Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss My daughter's going to State!

She got a "Superior" on her 4-H Muskrat Trapping project and has qualified to go to the State Fair.

Those little dam-breakers better look out next trapping season.

Congrats to your daughter and you Theo. I'll keep an eye out for her project when I'm there.

Way to go! Buy her a beer for me! Wait....maybe that's not a good idea.

I think a Pony is a nice gift! Wait....you have horses already.

Get her an otter! It can live in your new pond!!!!!

Ohio State Muskrats....nice ring to it, eh?
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Way to go "E"!!!
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Theo...seriously....can you provide any details about the project so's a toopid city boy might understand? Homey don't play Muskrat.

A chip off the old block and we all know which block I'm talking about. Congrats to daughter.

You should all be proud, congrats.

Congratulations. I love it.

Good deal, Theo! Keep the tradition.

"Muskrat Trapping in Ohio" is a two part project. Part 1 (which is what E did this Spring/Summer) can be done anytime; Part 2 involves actual trapping and can only be accomplished during trapping season (February IIRC).

Part 1 involves knowledge of muskrats themselves, their affect on aquatic environments (at low and way-too-high densities), the various types of suitable traps, and trapping layouts. Some of the optional activities she did include: 1) giving a presentation on body hold traps (110 conibears) at a 4-H club meeting, using a model conibear she built with K-Nex (think plastic tinker toys) (a steel conibear is too much spring strength for her hands right now), 2) making a model pond and taking photos that demonstrate the affects different densities of muskrats have on the shoreline, banks, and vegetation, and 3) building a full-size, operable box trap from hardware cloth and 3/16" diameter steel rods (joint project with Dad).

We aslo took a "field trip" to observe the little varmints. The 'rats at our pond are rather human-averse, probably due to all the fishing, mowing, and other activity there 12 months a year, and it's hard to get more than a glimpse of them as they jump under water. But there is a small pond across the road from us where we were able to get a good look at one which frequently eats grass up on the banks.

When she finishes off the rats I have some beaver for her to work on.

First, FishWife concedes 3 ponds. Now this! Incredible! How do ya do it?

Old Spice.

Congrats, E! (and proud Theo).
Take it to 'em at state!

p.s.- I thought it was that Axe spray they keep advertising on tv.

Theo, if the Fish Wife lets you go, film and post it somewhere. I'd like to see it.

Gosh almighty, can ya just imagine the power of a Theo wearing a splash of Fatty's Sex Panther perfume?

Illegal in 13 states.....

"It's a formidable scent... It stings the nostrils. In a good way..."

Fabio meets the Gortons Fisherman

I'm gonna hurl.

That means it working.

I think an otter is a bad idea! You need to give her a male AND a female for your ponds so she can have plenty to work with.

I can attest to it's affectiveness. It just about lured me to the dark side.

Oh and Theo, congratulations to your daughter, you and your betterhalf. That is quite an accomplishment.

Please post photos (I really want to see the model pond).

JHAP, I will see if I can find where my daughter has the photo files stashed. So far I have only seen printouts.

On a more important note, Fish Wife pointed out I neglected to mention our girl's attire when she was judged. Last year her fishing project got dinged because "she wasn't dressed for fishing" (she wore a nice outfit, thinking she should appear her best). With that experience, for having her muskrat and gun safety projects judged this year, she wore her 2008 Edition Pond Boss Conference Camoflage T-Shirt, fresh from Arlington.

That may have been what it took to put her over the top!

At state let her use your SDSU Wildlife & Fisheries cap.