Trapping Muskrats Through Ice with COLONY Traps - One of my Best Ponds has a Disappointing Year

Trapping muskrats through thin ice with colony traps. Why I prefer colonies over 110s.
Down year for muskrats with the dry summer and fall we had, but still able to put some fur on stretchers and a little meat in the freezer.
Thanks for Watching!

[@wild_idaho4666]

Awesome video. When I worry about the tops freezing in, I put vegetation over the hole I break in the ice and it won't freeze. Downside to that is it's a visual attractant to the two legged species.

[@murph9567]

Thanks! I’ll have to try that. Luckily I haven’t had too many problems with the two legged species in my spots, but that can definitely be a pain.

[@BigBeavrSlayer]

I make all my own as well, maybe I'll make a few trapping videos this year with them, I have I think give different sizes I make along with my beaver otter bobcat skunk mink cages and I'm experimenting with floating colonys. Looks like your running the harbor freight gloves I use too 👍

[@murph9567]

Yeah gotta have a lot of different sizes. Floating colonies is an interesting idea, thought about it but never done it, if you make a video with them let me know and I’ll have to check it out.

[@BigBeavrSlayer]

@@murph9567 I have a few built already, they are based on the design from Mike matney, you can search and find his videos of it in action look up floating repeating colony trap there aare a few videos on it

[@murph9567]

Perfect, thanks for the tip!

[@BigBeavrSlayer]

@@murph9567 I did a video on mine today if you want to see how I make them

[@murph9567]

I like it, might have to make a few myself.

[@allywilkeforsenate]

Anyone ever eat one?There was an old trapper when I was a kid who would make chilli and feed them to his dogs.

[@murph9567]

I’ve eaten them before. The smaller ones aren’t bad, but you don’t get much meat off them.

[@johncmitchell4941]

Several decades ago a Michigan restaurant was stopped from selling a local favorite, muskrat. Unlike other supplies the meat was sourced locally and wasn't USDA or whomever inspected or approved. "Marsh hare" ~/= swamp rabbit, or aquatic .. and smaller. Some use the meat to mix coyote bait concoctions.

[@johncmitchell4941]

@@murph9567 Squirrel backs get grabbed first when cooked up around here. Makes me wonder about muskrat backs. I'll have to watch your cooking video. Since I've only trapped 'rats as nuisances I've never skinned one for fur. btw, I wonder if any time of year makes for the best table fare or matters much.

[@murph9567]

Maybe I’ll have to try squirrel out again, got plenty of them in the yard. Don’t know about time of year, but the younger ones are noticeably better.

[@jonness8927]

An "ice fishing spud" would be way better than that hatchet!

[@SteveandSusiesHomestead]

First

[@jonness8927]

If you can see through the ice and the trap is empty why chop out the trap and check it? Just move on to the next.

[@johncmitchell4941]

Not all ice is clear. Re-freeze over a 110 might be easy to check, but colonies tucked through small holes might have to be pulled. IIRC most of the chopping we saw was to set or to pull his catch when discovered.