Thread: Possum Trapping

Small update: reset traps 2 days ago picked up most of creek ones and stuck them all up that ridge. 10 traps in there.
Day 1: 5. Wet night
Day 2: 8. Creek trees 0, manuka ok, side of road very good, ridge 0. Found a really steep bank, got 3 traps coming down it close together they all went off last 2 nights.

Have lifted half my traps, going to run them along the bush edge further down. Hopefully get the numbers back up

Thanks for the heads up mate.
My folks asked me what i wanted for Christmas and thats what i asked for. They had already purchased it sadly or i would of taken up your offer. Thanks anyway!!

Did you ever use them for possums?

Originally Posted by scotsman

Thanks for the heads up mate.
My folks asked me what i wanted for Christmas and thats what i asked for. They had already purchased it sadly or i would of taken up your offer. Thanks anyway!!

Did you ever use them for possums?

No problem
They wont go rotten :-)

Re Possum observation - yes - I used them on those Goodnature A12 Kill traps - noted the smaller Possums would not put their head in - I put this down to they younger ones have longer whiskers and as we all know a cat or a Possum wont put it head in something that is narrower than its whiskers
Wasn't overly impressed to be honest - hence I now not using them.
You will note that Possums are very repetitive at same times with their movements.
Like - 11.30pm you sill see Possum A moving past at roughly same time every night - weather permitting.

Enjoy your "observing" keep us posted - good luck

Thats interesting... Would they take videos too for you?

Posted this on the marketplace too... Im looking for possum boards. Im not sure what my best option is. I've been told to get 300x25 planks and 250x25 and also 200x25. Cut them to 600mm lengths. Nails up each side and some at top and bottom for tail and head. Struggling to find anyone who even stocks the 300x25. This option looks to be pretty expensive.

Somebody is selling 70 boards on trade me for $180. They are only like 150mm wide. No nails on them either. With this method im guessing you would wrap the skin around the plank of wood? And use a staple gun to tac down?..... Is this a good method?

if i was to buy plywood and cut myself would this be an alright option? Id probably use a staple gun instead of nails, not sure how well they would stick in the timber long term.

Ive never used the staple gun for boarding before but i like the sound of it. im using nails right now on chipboard. The nails get in the way when im scraping the skin so i end up having to cut off along the edges. The chipboard is pretty shit too, but it was good to get me started.

If anybody happens to have boards they no longer want anymore id be interested...

Thanks in advance
scotty

@scotsman,i normally used 100mm x 25mm boards off old pallet's,i was leaving the belly uncut and nails at the head,tail and pull the leg's tight. I used 7 nails at each end and 6 along the leg's/ belly,hope this help's

Just like night shooter said, all very simple. My mate bought his first house with possum skins and venison and he used both wire and wooden frames. The wire ones were spot welded together, same shape as the wooden ones, only slightly more across cos wires thinner than a 25mm board and its the overall width you are after. The end that was spot welded together had a short spike left proud for the nose to catch on, and he used pegs to peg out the skin. One quick slice with a Stanley knife and the skin was off.

best results I ever had shooting was on flowering Manuka in Taranaki ,next were poplars & pines .

Thanks for the advice guys. Did end up buying a stapler too it's alright but you need to put a good few on to get the same stretch as a nail board. Also I'd advise getting the bigger sized staples. 20 bux for 2000.

If anybody in Northland has any possum traps they would be willing to sell pm me. Looking for about 80. Not overly fussy about condition as long as they work. Much appreciated

Scotsman

Ran my first trap line of the season last night.

30 traps
14 caught
4 more sprung
950 grams of fur from the 14

Possums were in very good condition after a very good summer in Canterbury.
Will get another line out in another couple of weeks and hope to set them both at least once a week as time, work and weather allows.

Interesting @akaroa1, I'm averaging 12 possums to the kg, n its just starting to get cool here. Come on winter, only gets better for the next 3 months.

@BeeMan I'm on Banks Peninsula and the conditions are always pretty mild here.
This line is at around 100m ASL and within 1km of the harbor. So practically winter less.
Haven't had a frost yet this year.

Originally Posted by BeeMan

Interesting @akaroa1, I'm averaging 12 possums to the kg, n its just starting to get cool here. Come on winter, only gets better for the next 3 months.

@BeeMan
What is the price this year per KG
12 per Kg
That good going - all Brown's to no doubt

Originally Posted by Sarvo

@BeeMan
What is the price this year per KG
12 per Kg
That good going - all Brown's to no doubt

Hey Sarvo,

Here is a copy of a txt i got from basically bush on 20th march.

Hi we are in Nelson buying fur, 12noon at Richmond A&P show grounds today. $105kg. Cheers Lisa

Will probably go up next few months as fur is longer, less shorts rejected. Was getting $120 Aug last year

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I sell to Dawson furs $105 kg. Still better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. @Sarvo yep mostly darks but the silver greys are big huas here aswell

Originally Posted by kukuwai

Hey Sarvo,

Here is a copy of a txt i got from basically bush on 20th march.

Hi we are in Nelson buying fur, 12noon at Richmond A&P show grounds today. $105kg. Cheers Lisa

Will probably go up next few months as fur is longer, less shorts rejected. Was getting $120 Aug last year

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Interesting- I only trapped a little in the early 80's and didn't get many skins. didn't get a lot for them and I think it wasn't long after that the price dropped out. Wasn't worth the hassle. just shot them for shits and giggles.
I was talking to someone just yesterday about trying to short the odd one and whether it was worth it for the fur. Cant be shagged skinning but if it was 12- 15 odd jackos for 100 bucks I'd definitely have a crack at that if I can find some easy local ones.