Victor rat trap

[Canadian-guerilla]

been thinking about getting a couple of the big ones and try them out for squirrels

anyone else try these ?

http://robinfulford.com/images/rat_trap.png

[SLV^GLD]

I keep one cocked in my bottom desk drawer.

Mine is the JT Eaton brand which appears to be of much higher quality:

http://m.grainger.com/images/products/300x300/Rat-Trap-1VJR8_AS01.JPG

We've killed many a rat with these and they were bigger than the average squirrel.

[mamboni]

been thinking about getting a couple of the big ones and try them out for squirrels

anyone else try these ?

http://robinfulford.com/images/rat_trap.png

That's kind of cruel isn't it? What do you have against squirrels? Why not kill them the honorable way, with a high-power air rifle?

[milehi]

The ground squirrels around here get a Mini Mag to the dome. Same with rattlesnakes that get within 100 yards of the house. The dogs have a rabbit eradication program. The field mice are on sticky traps (literally) and activity in the garage is next to nothing. My car is a different story. They chewed through a wiring harness that wasn't cheap. I have mothballs placed around the engine.

[Awoke]

Guerilla, I squirrel hunt a little, and I can promise you that if you hit a squirrel in the chest with a standard .177 pellet (Even one from Canadian Tire that is limited to 490fps) you will still get a pass-through shot.

If you step it up and buy a .22 caliber break action rifle that shoots 1200fps (Gamo, etc, PAL required), you will blow their chest right out.

[SLV^GLD]

The upside to a trap is it works even when you are away.

The downside is it only works once until you come around to reload it.

I would not be surprised if a squirrel outsmarts the trap, BTW.

[big country]

If you're in the US most states have a season for squirrels. That means trapping them out of season can get you into hot water, some states may not even allow trapping for them. I'd be careful with it.
Not sure about canadian laws on squirrels...

I'm an avid squrriel hunter, I love eating them, I love hunting them.

Don't kill them just to kill them, if you have to eat thats one thing...if they are causing damage sure...but just to rid them like you would mice...ugh.

[osoab]

Use one of these


http://www.havahart.com/store/live-animal-traps/1084
http://www.havahart.com/resource/images/havahart/products/large/1084_l.jpg

Then add some of these.

https://ssl9.chi.us.securedata.net/theheadnut.com/merchantmanager/images/uploads/peanuts%20in%20shell.jpg

[solid]

Use one of these


http://www.havahart.com/store/live-animal-traps/1084
http://www.havahart.com/resource/images/havahart/products/large/1084_l.jpg

I had one of those as kid, it was a lot of fun. The only thing I ever caught with it was birds though. I think squirrels might be a little too smart for it.

[Awoke]

If you're in the US most states have a season for squirrels. That means trapping them out of season can get you into hot water, some states may not even allow trapping for them. I'd be careful with it.
Not sure about canadian laws on squirrels...


You can live-trap any pest, any time of year, if you are intending on releasing it live.
If you're catching them for the purpose of killing/eating them, we have a season in the fall with possession limits. (5 per day, possession limit of 10 max). You can not exceed the possession limits in any way. If you have 8 in the freezer, you can only kill two more.

Luckily my wife has her hunting license too, so our limit is 20.



I'm an avid squrriel hunter, I love eating them, I love hunting them.

Don't kill them just to kill them, if you have to eat thats one thing...if they are causing damage sure...but just to rid them like you would mice...ugh.

How do you like to prepare them? I was thinking of filling a crock pot and making a stew/goulash. I haven't tried them yet, but I will this year.

Post your favorite recipies please!

[SLV^GLD]

Where I live if the animal can be demonstrated to be harming your crops you can kill it.

Thus, the squirrels die.

[osoab]

I had one of those as kid, it was a lot of fun. The only thing I ever caught with it was birds though. I think squirrels might be a little too smart for it.

