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Ambassador Lunker
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it is now late October in Michigan. It looks like I have two muskrats at the pond (two holes in the bank on opposite sides). Have they started to bed down for the winter, or are they still very active? I am planning on trapping them, but never see them out and about. I do see evidence of them eating (lots of clover in the water and mowed cattails). Any advice?
Brian Retired Coach Just another day in paradise!
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Moderator Lunker
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IME muskrats stay active all Winter long. One of the tells for spotting is bubbles under the ice near burrows.
Advice: Conibear 110's.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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Never to late to get rid of them! In fact if you wait too long they will have babies and then you have more!
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Back in the 1960s I did a lot of muskrat trapping in the winter -- in Northern Wisconsin. Ice or not, they keep eating all winter. I usually baited with apples.
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Esshup is a muskratter. He'll check in soon.
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Moderator Lunker
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Esshup is a muskratter. He'll check in soon. I thought that was "muskrateer".
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Lunker
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Lunker
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Hey CoachB,guess what?Its late October in Texas too.
I subscribe Some days you get the dog,and some days he gets you.Every dog has his day,and sometimes he has two!
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I didn't chime in because there wasn't anything good to add. 110's are the best choice if you can find their dens, or colony traps if you want to get all of the inhabitants of that den in one night. It's not too late, trapping season in IN. starts the 15th of Nov.
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Late fall to early spring is when muskrats get their "good" coat. It's when trappers seek the rats for their "valuable" (relative term) fur.
It's the perfect time to trap.
12 ac pond in NW Missouri. 28' max depth at full pool. Fish Present: LMB, BG, RES, YP, CC, WB, HSB, WE, BCP, WCP, GSH.
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Weissguy:
Relatively speaking, "valuable" coat is correct. The estimations for 'rat prices (we're talking large to extra large size, properly skinned and dried ones) are $2.50-$3.00 each tops.
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IIRC they might have brought $4.50 last year around here. My daughter's highly valuable muskrat pelt is in storage, perhaps awaiting incorporation into a fur coat some day.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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That sounds about right around here too esshup. It wouldn't be something I would be interested in doing for those prices, but I know of some folks that gladly do. I guess if you are setting out hundreds of traps and checking daily, even at $2.50 a pop, you might have a somewhat profitable season.... but that's a LOT of work for $2.50 a piece.
12 ac pond in NW Missouri. 28' max depth at full pool. Fish Present: LMB, BG, RES, YP, CC, WB, HSB, WE, BCP, WCP, GSH.
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Lunker
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Most of the guys that I've known that have been hardcore muskrateers have seasonal type regular jobs - mostly construction. So when that slows down in the fall they have tons of time to run traps. One guy I know of trapped 4,500 muskrats last fall in a 3 state area. By the time he figures in gas/vehicle miles and other costs he says he loses money, but almost breaks even. He does it mostly for fun and to get/stay out of the house.
Every person should have an interest in life - I think I'll go fishing. ~ Thoreau
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Great info. thanks guys. I will check around here and see if someone wants to trap them and get the pelts.
Brian Retired Coach Just another day in paradise!
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Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
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My First
by Bill Cody - 05/06/24 07:22 PM
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