So I have decided to dip my toe into the world of trapping today. I bought 3 Duke dog proof traps today at Orschelns, got them all set up along a creek today where I have seen a ton of coons while hunting. Anybody have any general tips on trapping? I will mostly be going after coons, but might go after coyotes at some point as well. Maybe even bobcats if I get the trapping bug pretty bad (which I have a feeling I will). Also, wheres the cheapest place to buy more traps? I would rather stick with the dog proof traps or the soup can traps, since I'm not trapping in remote areas and there are dogs that roam around. I have found a dozen Duke dog proofs for $144 online, but would like cheaper if there is anywhere
Who's our resident trapper... Greg isn't it. Talk to him. He's done it all. I do know you probably don't realize how serious stinky free is. You got to boil those traps in something like shumack or whatever and always wear heavy rubber gloves etc etc etc. Greg is you guy. I'm also sure you can get a ton of infor from google Just google right and have fun. They make trapping laws a real pain here in NY. They make them so you almost have to get caught doing something wrong. Read and re read the regs. I trapped muskrats and mink as a kid all through highschool. I bought my first gun, bicycle and a whole lot of traps with trapping money. I ran a trap line every morning before school in the dark and ever afternoon usually ending in the dark after school. My trapping methods wouldn't do today... they'd be illegal... but we caught a lot of rats. LOL
I know Greg and Fletch are trappers, along with Atlas I have heard that being scent free is a pretty big deal for trapping, but is that mostly for coyotes and foxes? I have caught the hell out of raccoons before without attempting to be scent free. I googled my life away until midnight last night, read some pretty good info. I think this could be pretty fun once I get some more traps and start catching some critters
Yup, scent free is definitely more a coyote thing. Trapping will be exciting...especially when you catch fluffy who lives next door to you. LOL
Well out of the 4 traps I had out last night, I caught an opossum and a coon. I also had something else in a dog proof trap, but when I got there this morning it was gone.
I used to trap when I was a kid but it was coilspring (#2) and conibear (110 and 220) for mink, muskrat, coon, bobcat, fox. Though I have also caught a skunk once - the smell doesn't bother me any longer, even ~35 years later. I also caught a great horned owl once, a cool experience, and I released him with no harm. I caught one of the biggest coons of my life in a stand of timber off a corn field on a stump partly rotted in the middle. Set the trap in the rotted center, covered the pan with some tidbits of wood, leaf and had some corn sprinkled on the stump. Many sets in hedgerows/along fields coon/fox/possum/bobcat/and the skunk. 220s for coon and some bigger animals that use logs to cross, 2 or so cable staples on one edge to fasten to the log and wire it to the bottom of the tree/log. Fox/yotes/wolf all with the trap set in the ground, dig a small hole (like a mouse/mole), sift some dirt over to cover and some urine/lure nearby. Muskrats, I used a stick through a 110 spring in their runs. I didn't have to worry about pets where I was trapping, so it simplified setups. Don't overtrap an area... I'd check the traps and Dad would be setup for hunting deer/ducks/geese depending on the season and where my line was set.
Christine used to trap a lot and HunterOpel travels all over the place trapping. He has a couple thousand traps. He may even sell you a few. Shoot him a pm.
Iv done a little trapping, it is addictive and expensive, but you can make a little money at it as well. Personally, just running dog proof traps for coon, I wouldn't worry with scent. Iv never seen a coon worry about a little human odor
When using dogproof style traps, be sure to get the ones that will trigger by both pushing or pulling the lever. Some are only one or the other. You will definitely increase your catch ratio by using the push/pull style trigger. One of my buddies has good luck by glueing soft plastic fishing lures to the trigger so the coon has something "fishy" to grab and hang onto. Then bait it with fish-oil and lure etc. Marshmallows work well. Some type of attractant, both visual (foil, etc,) and lure and you are set. Old buildings are great places to snag a few coons. Also, anywhere culverts go under roads, railroads, etc. Hedge rows near corn fields and drainages leading to corn fields from timber are also killer spots for coons. A lot of times you can find good used traps on Craigslist or in a local shopper/advertiser/classifieds just before trapping season. Cubby sets baited with muskrat carcasses on creek banks work great for mink. A local fur buyer should be able to set you up with all the muskrat carcasses you need. Use a trowell or small tile spade to dig the cubby and block it with a 110. Again, use some lure as an attractant. And conceal the trap with some grass and small sticks. PM me anytime with specific questions, I will help all I can. Trapping is a lot of fun and really rewarding. If you have any cattle feed lots near, check out the silage and gluten piles, coons LOVE it and the farmers are usually glad to be rid of the extra drain on their feed bill. Enjoy!
