Is one live trap better than the other?

[Country4ever]

I checked out the live-traps at TSC yesterday, and couldn't decide which one was better. They were both the same size and made by the same company (Adventak?). One was $50 and it was steel that had all the same sized openings in the wire.....about 1"x1".
The other one was about $32 and you got a second, smaller trap with that. It was made out of green coated steel, but some of it was like 1/2" hardware and other parts had openings that were like 1"x2"..........which seemed like a coon could scratch you when you were carrying the trap. Seems like it could stick its hands out pretty far.
I don't quite understand why there was such a $ difference in them.
I think I would prefer the $50 one because of the wire, but I don't understand why there was such a difference in price.
Any suggestions about the fencing in buying a coon live-trap?
Thanks.

 

[danielbrown]

I don't use the big store brand traps. I'd say get the one that looks the strongest and has the most reliable door locking.
This is mine. it works very good.

 

[ivan3]

Haven't used that brand, so I can't comment on it.

We use three Havahart model 1079's : http://www.havahart.com/store/live-animal-traps/1079

The one I posted a shot of yesterday is now on its eleventh year of service and, with the exception of a few slightly bent bars from bullets, it is as good as new and has stood up to efforts of raccoons so large I don't really know how they fit:

It has seen plenty of hard service.

Someone posted a shot of another brand of trap that was apparently torn up by a raccoon (I read your post in the thread but someone else might want to take a look): https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=209766

Regardless of brand, long utility and no wasted time results from not setting the trap on the ground and making sure that it can't be tipped over.

 

[Country4ever]

I wonder why they don't use the hardware cloth for the whole trap?
P.S. Ivan...........what are those wooden legs for?

 

[ivan3]

The two 2"x2"s are to prevent the vermin from digging up the vegetation and dirt and then rolling around in their feces and the clutter. With the trap up off the ground it is possible to shoot/dump/spray off trap/reset in the space of ten minutes (I hate wasting time with vermin, be it leg mites or coons); otherwise, it can take a considerable time to get the trap cleaned up.

When we first started out, we set a trap on the front deck (fox and coon). A coon was trapped. It was able to move the trap nearly three feet across the deck where it found 50ft. of coiled extension cord. This was drug into the trap through the holes and it ended up being a `gordian knot' clean up that took nearly an hour. I learned to keep the trap raised off of whatever surface I set it on.

Ed:

Country4ever wrote: I wonder why they don't use the hardware cloth for the whole trap?

I would suspect cost and utility (wouldn't want it on the bottom). If we were having problems with something smaller it isn't really much trouble to cut up some .5" hardware cloth, zip tie into a `box' shape and slip over top of trap.​

 

[Country4ever]

Thanks Ivan.

 

[will hunt for food]

I reccomend Safeguard, Tomahawk or Wickencamp. All made in the US. My personal opinion is that the traps sold at Trator Supply are made in China crap. Sure, they will work somtimes, but if you want a good long lasting heavy duty trap that you can leave outside month after month, buy one of the above brands.

Buy a big trap! You can never go too big, but you can go too small.

http://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies....Code=NWS001&Category_Code=TrapsByManufacturer

 

[jqs birds]

I run a regular trapline here in the winter and we can only use live traps.
Duke is by far one of the best. They hold up well and are more affordable. You need to buy them directly from Duke or you will be over charged.

 

[mmwb]

I agree with Will Hunt for Food, for a box trap go with Safegaurd or Tomahawk.

 

[Country4ever]

Thanks everyone,
I'll check all those brands out.
At TSC, I saw a huge trap for coyotes and wolves. How the heck would you even lift that? Would you use a front-end loader or something? Or do people just shoot them in the trap?