Muskrat Sets

Muskrats are common furbearers. They are very popular with trappers.

• They are easy to trap.
• They are clean to handle and have a sweet, musky smell.
• They occupy a limited home range that is easy to understand.

Coil-spring foothold traps, longspring foothold traps, and bodygrip traps are recommended for trapping muskrats. However, foothold traps should be used only in submersion systems. The following types of sets are effective with muskrats.

Slide Set for Muskrats

Muskrats leave trails where they enter and leave the water. These trails are sometimes called slides. The slide set is very effective for capturing muskrats. No bait or lure is needed. Follow these steps to make the set.

• Place a foothold trap two or three inches deep where the muskrat's slide enters the water.
• Set the trap in line with the slide. This means the jaws, when released, should be parallel to the bank. With a longspring trap, rotate the end of the spring toward the trigger mechanism so that both jaws will lie flat.
• Wire the trap to a stake or a rock in deep water. A tangle stake or sliding wire may be used. The weight of a #1½ trap or the use of a tangle stake will ensure that a trapped animal is pulled underwater and dies quickly.

Bank Den Set (Bank Hole Set) for Muskrats

A bodygrip trap placed at the entrance of a muskrat bank den is another good set.

Use these clues to locate muskrat dens.

• If you see chewed-up plants floating on the water, a muskrat den may be nearby.
• If you spot a den, look for freshly dug dirt in front of the underwater opening to see if it is an active den.