Rabbit Cage Trapping Variation..!

[Rolfe 2]

I had a problem area on my golf course contract that required me to remove rabbits from a steep and densely covered bank at the base of the clubhouse wall. Problem was........no holes were accessible.......so couldn't spring trap...couldn't ferret as the clubhouse bar and balcony was just above......where the Golfing "Ladies" would be horrified if they saw me catching the poor wee bunnies.........so could only cage trap discreetly.

With a bit of careful planning and pruning i was able to block off the normal run the rabbits were using with a couple of bricks..........and FORCED them to use a new run i had created,that led straight into a cage trap. Normally you would never place a cage trap directly on a run..........but this was a unique situation and it worked really well. To date i have taken 14 rabbits from the one cage..........AND NEVER BAITED IT ONCE.

I have posted this to show that sometimes it pays to experiment with different ideas.........and we should all be open to fresh suggestions for dealing with certain situations.

[mackem 30,364]

Lateral thinking,good game-plan Rolfe

[TOMO 29,453]

VERY GOOD MATE.

 

now i aint a huge fan of the warrener, but in his latest film mooching days. he places a large cage trap on a run on top of those walls cum hedges they have down in the west country. this trap has doors both sides so the rabbits run a long the run and straight in.

 

i must stress hear that they are ferreting. and possibly the rabbits are going in cos there under pressure. but still its good to see things you havent seen befor. TOMO

[zig zag wanderer 0]

This is actually a well established method of catching rabbits by putting unbaited specially developed rabbit cage traps on the runs so that the rabbits blunder into them. It is covered in a document by CSL from years ago, which I have, that also explains the conventional cage trapping method.

 

I think they are double entry run through traps.

 

I can't remember the name of the technique but I will look it up later if someone doesn't discover it first.

Edited July 3, 2008 by zig zag wanderer

[ianrob 2]

I had a problem area on my golf course contract that required me to remove rabbits from a steep and densely covered bank at the base of the clubhouse wall. Problem was........no holes were accessible.......so couldn't spring trap...couldn't ferret as the clubhouse bar and balcony was just above......where the Golfing "Ladies" would be horrified if they saw me catching the poor wee bunnies.........so could only cage trap discreetly.

With a bit of careful planning and pruning i was able to block off the normal run the rabbits were using with a couple of bricks..........and FORCED them to use a new run i had created,that led straight into a cage trap. Normally you would never place a cage trap directly on a run..........but this was a unique situation and it worked really well. To date i have taken 14 rabbits from the one cage..........AND NEVER BAITED IT ONCE.

I have posted this to show that sometimes it pays to experiment with different ideas.........and we should all be open to fresh suggestions for dealing with certain situations.

Excellent post Rolfe. The technique can be added to the repertoire of possible methods. Good info there mate. thanks ian.

[Rolfe 2]

Thanks Ian and the rest of you guys......it's good to see and share different ideas i think, sometimes we as trappers tend to become clouded and focused on purely the standard settings and locations where as in reality with a bit of field craft we can turn awkward situations around to work in our favour. I for one.........hope i never stop learning new trapping techniques because for me that is what makes my chosen profession so enjoyable.

 

Rolfe.

[zig zag wanderer 0]

I have now found the MAFF document dated May 1985 by A.M. Tittensor of Worplesdon Laboratory.

 

The document describes two methods of rabbit cage trapping; "Large baited cage trapping" and "Small unbaited cage trapping". Both methods were undergoing extensive field trials by MAFF at that time "to determine whether they are a cost-effective, humane method of rabbit control before they can be fully recommended by MAFF".

 

The document then goes on to describe the technique for using the "Large baited cage trap" which we probably all know.

 

Then the "Small unbaited cage trap"; "These traps catch rabbits on runs,...............they work on the "blunder-in" principle and are most successful when set to catch rabbits going back into cover, as they are then less cautious than when emerging. ................they catch best ............between April and September when vegetation is lush and the runs are most obvious.

 

Traps should roughly cover 2 out of 3 runs to encourage rabbits to emerge from cover.

 

Appendix A. has the technical details of both types of cage trap for construction purposes.

 

Small unbaited cage trap: Single capture trap with one door operated by a treadle via a release arm. 24" long, 7" high, 6" wide.

 

I have used baited cage traps many times but never unbaited ones but as MAFF and Rolfe have shown it might be worth giving it a try.

Edited July 5, 2008 by zig zag wanderer

[Rolfe 2]

Well as a variation to the scenario already described........i have on many occaisions placed cages where rabbits run through cover as an escape route or to access favourite feeding areas........and these too catch really well. Again, on this golf course contract.......i have a large island bed of Large heathers........and a cage pushed under these and out of sight, and UNBAITED..........catches quite regularly as the rabbits love playing and hiding underneath the shrubs.

Thanks for the Info ZZW.........much appreciated.

 

Rolfe.

[BRYAN3 29]

Well as a variation to the scenario already described........i have on many occaisions placed cages where rabbits run through cover as an escape route or to access favourite feeding areas........and these too catch really well. Again, on this golf course contract.......i have a large island bed of Large heathers........and a cage pushed under these and out of sight, and UNBAITED..........catches quite regularly as the rabbits love playing and hiding underneath the shrubs.

Thanks for the Info ZZW.........much appreciated.

 

Rolfe.

 

Hi.

Those double entry traps look the doggies danglies ,so if anyone knows a supplier would they please tell us.

Bryan.

[zig zag wanderer 0]

Bryan, these are single entry traps. You should be able to use the standard rabbit cage unbaited on the rabbit run in undergrowth.

 

Double entry would have the advantage that they would catch from either direction but if the rabbit was bolting back through cover at speed it might get through the cage before triggering it.