That's why you use peanuts in the shell. Leave a few around it to entice, then a little trail into the trap, and then leave the motherload of nuts for them behind the door release. Works everytime. Caught two at the same time one day.

I live in town. You can't shoot em. If you don't do something about them, they will destroy/eat your garden.

[Camp Bassfish]

How do you like to prepare them? I was thinking of filling a crock pot and making a stew/goulash. I haven't tried them yet, but I will this year.

Post your favorite recipies please!


http://honest-food.net/2008/10/25/on-cooking-squirrels/

[solid]

That's why you use peanuts in the shell. Leave a few around it to entice, then a little trail into the trap, and then leave the motherload of nuts for them behind the door release. Works everytime. Caught two at the same time one day.

I live in town. You can't shoot em. If you don't do something about them, they will destroy/eat your garden.

One of those traps would make a great prep item. I wouldn't mind trying squirrel in my pressure cooker, with my favorite stew recipe.

[Awoke]

http://honest-food.net/2008/10/25/on-cooking-squirrels/


Yeah, uh, squirrels can carry Trichinosis. You shouldn't just fry them in a frying pan. The meat needs to reach in internal temperature of 150F for at least one minute. Rule of thumb is 10 minutes.

[milehi]

Where I live if the animal can be demonstrated to be harming your crops you can kill it.

Thus, the squirrels die.

There's a community of ground squirrels that are undermining the foundation of my pumphouse, and they attract rattlers so they gotta go. There's grey squirrels too which are just starting to come back from a several year decline due to west nile virus so they say.

[osoab]

There's a community of ground squirrels that are undermining the foundation of my pumphouse, and they attract rattlers so they gotta go. There's grey squirrels too which are just starting to come back from a several year decline due to west nile virus so they say.

As a kid, I had luck blocking all of the ground squirrels holes and then add a garden hose. Drown them out.

[big country]

I've eaten them pan fried my entire life now you're telling me I'm playing roulette? HA!

If you're worried about internal temps then definately bake them, season well with whatever you like. We like all the "Weber Grillmates" seasoning blends.
I'd cut some veggies (Carrots, potatoes, onions, etc...) put them on the bottom of the pan, lay the squirrels on top and season the whole mess (we like parmesean cheese sprinkled on top too) and cover in foil and bake until the veggies are done.

Could probably wrap in foil and grill them too, or go indirect and smoke/BBQ for a few hours until the IT is 150+

I'm also talking about tree squirrels here...with the long bushy tails...
Not ground squirrels, chipmunks, ground jimmies, or whatever names they're called.

[sugar plum]

I had one of those as kid, it was a lot of fun. The only thing I ever caught with it was birds though. I think squirrels might be a little too smart for it.





http://www.havahart.com/store/live-animal-traps/1084
http://www.havahart.com/resource/images/havahart/products/large/1084_l.jpg


I remember as a kid my grandpa trapping squirrels in one of these (he'd use his homemade PB, I believe) and then driving them across town to release them....I bet he'd trap repeats!

[milehi]

As a kid, I had luck blocking all of the ground squirrels holes and then add a garden hose. Drown them out.

I did this at a house with gopher problems and it took alot of water. I would need the firehose for this problem and would cause instability in the structure. I've thought about pumping concrete into the burrows, but the pumphouse is exactly 100 yards from the back door and it's good practice with tech sites on the Model 60.

[big country]

I remember as a kid my grandpa trapping squirrels in one of these (he'd use his homemade PB, I believe) and then driving them across town to release them....I bet he'd trap repeats!

The issue with "havahart" traps is that you trap your problem and give it to someone else. I saw someone dumping a cat out of one of these on a country road...city folks think its the "wilderness" but it is most likely someone's property and i'm sure they don't appreciate being dumped on.

If it is truely causing real issue do the right thing and kill it yourself. That country person you dumped it on doesn't appreciate doing your dirty work. I hate killing wildlife just to kill it (I do hunt, but I eat everything I kill...). I have enough problems with my own wildlife on my place, I don't need to deal with yours too...

