3 more muskrats today.
- Thread starter Hunter&Huntress
- Start date
Hunter&Huntress
Active member
I'm having a lot of fun with it. Every time I go out there I'm picking up more and more places to place a trap and how to place it.
Its a learning deal.Water trapping is the best way to get started.One day next year you'll walk up on a $700 cat and really get hooked.I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to get permission on ranches to trap yotes,and they bring good money out west.Pick up that book and video I recommended on yote trapping.Helpingsome of those ranchers will probably get you some hunt permission too
Hunter&Huntress
Active member
Thanks. I will definitely get those dvds and books. I'm hoping I can find someone to go out with and learn with them too. The next step is to flesh and stretch them. I have never done it before, but I think muskrats would be a good animal to start with. I already have several wood stretchers on their way.
Muskrat skin is very thin so go slow skinning till you learn and go easy with the knife.Not much fleshing is required for rats.Once you get the hang of yote trapping its really no harder then any other animal;location of sets is always the key.Trapperman.com can give you tons of advise and its free
Hunter&Huntress
Active member
Caught 3 more today! I have to let them hang in the garage for a while. They were like popsicles when I got home. I'm getting very addicted to this I even bought some home traps.
wrap them in newspaper and they will dry very fast.It is an addicting sport.When you try again for yotes don't get discouraged.It will come together as you learn then you'll be having a blast and helping the antelope and deer fawns.Get permission on some ranches and I'd go out and help you set up for yotes/cats.Good to see your having so much fun.Sure beats sitting inside all winter
Like mixedbag said wrap them in newspaper and they will be almost dry when you get home.Brush them out and put a fan on them.Remember your fur is at its highest value when you catch it. Its up to you to keep it that way, not devalue it. Skinning is easy as is fleshing. A quick y tube search will find you a bunch of videos. Watch a few and give it a try. For fleshing don't over do it. If you don't have the time or knowlege yet to process them make sure you get them in the freezer as quickly as possible as they will spoil quickly. Good luck.
Hunter&Huntress
Active member
Thanks guys, I will let you know how everything goes. Right now, I have them skinned out and in the freezer until I get my stretchers. I will take a couple pictures when I get my first one done.
Hunter&Huntress
Active member
I have another question for you guys. I am trapping on a piece of state land with the creek running through the corner. There has been a lot of sign there down there. My question is how many muskrat should I take out of there, but still having a good population left for next year. I know there is a hut up stream on some private land. There is sign from one end to the other on the state land.
If I am on a small pond I quit trapping it when my sets produce multiple kits catches and no adults after a couple consecutive checks. If I keep catching adults I keep setting. On a stream, large lake or river I keep a few going the entire time I am in the area setting. Rats travel alot especially so the closer we get to spring. If colony traps are legal in your state I would run one in your corner and make that a regular milk run stop.
Last edited:
