Positive Sets / Chasing Critters into Cages

Many of us have times we need a double door trap to catch an animal on the spot that is trapped in a basement or attic.  Pan traps can sometimes be problematic, too slow and an animal can pass through them without firing the trap.  With the wire trigger, animals have a hard time passing through the trap without firing it.  When it does fire, animals won't be able to beat a fast closing power door.

Jerry got a "rat" call that turned out to be a duck in the attic, of all places, a first I would guess.   He simply made a positive set and ran the duck into the cage.  I did the same thing with a fox in a basement a couple of years ago.

Several Traps for Den Sites

For the most part I like using double door traps with nose cones at den sites.  It's quick and easy, requiring no bait or lure.  Nose cones are placed over the dens, skunks, chucks, armadillos, etc. and traps are slid under them to take animals coming and going.  We have a solid nose cone and a 3-way wire nose cone to accommodate other traps as well as different positioning of a trap.

We also have multipurpose traps that go over a den site with a "built in" nose cone on one end.

Third, there are flush mount traps with a recessed door that can be used at den sites or flat openings in which  a trap can merely be placed against the den.  With the flush mount it should be noted that whatever the trap chosen, the catch box will be 6 inches shorter.  The standard double door, multipurpose trap and flush mount traps all have a 9x11 inch opening.

We finally got around to setting a couple of traps to remove the varmints at our house.  The larger cage, a 12x12x36 single door trap with a bait door was set for 'possum.  After catching one the next catch was a bluejay.  Cat food was used for bait.  This shows trigger sensitivity.  A number of times we have caught birds of all kinds, even chickadees in swing panel squirrel traps.

With squirrels living in the barn, we set a couple of of the 6x6x24 inch traps, with bait sprinkled in the bottom and got a couple of red squirrels.

Shown is a great set for the bobcat pictured below, picture taken on a trail cam.  He has been eating chickens.  This is the 12x18x39 beaver/otter and bobcat trap.  Set sideways it is a full 18 inches high with nothing overhead as the trigger is mounted on the side when set sideways.  Notice there is no pan to step or jump over.  The bottom cage wires can be completely hidden too, so there is nothing on the floor of the trap to cause hesitation.

The trap is set like a blind trail set where the bobcat has been entering the chicken coup.  The bait is not in the trap but beyond it, the chickens.  All the cat has to do is make an attempt to take another chicken.

                                                            

Skunk breeding seaon

The first time you see a skunk during the day, in February, traveling through snow drifts, you might think that he was diseased, rabies or something.  However, skunks in the north begin breeding in mid to late February, males going from female to female with a few to many males visiting each.  Breeding will last at least a few weeks.  It is during that time that people notice them because they often den up under a crawl space or porch, spray and become noticed.

The fix is a simple one, double door traps with nose cones.  We use the short 9x11x18 double door traps with great success in positive sets at den sites.  The den site will be obvious, a smoothed, dished out area at the foundation will show the entry point.  Dirty snow and a trail leading away from the site  tells the story.  Traps can be placed at the den with a nose cone.  A quick set, simply place the trap opposite the den, squarely in front of it.  The traps may also be placed at 90 degrees to the den, sideways if necessary.  Place the nose cone over the trap, connecting the trap to the den, done.

Traps may also be set in trails coming into the den.  By making a narrow tunnel in the snow you can merely drop in a double door trap with a nose cone covering the trap.  When the catch is made at the den site or trail the cover will keep the skunk from spraying.  Talk quietly and move slowly.  Loud and fast will be answered in a stream of yellow.  Carry the trap with one hand on each end at the top with the open ends away from sight.  If they don't see you, they will not spray.  Spraying is the last thing they want to do because after that there is little defense.

Having multiple sets at a den site will make the job go faster.  Also, we have a multipurpose trap with a built in nose cone.  This works exactly the same as a trap with separate nose cone.  With two effective ways to accomplish the goal, it just becomes a question of personal preference.

Also, we have double door swing panel traps that work like the squirrel traps, with internal doors.  With internal flush mound doors you can sometimes butt them up against a den site without the use of a nose cone.  It is a good practice to cover skunk traps when you set them, so that captured skunks do not become agitated.  Yes, you can cover them with a sheet, carefully and slowly.  Plastic tarps make a lot of noise and can cause a skunk to spray.

The swing panel traps look like a colony trap with doors that close on the inside.  These less expensive traps come in 6x8x30, 7x7x32 and 8x10x36.  The largest will take feral cats and rabbits.  Remember all of these traps will work sides too, so that the rectangular traps essentially are a two sized trap.

If you do get sprayed, don't worry.  The few short months you will stink will pass quickly.

  

We made the cover of Trapper's Post, Bob Noonan's trapping magazine.  Bob has been a trapper for...lets just say a long time, late Pleistocene at the very least.  Bob hails from Maine, is owner and editor, always putting out very informative helpful articles on everything trapping.  In the March/April issue we also have part one of a two part article we wrote on "when to pull" on beaver trapping.

Pictured is the 61 pound beaver we took in a 12x12x36 swim though Comstock Beaver Cage trap, one of 6 that night.

Another First Time Comstock Cage Trapper

This fellows girlfriend bought him two of the Comstock Beaver / Otter cage traps and the result was a double on beaver on the first outing.  She's a keeper!

Cage trapped otters

We would like the share this recent video we found on You Tube last week.

This You Tube video shows the Comstock Beaver / Otter 12x18x39 swim through cage traps in action, taking two otter in two cages a short distance apart.  The example above is not unusual, but the norm,  representative of how trappers from coast to coast are taking beaver, otter, muskrats and nutria in numbers with little effort in the most versatile, rugged cage traps ever developed.

Even if you have never set a trap of any kind, you will be able to set these non-dangerous cage traps with ease and expect great results.  For first time trappers or those who have switched from body gripping traps to these new cage traps, the transition is a breeze as shown in the video.  Duplicating the action of body gripping traps with a wire trigger system, the power doors rarely miss a targetted animal, while escapes are non-existent.  The wide trap covers the stream channel without additional narrowing or blocking, many times a "drop in trap."  Patterned after the wide 660 body gripping traps, animals enter the trap as there is nothing to avoid.