I've read about a way to keep your hunting cabin mouse free while your are away. It involved a five gallon bucket but I don't remember exactly how it worked. Was it putting a hole in the center of the lid so they can get in but not back out? I believe I read it in TBM a few years ago.

Bona

Bona,at the top of the bucket run a coathanger wire through it after drilling 2 hole which bisecting the buckets diameter.Befor the wire is put on place a 1quart paint can(emptywith lid on)with two holes drilled in the middle to receive the wire,place rubber hose(sergical tubing)or whatever works as a spacer.Now put peanut butter around can and build a wooden ramp to the top.Put a little water and antifreeze at the bottom.they will jump to the can which spines and fall into the bucket.I whish I could post a picture but have a hard enough time trying to type.Good luck Frank

Punch 2 holes in the rim of the bucket on opposite sides of the bucket. Cut both ends off of a concentrated OJ can or a similar size can. Run a piece of baling wire through one of the holes in the rim, through the OJ can and into the other hole. Secure the wire with a few twists. Center the can on the wire and smear some peanut butter on it.  Fill the bucket about half-way with some water or antifreeze. Make a ramp leading from the floor to where the wire is attached on the bucket with a piece of wood. The mice will climb up the ramp, walk along the wire but when they try to climb on the can for the peanut butter it will spin and they fall into the bucket.

These guys have the blueprints!   I remember back when I was guiding, and we made a similar trap, smearing the "pop can" with peanut butter, (the trick is to get the can balanced, pb and all, to spin easily).   We caught 27 mice in one night in the old log cabin.   Did'nt get much sleep, though, listening to the "pool party" they were having!  

In another cabin up in the Missouri Breaks, the trouble was with pack rats....whole 'nother critter.  Bucket traps won't work for them.  We used a 22 pistol and flashlights all night.  Not much sleep then either!

The old bucket and can mouse trap...a bit of peanut butter and your go to go. One time at camp we left it on a sunday and when I got back up on thursday we had 15 of the critters in there ....works great!!!!!

and with the antifreeze , no smell , just make sure pets or other animals can't get in it. I only use two inches of liquid.

We just smear PB on the inside of the bucket about halfway down.  No drilling, wires, of additional cans.  They reach for it and fall in.

We did the same thing with a coffee can, just cut a small hole in the plastic lid and smear PB on the inside. Fill the can half full of water. For pack rats a good old rat trap works well.

Cat.

My last trip to Colorado my camp was over run with mice I had never seen so many in one place ever! I rubber blunted them half the night and could still feel them running over me the other half! I would have done anything for a good bucket and wire trap!

these should be a how to seems it is useful in a hunting camp

The only good cat is a flat cat! I saw this bucket trap work at our gun and bow club. Very economical and easy to clean. Great idea.

We use little long bows with trip wires.

With the bucket trap, make sure you empty it once in a while.  Once had one in our barn and after a couple weeks had over 20 mice.

They always seem to end up in the toilet also. (maybe you can carry a porcelain death trap around    

Charlie

I'll trade with you, your mice for my squirrels!
I never knew squirrels were nocturnal!  If they could hire a band they would probably do it!
They run, jump, gnaw, and argue ALL NIGHT!
The ceiling in my cabin sounds like a night with the "Riverdance" troup!
Do squirrels wear steel toe boots? It sound like they do!
Good luck Ms. Glass! and if you come across a squirrel trap let me know, or if anyone has a cougar I could borrow.............
John

Mark, "pool party"...now that's funny!    

yeah, for sure i'll take mice over squirrels. Mice are way less destructive.

I USED AN ALUM ARROW SHAFT AND A POP CAN. TOUGH GETTING NICE HOLES IN THE POP CAN SO I GLUED A WASHER TO EACH END OVER THE HOLE. I EVEN WAXED THE CAN. SPREAD PEANUT BUTTER EVENLY ON EACH EDGE OF THE CAN. UNEVEN SPREAD WILL NOT LET IT SPIN AS SMOOTHLY. IF PEANUT BUTTER IS ALL OVER THE CAN IT GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO. WORKS GREAT. DUMPED A WHOLE GALLON OF ANTIFREEZE IN THE 5 GAL BUCKET. NO SMELL.

I tried a product called CAB.  Google it under CAB rodent.  It is a pouch that smells a lot like balsam.  It worked great for me.  Didn't have a mouse all winter.  I used 2 in a 24foot trailer.  Just ordered some more for this year.  I like the smell better that anti-freeze!  Dick

Thanks guys, this has been very informative and entertaining!

Mark, that "pool party" comment gave me the biggest laugh of the weekend!

Otto, our dog won't let a cat live here.

Thanks everyone for responding.

Bona