Muskrat Trapping - A Few Extra Notes
Jun 13, 2009 22:44:44 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2009 22:44:44 GMT -5
This post originally appeared on another trapping forum some time ago, but it was lost during a site glitch, so I thought I would put it here for future reference.
The original question asked basically involved such things as: where are underwater dens, how long are the runs and where do they go; how do you find and set bank dens; what about trapping rats in deep water; winter trapping questions, where and how do they live in other places; what about colony traps, among several other basics.....
While my response was not at all comprehensive, the following narrative reviews my commentary for those of you who may be new to muskrat trapping and would like to learn a little more about some of the varied aspects of it.
There is some duplication through these weaves, but you can sort those out. Note the inclusion of Tony Hursman's colony trap entry.
CJ's Muskrat Methods
If you eventually find a trapping location void of bank dens, which will usually be in be in sedge or cattail habitats, you will run into these structures to indicate the presence of a muskrat population there.
The following three photos are actual dwellings, called a hut, lodge or rat house. From my experience, they may hold, on average, 4-6 muskrats:
These are not to be confused with this structure. Muskrats do not live in these, but access them frequently after the ice forms. They construct them during the open water periods in their habitat. These are called push ups, feed beds or feeding stations:
They are significantly smaller than the much larger lodges in the previous photos.
The Colony Trap in use is depicted in this series of photos by Trapperman and Archive's member "deerhunter65347" from Missouri that he posted earlier on the Nebraska trapper's forum. They are in no special order. If he sees this post, he may have comments on their use:
There are often habitat types where bank dens may not be readily accessible to the trapper in streams/rivers with fluctuating water levels, or in ditches or ponds with very steep banks, and those trapping the tidal coastal marshes. Confronted with these variables, many experienced trappers use a variety of muskrat floats to catch them, depicted in the article below that I drafted earlier for this forum that was accidentally deleted, but was salvaged here:
Muskrat Floats - An Overview
jayme220.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=archive&action=display&thread=21
I believe you may have to register on this site. Go to and open the "Trapping Archives" on the main menu. From there, you will find the article under "Water Trapping."
Hope some of this material will enlighten you a bit further. Your questions are very often asked in a variety of ways on this forum. I had a little extra time this morning to condense a bit of it for you and others who may have been thinking about raising their hands on this very topic.
All the best to you on your muskrat trapping adventures this coming fall season.
Jonathan
The original question asked basically involved such things as: where are underwater dens, how long are the runs and where do they go; how do you find and set bank dens; what about trapping rats in deep water; winter trapping questions, where and how do they live in other places; what about colony traps, among several other basics.....
While my response was not at all comprehensive, the following narrative reviews my commentary for those of you who may be new to muskrat trapping and would like to learn a little more about some of the varied aspects of it.
There is some duplication through these weaves, but you can sort those out. Note the inclusion of Tony Hursman's colony trap entry.
CJ's Muskrat Methods
If you eventually find a trapping location void of bank dens, which will usually be in be in sedge or cattail habitats, you will run into these structures to indicate the presence of a muskrat population there.
The following three photos are actual dwellings, called a hut, lodge or rat house. From my experience, they may hold, on average, 4-6 muskrats:
These are not to be confused with this structure. Muskrats do not live in these, but access them frequently after the ice forms. They construct them during the open water periods in their habitat. These are called push ups, feed beds or feeding stations:
They are significantly smaller than the much larger lodges in the previous photos.
The Colony Trap in use is depicted in this series of photos by Trapperman and Archive's member "deerhunter65347" from Missouri that he posted earlier on the Nebraska trapper's forum. They are in no special order. If he sees this post, he may have comments on their use:
There are often habitat types where bank dens may not be readily accessible to the trapper in streams/rivers with fluctuating water levels, or in ditches or ponds with very steep banks, and those trapping the tidal coastal marshes. Confronted with these variables, many experienced trappers use a variety of muskrat floats to catch them, depicted in the article below that I drafted earlier for this forum that was accidentally deleted, but was salvaged here:
Muskrat Floats - An Overview
jayme220.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=archive&action=display&thread=21
I believe you may have to register on this site. Go to and open the "Trapping Archives" on the main menu. From there, you will find the article under "Water Trapping."
Hope some of this material will enlighten you a bit further. Your questions are very often asked in a variety of ways on this forum. I had a little extra time this morning to condense a bit of it for you and others who may have been thinking about raising their hands on this very topic.
All the best to you on your muskrat trapping adventures this coming fall season.
Jonathan