Muskrat in pond

[wmdron]

I have a muskrat in one of my ponds and would like to eliminate him before I get a leak. I know where his den is and I've seen him a couple of times when I wasn't armed but I am having a dickens of a time getting a shot at this thing. Anyone have any experience with this as my groundhog tactics don't seem to be working. I guess I could trap him out ?

 

[timeout]

Trapping would be the best way to eliminate your problem. I would bet that there will be more than one. I am not familiar with Maryland trapping laws. The most popular traps for muskrats are body grips and colony traps. If the den hole that you found is the only one in the pond (highly unlikely), you could place eithe a 160 body grip or a colony trap in front of the den. They can be caught with foot traps where they are entering/exiting the water, baited floated sets and a host of other ways. You can usually see small "channels" in the water where they are swimming from den to food source. These are ideal locations for body grips or colony traps. Muskrats are known to travel across land in the spring and wind up in new places. These are called runners. They're super easy to trap.

 

[rmist]

If you have ONE you have a lot more than that !!!!! Conibear (110) traps in front of the den hole staked fast by crossing the anchor sticks and tie the chain off with wire. Or wait til dusk and blast away !! Most states have a season. They will play havoc on your pond walls. Good luck.

 

[timeout]

You are correct, 110's not 160,s. Being mainly a coon guy, I misspoke. I did take 33 muskrats from a small stretch of my creek last fall tho

 

[fr3db3ar]

69 SMK eviscerates them.

 

[Hydenseek]

An ear of corn inside a crab pot, put pot underwater

 

[people]

69 SMK eviscerates them.

A 7mm STW with 140's work really well also and close does count with it.

 

[wmdron]

I was afraid that I would hear that there are probably more than one, makes sense though. First I am going to sit on the hill above my pond at dusk for a couple days and give it a go. Thanks for telling me that there might be a season as I was assuming that they could be hunted or trapped anytime. I better check, here in Maryland the penalty for shooting or trapping a muskrat out of season might be worse than homicide. If all else fails it's the Conibear 110's for me. Thanks for all the current advice and for any hints that anyone has. Ron...

 

[nosualc]

I had this same problem last summer. They are destructive little critters; they've did quite a job on the banks of my ponds. I have no experience with traps and have a dog, so I didn't trap them.

I have neighbors a few hundred yards away, was worried about ricochets and don't care to skin and stretch hides, so I had to resort to a 12 ga. Works great.

Calm mornings and evenings when the sun is out tend to bring em out in the open.
They're pretty skittish, so you have to use cover or a blind. If you spook one, call it a day, you won't see it again that day.

I ended up shooting 10, there was seemingly no end to 'em.

If I have more this summer, I'll learn to trap. Too much time.

-nosualc

 

[timeout]

Traps are on the job 24/7. A good trapper will clean most any game out far faster and more efficiently than hunting. And then with the ammo and component scarcity ;D ;D ;D

 

[rvn1968]

My uncle had an old trick that he used on beavers,it might work for you. He made a cheap raft out of two logs with a length of pipe suspended between them. He and the kids or anybody with a rifle would lay on the ground and he'd shoot the pipe.Everything down there would pop their head up. Worked for him and he got some nice fur. FWIW Tom.

 

[roadkill61]

Go down after dark with a small flashlight. They will come to the light and you can deal with them as you see fit. (ie 12 bore)

 

[wmdron]

I kept a close watch on the pond at dusk last night and even went out this morning at about 6am and sat for awhile but no go. Well it's only been one day, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of those critters. I did find another den hole. it looks like trapping might be the answer. I think I'll try a couple of the tricks posted here while I'm waiting on the traps to arrive. Sure would like to warm my 22-250 up for this years varminting though. Thanks again, Ron...

 

[Bob3700]

They seem to be creatures of habit. Come out the same time each day swimming around and gathering food.

Right now in cental IL, they are out between 4-6 pm. Very busy bunch they are.

Bob

 

[people]

You may just need to do the Jimmy JJ Walker method. 'Dy-no-mite'

Traping might be the ticket.

 

[TominSWNY]

Dy no mite.We tried that and it didn't work, but it made a spectacular display of flying dirt. The trap is the best way to get them, but the other way is more fun. caution should be taken because they carry all types of nasty diseases much the same as P dogs.