Tunnel design
- Thread starter tom
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Bo Diddley
Well-Known Member
My understanding (and it could be wrong) is that Fenn MK4 traps are not suitable for mustelids anymore, and you must not set them in a way that might catch a stoat/weasel, so no run-through tunnels on the ground where it might be possible to catch one.
Fenn MK4's can still be used to trap Grey squirrels/rats ,so my interpretation is that you could set them in a "Blind Box" with only one entrance hole, probably elevated off the ground to some degree and maybe baited with wheat/maize. But it's still possible you may catch a stoat/weasel I suppose
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A wooden box made from sawn timber about 18" long with a "baffle" inside the box to guide the critter to the center of the plate, this baffle also stops the trap being pulled towards the external entrance hole when it goes off, inspection lid held in position with a couple of turn buttons.
I've got one in the garden, if you want a picture posted just ask.
Atb
BD
Fenn MK4's can still be used to trap Grey squirrels/rats ,so my interpretation is that you could set them in a "Blind Box" with only one entrance hole, probably elevated off the ground to some degree and maybe baited with wheat/maize. But it's still possible you may catch a stoat/weasel I suppose
.A wooden box made from sawn timber about 18" long with a "baffle" inside the box to guide the critter to the center of the plate, this baffle also stops the trap being pulled towards the external entrance hole when it goes off, inspection lid held in position with a couple of turn buttons.
I've got one in the garden, if you want a picture posted just ask.
Atb
BD
Squirrelbasher
Well-Known Member
You aren't allowed to "target" stoats using fenn traps anymore but if you're trapping rats and squirrels you can't really guarantee that a stoat will never be caught. I don't know who made this ruling but I always found them to kill stoats more effectively than squirrels 
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....shakey jake
Well-Known Member
That was my understanding. Sadly its wrong, if there is the chance of you catching stoats its illegal to set!You aren't allowed to "target" stoats using fenn traps anymore but if you're trapping rats and squirrels you can't really guarantee that a stoat will never be caught. I don't know who made this ruling but I always found them to kill stoats more effectively than squirrels
Why we ever signed up to this stupidity is beyond me
Stoat tunnels, boxes, traps are usually set with bait, ie an egg, chick, rabbit meat. I believe there are 8 approved traps for stoats in the UK, some of these can be set with bait and some have to be baffled and some are live catch.
Fenns can still be set in tunnels on the floor for squirrels with restricted entry to stop non target species, fenns can also be set in cages as run through, fenns set in run through have always got the chance of catching a stoat but there is no law against it.
Fenns can still be set in tunnels on the floor for squirrels with restricted entry to stop non target species, fenns can also be set in cages as run through, fenns set in run through have always got the chance of catching a stoat but there is no law against it.
It’s only stoat. It’s still legal to kill a weasel I believeMy understanding (and it could be wrong) is that Fenn MK4 traps are not suitable for mustelids anymore, and you must not set them in a way that might catch a stoat/weasel, so no run-through tunnels on the ground where it might be possible to catch one.
Fenn MK4's can still be used to trap Grey squirrels/rats ,so my interpretation is that you could set them in a "Blind Box" with only one entrance hole, probably elevated off the ground to some degree and maybe baited with wheat/maize. But it's still possible you may catch a stoat/weasel I suppose
A wooden box made from sawn timber about 18" long with a "baffle" inside the box to guide the critter to the center of the plate, this baffle also stops the trap being pulled towards the external entrance hole when it goes off, inspection lid held in position with a couple of turn buttons.
I've got one in the garden, if you want a picture posted just ask.
Atb
BD
shakey jake
Well-Known Member
I would read this, i did and was a bit shocked.
I copied from one of bagiuos posts.
I copied from one of bagiuos posts.
Squirrelbasher
Well-Known Member
It even states that avoiding catching stoats would be difficult to achieve. If set to trap squirrels and rats I'd say it's vertually impossible to guarantee.
countrryboy
Well-Known Member
I was taught different and the exact oppisate.
Most stoat traps were open tunnel traps and baiting them was unheard off when i 1st started.
I will say nowadays tunnel trapping or even targetting stoats is pretty rare in my area unless near a pheasant pen
Pheasant pens usually occur in woods. Stoats spend majority of their time on or in and around hedge rows or structures like walls or old buildings. Baiting dramatically raises your chances of catching. Especially at certain times of year when natural food is not so abundant/available. If they are going yo go in a tunnel, a baited one is better, I use docs and bait with eggs or dead mice, never had a problem with stoats going in if set in the right environment
Nickb
Well-Known Member
Grousekeepers bait tunnel sets a lot for stoats.
countrryboy
Well-Known Member
Aye no grouse moors left in my area.
Most commercial shoots wont bother stoats much.
If they have any traps set it will only be round pens at release time.
My old head keeper ( ive been out of FT keepering for a long time now) was a master at trapping them, siteing off the trap was very important.
He spent bit off time working on grouse moord previously.
He never believed in baiting them if sited and set correctly.
But either way just because a trap is unbaited does not mean a stoat cant get killed in it.
The law is an ass.
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