Wellington $47 each all assembled and shipped to us. I like the natural process Chris and Traps use it is more like trapping than dumping boxes on the track which DoC do. We have total control of our traps and I am keen on killing as many stoats as I can get into the traps their technique is logical to a hunter
"There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.”
The method they employed up the Hawdon was more akin to cluster bombing than anything else!! Yes placing traps in the right position makes a huge difference in success. You have to learn to think like your prey. Don't think you will have that much trouble with getting the idea. Those slinky sneaky little shites do take some nailing. I used to catch quite a few on the coast when I was a young'n lining my pockets with possum money. Even with a gin trap jaw closed across their mid sections they were ferocious little blighters. The stink they let go is something you never forget! I'd put it on a par with skunk but less volume Often had to chuck the trap in a creek for a few days to make it usable again. No self respecting possum would travel across that stench.... Just a conclusion I came to and it may not apply always but I think they used the possum tracks quite a bit. Especially in more open areas like bracken fields etc. Suppose they could motor along without getting wet and also out of sight. HTH
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chris
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Re: stoat trapping notes. Reply #32 - Mar 12th, 2009 at 11:01am
good stuff weathered, thats bloody interesting about the tagged stoat spending ten days on the trap line without getting caught, cunning little bastards, one day he will make the fatal mistake! one thing that really lifts your catch rate is when you catch one, give it a real good rub around the inside of your tunnel, especially around its arse, the scent seems to attract or give confidance to other stoats.
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Bon
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Re: stoat trapping notes. Reply #33 - Mar 12th, 2009 at 11:05am
Good thread,trapping is so interesting and you just never stop learning. It's great reading various posts, without someone else posting in and rubbishing differing methods. We may all benefit to some degree from this, experienced trappers and emerging trappers alike.
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MEB
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Re: stoat trapping notes. Reply #34 - Mar 12th, 2009 at 11:39am
Very good thread this. I've had a wander round with Chris on his land to check the traps. And i've had the pleasure to sit around with him of an evening, having a drink and a yarn and listening to the kiwi's call up on the ridge. It's worth the small effort of trapping to have the pleasure of kiwi calling of an evening. Nice one Chris
You can lead a fool to wisdom but you can't make him think.
Going through this topic with great interest, maybe looking at tendering on some predator work in the future. Like weathered i are ready to soak up as much info/advice as possible
Best advice is spend a weekend going with a professional trapper. My mate Graeme showed me so many tips. If you are using the blue noose traps smear hare blood over sides and inside. Really lifts the kill rates. Dont forget the road kill it saves a heap of time looking for bait. Particularly for ferrets or cats clear a bit of soil before you set the trap on it.Attracts them to activity.Beware of the sore legs and arms after getting on and off the bike whilst setting 50 traps. Far more strenuous than the gym.
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Re: stoat trapping notes. Reply #37 - Mar 23rd, 2009 at 3:42pm
This may be of interest to you guys. Another 80 traps or so were set over the weekend. Area in blue is now mostly covered plus some other areas. Hopefully it's readable.
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Oscar
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Re: stoat trapping notes. Reply #38 - Mar 23rd, 2009 at 3:51pm
Also some regional councils will help support community groups that are undertaking pest control in some circumstances, so that may be worth investigating if you are looking at starting up a control program.
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Re: stoat trapping notes. Reply #41 - Mar 29th, 2009 at 5:18pm
Thanks for that link Hillclima - ive been doing ferret control for AHB for last 2 years and never seen that link. So have just printed it out and will read it tonight before starting back tomorrow.
"the only good Wallaby is a dead one"
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Re: stoat trapping notes. Reply #42 - Jun 25th, 2009 at 1:41pm
great stuff guys! i've got a mate trapping the crap out of the Retaruke Valley on the Wanganui River - he reckons his blue ducks are thriving.
there's a real hard-case couple in Southland who trap stoats as part of their jet boat operation - quite a cool idea, they have rigged 'flags' on their traps so that when they trap is triggered, the flag is raised, so they only have to check the flagged ones. Good idea when you're trapping from a river.
We're in town these days but we've got pheasants, paradise ducks and herons across the road - i wonder if we'd pick up any stoats? probably.
We need wilderness whether or not we ever set foot in it. We need a refuge even though we may not ever need to go there. [Edward Abbey, "Water"].
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Re: stoat trapping notes. Reply #43 - Jun 25th, 2009 at 3:33pm