Which 'Coon Trap Most Effective?

[swampducks]

Something is killing my ducks, it's not a snapping turtle, we are almost 100% sure it's not dog, cat, coyote, human, raptor either.

It is legal in Michigan to take raccoons doing or about to do damage. The live traps are not working.

I've searched here and mostly see baiting live traps with marshmallows. I am getting out the big guns now and want to invest in some real traps.

I have no idea which ones would be best. They will only be set at night when the dogs are in the house and away from where the ducks sleep.

Can anyone give me some specific info? Brand names, trap size, etc? There are leg traps, head traps, arm traps, etc. HELP!

I'm declaring war.

 

[wyliefarms]

In our live traps we use cat food. Works like a charm.

We have also used the fly poision and Coke/Pepsi. Put some of the blue fly poision in a shallow dish with the pop. They varmits cannot get enough of it! They drop dead a little ways from the drink. This way you will be able to tell what it was
This one you have to make sure your critters don't get into it, sudden death.

Hope this helps!

 

[panner123]

Find some place to buy a petal trap (leg hold trap) Wire a piece of highly polished metal or mirror on the petal and place it in the water about six inches deep. If it is a coon, you will have him within two days. This is how I trapped coon as a child. For some reason they can't pass up something that shines in the water. If you want to drown it, place the stake in deep water. If you want to keep it alive, place the stake on land. Trying to keep it alive causes a problem, it may chew it's leg off to get out of the trap.

 

[Farm Chic]

try covering the trap with a towel to make it seem more private for them to eat. they cannot resist sweet stuff down here in the southern part of michigan.

you can always set up bait outside by the area (minus the live trap if you would like) and when they are about to do damage...........well, you can figure out the rest

 

[ivan3]

I don't think direct linking to the the first BYC is allowed (link at bottom of our main forum page `see old site here').

Check Foxtrapper Steph's Stickies at the top of the Predator and Pest section, particularly: Using Steel Traps.

 

[mgibbzzz]

Where are you putting the trap? That could be part of the reason taht you are not getting anything. Also how big is it? Most people don't realize how big coon can get and don't get a trap big enough for them. Try to put a couple of different things in your trap as bait. use cat food and peanut butter and pieces of apple. Those were the three best bait that we used.


DMK Ranch

 

[Darin115]

I have had good luck with conibear traps. You wil need the coon sized traps. I am drawing a blank on the size I have. If it was not so late I would go check.

Anyway, I take a 5 gallon bucket with lid and cut a hole in the lid big enough for a coon to climb thru. You set the trap inside the bucket and place a honeybun or a piece of loaf bread with honey on it inside the bucket. You have to stake the trap down so it will not move around. When the coon climbs in the bucket it throws the trap and kills it immediately. THere is no way it will get out of a conibear trap.

Please understand that conibear traps are not very foregiving. It does not care what it kills. If a cat sticks his head in the bucket, the cat dies. Whatever tries to get in the bucket will die.

I had beaver problems several years ago. A beaver sized conibear trap must be set submerged in water. It will kill a large breed of dog. It is against the law in NC to set one that is not submerged in 6" of water. You also have to be carefull when setting a trap of this size. I suggest the size down or 2 sizes down for coons.

They are highly effective traps. Be careful if you have any pet that could possibly get in them. It does not discriminate. They are also very affordable.

Darin

 

[Cuban Longtails]

I have it from a very reliable source that the Lil' Grizz Get'rz is a great trap for coons.

It will catch only coons, baited with marshmellows.

 

[Ugly Cowboy]

Well, if ya want to go old school, ya get a log with a hole in it, drop anything shiny in it, hammer some nails in at an angle, and the coon will latch on to that coin, washer, etc. and not let go no matter what. Then ya shoot him or club him or whatever ya want, and ya got dinner and a nice hide! I caught more of 'em that way when I was a boy than I can count! If yall have coonhounds, get a roll cage and stick the coon in that and train the pup with that, or just keep the hound in a closed barn and drag the hide around the place and then hang it high in a tree, the let the hound go!

 

[hippiehen]

I have caught somewhere around 75 coons this year (no lie!) I use a heavy duty live trap baited with dog food and fluffy duck feathers.

My advice is to put it up off the ground, I have had much more luck that way. I put mine on top of an overturned water trough next to my "duck box" where I keep my ducks at night. Works like a charm!