Guest rabbiter Posted July 17, 2006 Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 (edited) My 16 year old son ran out a 75 leg hold trap line on a local farm for 3 nites last week ..first nite he got 62 ,and by the end of the 3 nites he had 125 possums .Some skins that have now been sold were worth $14 ,others $8 and some $3.50 ,and over the lot he averaged $5.18. WE skin the animals,and once gutted and the craws cut off they are very very good dog food. They have large sharp teeth and craws ,which they are quite happy to use on you if you get too close. They also carry their single young in a small pouch and have a tail which they use as a extra limb...they tell us we have over 70 millon of these pests ...brought over from aussie years ago to start a fur industry Edited July 17, 2006 by rabbiter Quote Link to post
Guest Ditch_Shitter Posted July 17, 2006 Report Share Posted July 17, 2006 Oh to need a truck to fetch back a nights haul of Mink! I'm still practicing getting my head round your Brushtails, Rabbiter. I'm so used to thinking of 'Possums as the 'Grinners' they have in USA. That's why those teeth stopped me dead in my tracks there. Aren't they Incisors??? If so, what do those ones eat? Only the American ones have a mouth full of needles and eat Anything. And what ever they do eat, it comes out slimey and green, apparrantly :sick: And I see he's using, what is that? 4" traps? I'm guessing that's because you still have millions of that size left over from the hey day of rabbit trapping? I wonder; Have you any opinion on what size of trap you might choose to use ~ if you had a full range available? Only I believe, in US, they prefer to use (don't quote me on this and I don't want an arguement with an American! ) what they call No. 1 or 1 1/2? Those things have jaws about, I don't know .... 2 1/2 - 3" ? What they would have used in this part of the world - had they ever had either possum - god only knows. Either way, I guess those old Ace's are more portable, practical and cheap than any of the newer things coming out of Oz and perhaps NZ these days? My US mate has a Timms and that looks like a whole lot of bulk to carry. Must say; I'd have to acclimatise myself to taking those Brush Tails in live traps of any sort. I don't know how you despatch 'em, but the thought of looking at those big, brown, childlike eyes, then ..... Hmmm. Interesting post. Always good to see how the other man gets on Quote Link to post
Coote 5 Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 Good photos thanks Rabbiter. What part of New Zealand do you live in? Quote Link to post
Guest rabbiter Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 (edited) this is one of the new type of trap ,which has a double spring.The possum pictured above is held in a old "rabbit" trap ...these are cheap .The possum will eat just about anything they can. Edited July 18, 2006 by rabbiter Quote Link to post
Guest rabbiter Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 (edited) This is a "Timms" kill trap that you bait with a whole apple.You push the apple onto the "tigger" pin that you can see inside the trap ,the "possum" puts his head in to the hole and pulls the apple ,which in turns pulls the pin that is on the other side of a large U bar that has very strong springs ,but is sitting off the pont of balance,but when the" coon" as they are sometimes called pulls the pin and bar past the point of balance the powerfull springs take over and fly round and wack the coon on the thoat,breaking its neck. One "without his coat "as you can see they have a lot of mussel and meat on good strong bones ...they are in fact a very strong and tuff animal for their size. Think the dog wants his "tea".I live in the best part of the country ....the deep south!! They may look nice and cute ,but get too close and they will try very hard to bite you ! and after they have stipped your wifes garden and danced on the roof keeping you awake for half the nite ...one does have too much trouble doing away with one !! Edited July 18, 2006 by rabbiter Quote Link to post
Guest Croc Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 Great post & pic's mate, where exactly are you in Oz? may be re-locating there eventually! where would you say the best sport is in Oz & are there pigs rounds you? YIS Croc Quote Link to post
Guest rabbiter Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 MY GOD MAN I DON"T LIVE THERE!!!!!! I live in a much nicer place ...New Zealand ...where there are very few AUSSIES....lol lol Quote Link to post
Guest great white hunter Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 ugly lil buggers :11: Quote Link to post
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