Old time rabbit trappers

[micky 3,325]

Given the choice,and the laws of the time,what type of rabbit trap would the old timers opt for today,would it be the gin ,fenn, imbra,the new Aussie leg hold ,or something else.

[OldTrapCollector 377]

Given the choice,and the laws of the time,what type of rabbit trap would the old timers opt for today,would it be the gin ,fenn, imbra,the new Aussie leg hold ,or something else.

 

If I could go back in time with them then it would be 4 inch gins every time for me - I would go and see them made, talk to the trap makers and bring the knowledge back with me

 

OTC

[micky 3,325]

Given the choice,and the laws of the time,what type of rabbit trap would the old timers opt for today,would it be the gin ,fenn, imbra,the new Aussie leg hold ,or something else.

 

If I could go back in time with them then it would be 4 inch gins every time for me - I would go and see them made, talk to the trap makers and bring the knowledge back with me

 

OTC

do you not think ,that they would prefer your knowlledge ,after all theres a fair bit of work involved in setting a gin for rabbits as opposed to a modern leg hold,weight ,and bulk would come into it as well.Its not what you want otc,its about what they would chose given the choice,and why.

[OldTrapCollector 377]

Same answer - they were inhumane yes, but they were very, very effective

 

OTC

[ianrob 2]

Given the choice,and the laws of the time,what type of rabbit trap would the old timers opt for today,would it be the gin ,fenn, imbra,the new Aussie leg hold ,or something else.

What's the Aussie leg hold like mate

[john b 38]

I think this has the makings of a really interesting discussion - if we can keep it on track.

Clearly we can't go back to methods that have been outlawed but understanding why the old methods worked may help us apply the current ones better.

 

For example:

I imagine that the gins were effective because you could set them on a 'beat' and know that this is where the rabbits foot would strike every time. If you read Snareman's articles you can see that his approach to snaring uses this same regular beat behaviour but the catching method has improved.

 

And what about some of the 'old' traps that are still legal ? The imbras for example. What if anything do they have over and above fenns ?

[Rolfe 2]

I keep a few Imbra's and Juby's for use in certain situations and very effective they are too......the major drawback is the weight of the damn things if you have to transport any number off them. I personally think they are more effective than the Mk6 fenns when used for rabbit control.

The rabbit Gins (4in) as OTC will tell you........were only designed to hold and not kill the animal; but remember these were used in great numbers at a time when the rabbit pelts were worth as much, if not more, than the meat itself.

 

So if i had a choice of one RABBIT trap to use from the past or present.....i would opt for the Imbra......providing someone would carry them for me In the picture the Imbra is on the left for those who may not know what they look like.

[snareman 3]

Same answer - they were inhumane yes, but they were very, very effective

 

OTC

what we need is a lightweight and strong trap that will kill quickly, something like a spring trap with a slightly curved jaw, for setting in holes , as the spring traps that we have in use at the moment certainly don,t kill quickly , and that is total fact from years and years of using them , moley , peg and gun , and teejay will also verify this, along with many others i,m sure , another thing is why are we ripped of for traps in this country 8 or 9 quid for a shitty trap that can,t do the job properly , when traps in america are half the price . and quality made , instead of worrying about them being inside a tunnel it would fit the government better to get of their ass and make them more humane like the canadian government does , and to get the proper snaring techniques such as snare loop sizes , and setting heights up on site , instead of the bullsh#t thats on there about rabbit and fox snaring at the moment. as these best practises thats been put forward recently by the so called experts that have done no real snaring in my opinion , are absolute nonsense , and more non target species of animals are going to get caught , think about it , fox snares set 3 and 5 inches from the ground , and what imbecile is going to run around with a garden fork checking a hundred or more fox snares in the event of catching a badger in a snare , have these so called experts never heard of a thumb stick. all the wisdom is leaving the world for sure.

[Holdaway 2]

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[micky 3,325]

I think this has the makings of a really interesting discussion - if we can keep it on track.

Clearly we can't go back to methods that have been outlawed but understanding why the old methods worked may help us apply the current ones better.

 

For example:

I imagine that the gins were effective because you could set them on a 'beat' and know that this is where the rabbits foot would strike every time. If you read Snareman's articles you can see that his approach to snaring uses this same regular beat behaviour but the catching method has improved.

 

And what about some of the 'old' traps that are still legal ? The imbras for example. What if anything do they have over and above fenns ?

The foothold trap the Aussies have is smaller ,lighter,and easier to set than a gin,so therefore better.imo,what made the gin so good was the amount of rabbit available to catch.If the rabbit numbers today were on a parr with the early 50s and there was a market for there meat,fur and by products , i suspect we would be looking at another type of trap ,something on the imbra lines ,but stronger, lighter , more compact, and above all cheaper,so i will go with the imbra too,for me its the ideal trap for the soil starved areas i play in

[OldTrapCollector 377]

The foothold trap the Aussies have is smaller ,lighter,and easier to set than a gin,so therefore better.

 

Have you got a photo Micky - I cannot think what type you mean? Unless it is an imported US made trap

 

OTC

[OldTrapCollector 377]

what we need is a lightweight and strong trap that will kill quickly, something like a spring trap with a slightly curved jaw, for setting in holes

 

Hundreds of this type were tested by the Ministry and failed in the run up to the banning of the gin trap and none of them really managed to make it right. The Juby and Imbra were a result of countless design alterations and drawing board changes. The original patented traps look far derived from the ones we know and use today. If it were easy to make a good, light, cheap, effective, killing spring trap then where is it? Why are we importing DOC traps from NZ? Why do our own traps not kill quickly enough??

 

I would say that an undersprung compact rabbit trap with slotted curved jaws would indeed be the answer but it has all been tried before. Maybe modern technology and materials provide the clue? Perhaps when I eventually get this book of mine published some manufacturer or inventor will see some sense of all the 'also ran' traps and make us something that will still need - 50 years after the gin was banned.

 

OTC

[micky 3,325]

The foothold trap the Aussies have is smaller ,lighter,and easier to set than a gin,so therefore better.

 

Have you got a photo Micky - I cannot think what type you mean? Unless it is an imported US made trap

 

OTC

No mate, theywere on here some time ago but i think they were taken off.Ithink they were made in the USA.soft hold or grip they were called ,some aussie used to put some good pictures up,then someone had a whine and hes not been back.

[moley 115]

Given the choice,and the laws of the time,what type of rabbit trap would the old timers opt for today,would it be the gin ,fenn, imbra,the new Aussie leg hold ,or something else.

 

i wish i was about when they manufactured sara rabbit traps , i would have bought a few hundred and put them on ebay

[OldTrapCollector 377]

i wish i was about when they manufactured sara rabbit traps , i would have bought a few hundred and put them on ebay

 

To sell yes but to use no - they are a heap of junk

 

Hundreds of Thousands made and so far as I know only 7 survive - the reason - they smashed themselves to bits when they fired. Total junk!

 

OTC