Mustelids Traps Guidelines
Set your trap along a stream, drain, large log, hedge or farm building as these tend to "funnel" the mustelids towards the trap.
TO SET: Place left thumb in loop C with fingers under base D. Right thumb on bar A with fingers under spring B. Squeeze with both hands to fully open jaws, swing safety hook E. over bar A. which prevents jaws closing. Both hands are now free to adjust catches taking care not to disengage safety hook, which is for your protection. Dig a slight depression in the ground so that the trap will set with the trigger plate of the trap level with the surrounding ground. Arrange the trap or traps so that the brass trigger is off to one side of the tunnel.
Remove the safety catch only when you have the trap positioned to your satisfaction. Place the cover carefully over the traps to ensure that they have plenty of room for the jaws to close without hitting the walls of the cover. Use No. 8 wire pegs to pin the trap cover down and tie the chain to the cover.
OPTIONS WHEN SETTING: These traps have been designed to use as "run through" traps which rely on the mustelid's desire to investigate anything that looks like a rat or rabbit hole. However in some parts of the country, and at some times of year when food is scarce, trap catch may improve with the use of a bait such as a slightly cracked raw egg or fresh meat (preferably rabbit, rat or some other natural prey item). Eggs should be changed weekly while meat baits should be changed every 2 - 3 days depending on weather. With the double trap cover, room is provided to place a bait between the two traps. With the single cover the bait can be placed to one side of the trap or at one end of the tunnel with the bait end left "blind" i.e. an object laid against the entrance hole to force the mustelid to go to the other entrance and cross the trap to reach the bait.
There doesn't appear to be a significant difference in catch rate between traps that are "camouflaged" or left as bare steel. If however you do want to try camouflaging your trap use very light, small material to place over it, small leaves or dry sawdust may be appropriate. Wipe fishoilene (a fish oil based product available from most paint shops. It doesn't put mustelids off and may even act as an attractant) on the traps when new and once a year after that to reduce corrosion.