Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions muskrats

I have a 15 acre lake that is four years old and has become infested with muskrats in the last year. They burrow into the banks at water level to make their dens and the dens eventually cave in making a big mess. I eliminated a few of the rodents with my shotgun, but they seem to reproduce faster than I can kill them off. Any suggestions to get rid of them?
Thanks

I believe that there is currently a parallel thread on muskrats that you might find interesting. Look under today's topics and read topic "I have a major Musk Rat problem". Should be lots of info for you there.

I live on a 15 acre lake and have dealt with the muskrat as you are now. Muskrat traps are not that expensive and very easy to place, in the first 2 years of trapping we got 135 of them. since the numbers have dropped to 10-20 a year. We'll place a trap when we find a den or see one swimming around and follow him back to his area. Again it's not hard to do and all you need are the traps and some waders. After you've eradicated the pests from the hole you want to plug it with rock. Laying old chain link fence down and laying rip-rap over it in problem areas also makes it all but impossible for them to dig a den, they leave and look for easier digging.

Good advice above. Another option is find a trapper during trapping season that is willing to come in and remove them. Since they profit from the hides there will be no need to pay them.

Off season you many need a deprivation permit, however, I have found in my area the C.O.'s don't really want to be bothered with something as unimportant as muskrat removal so I don't even bother to get the permit anymore.