apr 16, 2013 10:21:33 GMT -5
Actually..if some people were not lazy and get off the road, they would find there are alot of rats.
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Post by whartonrattrapper on Apr 16, 2013 10:29:28 GMT -5
Unless you live in a trategic location where literaly if you walk out the front door the trapping season closes the 15th of February and if you walk out the back door it closes 7th of April.
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Post by whistlerwhittler on Apr 16, 2013 11:12:40 GMT -5
Austin: I drove through your neck of the woods this weekend, my first time seeing that part of the state. Nice looking flats at the south end of the lake. It would be nice to be able to trap rats and beaver in an area like that!
I also hope we maintain these moisture levels throughout the year.
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Post by barrington on Apr 16, 2013 11:17:06 GMT -5
I also went on a muskrat ride on sunday and found one swamp with over a hundred houses in about 30 acres. This was on state land, Barrington is headed north next season.
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Apr 16, 2013 11:44:31 GMT -5
I also went on a muskrat ride on sunday and found one swamp with over a hundred houses in about 30 acres. This was on state land, Barrington is headed north next season. yup... they are out there
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Apr 16, 2013 11:46:17 GMT -5
Austin: I drove through your neck of the woods this weekend, my first time seeing that part of the state. Nice looking flats at the south end of the lake. It would be nice to be able to trap rats and beaver in an area like that! I also hope we maintain these moisture levels throughout the year. if that marsh level can stay where it is right now into November, said marsh is good for 1,000+ rats easy. But if it drops -2 feet as it has the past several seasons instead, rats are nil so it's merely a matter of moisture and water tables come next November
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 12:19:00 GMT -5
LOL....."100" rat houses...If you have seen them, someone else has already trapped them.....
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Apr 16, 2013 12:22:43 GMT -5
LOL....."100" rat houses...If you have seen them, someone else has already trapped them..... he'll be the first one there next year... someone has to b first, might as well be Barrington
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Post by barrington on Apr 16, 2013 12:40:19 GMT -5
I actually looked at about half a dz good spots,I'm sure they are someones home water,guess I'll meet some new trapper friends next fall. I actually have 3 boats now ready to go next year and plan to make several hundred stools and some floats in the off season.
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Apr 16, 2013 12:43:55 GMT -5
marshrat & I are rooting for ya to hammer them hard next season!
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Post by barrington on Apr 16, 2013 12:54:41 GMT -5
Were probably all headed for the same spot. I was going to take a picture of said swamp but I figure a few of you would recognise the picture and tell me it was already claimed.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 13:14:20 GMT -5
I stay away from public swamps, not worth the bother....plan on having all your traps stolen if you trap on state land, I made that mistake once.
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Post by barrington on Apr 16, 2013 13:22:28 GMT -5
I have trapped all over the state on state land and never had much problem. Haveing a trap taken is infuriating but they wont catch anything if i dont set them. maybe thats why this place looked full,everyone was scared to set it up.
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Trapper Jack
life member nysta,alaska trappers assn,nta, foothill trappers
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Post by Trapper Jack on Apr 16, 2013 13:23:15 GMT -5
Hopes are high, just like the water. I wish all a grand upcoming season.
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Post by Lonny Mattison on Apr 16, 2013 13:53:12 GMT -5
I stay away from public swamps, not worth the bother....plan on having all your traps stolen if you trap on state land, I made that mistake once. Not really.
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Post by Adirondack-Jim on Apr 16, 2013 14:33:03 GMT -5
If there's adequate moisture, does the water stay at an acceptable level in the marsh with the target winter lake level draw down?
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Apr 16, 2013 14:35:51 GMT -5
Jim, no... we need a wet fall in order for inflow to match outflow drainage and hold the pool. That's why it looks so good for rats all summer long when guys scout it... but come November 25th it's all mudflats
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 14:51:16 GMT -5
So where do these "1000" rats go?
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