coon trapping

[Arkansas Frog]

set the trap take a stick at the back [trigger-step] trip the trap see what the hold up is.

grease will not bother the smell he will be looking at the fish you have in a can.make sure you put it in the back of the trap and not under the trip door.

[killemallboy]

it gets caught on the little bar were the door falls like it aint got enough force behindit

[FullCryHounds]

What brand trap is it?

[Badge215]

How could a rat be setting off a coon trap. They aren't heavy enough. Mice and rats can go in and steal the bait but they won't set off the trap. If you have foxes around, that is what is setting it off and not getting caught. Coon traps are usually 30 inches long and a fox is long enough that he can grab the bait, the door comes down and hits him on his butt, and he simply backs out. I have to use 36 inch long traps to catch foxes. This time of year, coons are looking for protein so any meat type bait should work well. Any scraps off the BBQ are best like chicken bones, steak bones or anything with a BBQ smell to it. Fish type baits work better in the spring. Sweet baits are notoriously good for coons any time of year. Keep the trap off the ground so skunks don't get in. Skunks can't climb so even a foot off the ground works fine. Make sure the trap doesn't rock around and is set firmly on what ever surface your setting it on. A trap that moves when an animal steps on it won't catch as much. If you are using the two door Havahart traps, they are worthless for coons. They aren't big enough to hold a large coon and when a coon is caught in one, they can roll the trap over and the doors simply fall open and the coon walks away. Safeguard cage traps are the best on the market. Coons have a hard time tearing them up and I've caught over 1000 coons and never had a single escape.

I found out a few years ago skunks can climb. This one was out in about a foot of snow, in Jan. He climbed up five feet into a marten set.

[Catman]

I like to use molasses. Usually don't catch skunks or ditch tigers with that. If your trap is getting set off and nothing is inside...the first thing I would ask is: what kind of trap is it? And does it have some sort of locking devise when the door shuts to hold it closed? Coons are smarter than alot of people think. If you just have a slide gate or something without a lock of some sort....coons will simply lift it up and out they go. Most manufactered traps that you buy have a locking devise, BUT if you have made your own....you'll need one to hold a coon. Hope that helps
By the way badge215 neat picture

[livetohunt]

Hey Ryan one other thing how long is your trap? I know some of my small ones are not very long and I have had big coons go in and take the food and then just back out. The gate hits them on there backs and cant shut, I like to use the bigger traps for everything I think they are like 36" long?

[killemallboy]

i would have to geuss it would be 12x12x30 or 36 long so i have egg and some beef heart

[waylon]

How could a rat be setting off a coon trap. They aren't heavy enough. Mice and rats can go in and steal the bait but they won't set off the trap


You obviously have never seen a common wood rat that runs around in the south, some weight over 15lbs and grow over a foot long, damn right they will set your trap off and i have caught a few in the trap also, but yeah foxes cause more trouble than anything i know of, except opossums and house cats

I used to catch coon just by putting in a shiny snuff can lid, bailing wired to the inside top of the trap, or a broken piece of miror. They really are super easy to catch, you trap is probably in need of a little tuning

[Rossco]

Rats can be a problem, but they are normally in the trap when you get there. I have had times before where I've hit a rat streak and it seams like thats all I can catch. Its dissapointing to go out checking traps and you see the doors down just to find a rat inside.

[Idaho Bison]

Use a Dogless trap like a Yancy DP coon trap. Get a restraint pull and you can put them in a cage or release them to run with your dogs. If the goal is to dispatch there are plenty of ways.

[BlacktailStalker]

Spring salmon heads or beaver meat.

In live traps wire a lead weight to the top or place a rock on top of the door to help it fall quicker.
You'd be surprised how often coons try and get their little fingers in through the back or sides to get at the bait and knock the trap closed.
I always put mine backed in between 2 logs or brush and against a tree so they can only access it from the front. I also often cover the top with ferns so its more of a dark hole. Some get smart and the steel educates them.
In live traps I have a 6" tin can wired solid to the floor behind the pan to put the bait in.
I have hung it from the roof in a can with punched holes, keeps the rodents off it and they really have to work the can and it guarantees they trip the door.
Lately I use a quarter of a roasted chicken carcass (left over from dinner) and its been deadly.

[Emily]

coons love sweet stuff. anything sweet in the way of leftovers will work. marshmallows, doughnuts, honeybuns, kool aid powder...
They also like sour corn--put some cracked corn in water and let it ferment a day or two. A drunk coon is a dumb coon and it will get trapped.

[bluecross]

One day in the fall i set two traps in a hay field, cutting up a little pumpkin in half and putting half in each trap. Went back the next day and had a 20 pound or more coon in each trap which were set ten feet apart. i have also caught some with deer scraps.

Happy Hunting
Justin

[Glen]

I have had good luck with marshmellos and honey in an empty tuna can.

[Arkansas Frog]

I didn't explain my self of the rat setting off the trap, i was setting for yotes [live market] and had a #2 Bridger off set, a rat would get caught and then pull his foot out,i wanted the blood to circulate on the yote foot because he was going to a running pen.