(not directed at any person...just putting it out there incase you're guilty of it...trust me, your "havahart" animal isn't going to have a better life on the farm...)

[sugar plum]

Yeah, I also remember thinking "What's the point?" of those traps. He didn't have any guns, though, and he lived in a city....on the east coast.

[ximmy]

I would like to try barbecue squirrel

[Awoke]

Just boil it first for 10 minutes.

[big country]

why boil first? When I BBQ a chicken on my weber I get the internal temp to 165 (takes about 6.5 hours at 250). Surely a little squirrel can get to 150 even quicker.

just curious what the boiling does?

[Canadian-guerilla]

Guerilla, I squirrel hunt a little, and I can promise you that if you hit a squirrel in the chest with a standard .177 pellet (Even one from Canadian Tire that is limited to 490fps) you will still get a pass-through shot.

If you step it up and buy a .22 caliber break action rifle that shoots 1200fps (Gamo, etc, PAL required), you will blow their chest right out.

want something left to eat



The upside to a trap is it works even when you are away.

The downside is it only works once until you come around to reload it.

+1


I would not be surprised if a squirrel outsmarts the trap, BTW.

better to try now instead of post-SHTF
with every Joe Sheeple hunting out in the woods
" it looked easy on tv "

[big country]

want something left to eat




+1



better to try now instead of post-SHTF
with every Joe Sheeple hunting out in the woods
" it looked easy on tv "

can't hurt to try it, but you will need bait. Probably end up with more than squirrels too.

also good to know is the squirrel ramp snare, no bait necessary.

http://www.m4040.com/Survival/Skills/Hunting and Snaring/Snares/Squirrel Snare.htm

[ximmy]

why boil first? When I BBQ a chicken on my weber I get the internal temp to 165 (takes about 6.5 hours at 250). Surely a little squirrel can get to 150 even quicker.

just curious what the boiling does?

boiling softens tough meat

[Awoke]

Ximmy is right about the boiling.

Guerilla, there is no meat in the chest. It's all legs bro.

[SLV^GLD]

At one time I ran a shiitake farm on a residential lot and the squirrels were a huge problem. Shooting them with a pellet rifle was ok but being in a subdivision I had to wait for the squirrels to be in the right position to avoid hitting neighboring property.

I had no qualms setting hav-a-hart traps and shooting them dead in the cage.

[Awoke]

My buddy that eats them will catch them in the live-traps, and then shoot them in the head close range.

[milehi]

I had no qualms setting hav-a-hart traps and shooting them dead in the cage.

My neighbor uses the havahart traps, then drops them in a 20 gallon tub of water. He says not one has passed his swimming program.

[osoab]

My neighbor uses the havahart traps, then drops them in a 20 gallon tub of water. He says not one has passed his swimming program.

I seem to have the same results.

[Spectrism]

I get mice in outbuildings. They do all kinds of damage. A nice cheap trap is a 5-gallon bucket with 3 inches of water. Wipe peanut butter around the inside about 4 inches from the top. Make a ramp to the top of the bucket.

Remove dead mice every day or two.


Regarding the rat traps.... you will want to secure them. Most squirrels will not be killed by them and they will run off with your trap. Also, an animal (fox, cat, dog, coyote, hawk, owl) will snatch up a trapped squirrel.

[milehi]

I'm going to try the bucket method in my pumphouse. What I like about sticky traps is I often catch two rodents on one. The second one comes along to canibalize the other and I get a La Brea Tarpits effect.

[Golden]

My neighbor uses the havahart traps, then drops them in a 20 gallon tub of water. He says not one has passed his swimming program.

Wouldn't adrenaline damage the meat like in other game?

[woodman]

We used to play 'catch' with them when teenagers. Yeah, teenagers do dumb shit, but it was a rush.