Trapping Muskrat

The muskrat can be found throughout most of North America and for many a trapper, is the first furbearing animal caught. If you want to find muskrat, you will need to find water.  They can be found in marshes, rivers, streams and even small ditches. The muskrat is a vegetarian and one way you can tell that muskrat are present is by their feedbeds. These are areas where the muskrat pile roots and grasses while feeding.  The feedbeds can be as small as a handful, to as large as a bushel of vegetation.

Repeating Muskrat Trap is easy to use and is used by both homeowners and trappers alike...

Another way of telling that muskrats are around is by spotting the houses they make in marshes that resemble a tiny beaver hut or runways leading into the bank dens they use in streams and rivers.  If legal in your area, the bank dens are a sure set when guarded with a #110 conibear trap. Other sets that work well are #1 and #1 1/2 leghold traps set on feedbeds.  If using leghold traps for muskrat, make sure to have a drowning set so that when the muskrat gets caught it will quickly drown.  This can be accomplished by wiring to a stake out in deeper water and placing another stake between the first stake so the muskrat can not get back to shore.

Other sets that work well for muskrat are trail and slide sets.  The muskrats will use the same trails and slides time and time again.  Guarded with #110 or #120 conibears these sets work well. 

Muskrats can also be trapped on floating devices during times of rising and falling water levels.  During the winter time, under ice sets can be made.  If you plan on trapping during the winter for muskrat, finding where they are before winter will greatly increase your catch and it is quite rewarding to catch a super prime muskrat through the ice.

LENON MUSKRAT LURE

LENON MUSKRAT - SUPER ALL CALL
Muskrats really go for this powerful and unique aroma of intensely sweet aromatics, essential oils, muskrat musk and a remarkable secret ingredient used by no other lure maker! Once you see the results of this totally waterproof, thick paste lure you will never trap without it! We have received thousands of testimonials on this fantastic lure! It's an amazing Raccoon lure too! Try it, you'll love it!
Use: Use quantity size of a large red bean back and above the trap. Where they are feeding or passing closely by, a good set is to scratch up a small pile of earth at water's edge, lay two or three small bright twigs or roots across the pile for visibility, place scent on or just back of the pile.
 

Other Recommended Supplies

Good pair of hip boots, wire, muskrat lure, fiberglass packbasket or plastic 5 gallon bucket (your around water all the time), rubber gloves.