Rookie trapping coons

[ouchfoss]

Being that this is been my first year of trapping, everyday has been a learning experience as far as how to build traps, what size to build them, placement, what bait to use, where to use them and whatnot. The one animal that I know I have been successful at getting to come to my traps is raccoon but I am having a heck of a time getting them to actually go in the trap. I decided to put a trail cam up near one that I was having fresh sign at everyday and like I figured, it was a coon but no matter what I did with the bait, he would never climb in the cage. My cage is 10x12x30 with a gravity swing door on one side and I'm wondering if possibly I need a larger cage and/or a double door set up to coax him into the trap. I covered up the sides of the cage with moss and sticks and it was all moved away from the cage when I checked it this morning and all food that was easy to get to from outside the trap was gone. A few days ago I put a used soupcan in the back of the cage and stuffed it with marshmallows soaked in salmon juice and that was the only food left in the cage. I have two other traps (same size and style) that I am pretty sure have coons visiting them off and on for the last couple weeks as well and still no animals in either. Just curious what some trapping veterans do for successful raccoon trapping.

[Carp Commander]

Some advise I got from the forum earlier in the year that payed off. Raccoon's will sometimes be finicky about going into cages but not solid enclosures. Try placing the cage inside a garbage can or cardboard box. The cardboard seems to work OK on the dry side, not so much on the wet side.

[ouchfoss]

Seems like a good idea worth trying. The cardboard probably wouldn't last more than a day though with how much rain we have been getting lately.
The whole idea of using a solid enclosure is something I plan to do some experimenting with during offseason. Seems like a wood enclosure would be fairly easy and cheap to build and from the sound of it, may be pretty advantageous for bobcats as well.

[CementFinisher]

just try surounding it with or in brush and put som fir branches over the top. clear the front of the trap and make a small smooth dirt path in front of it.

[ouchfoss]

just try surounding it with or in brush and put som fir branches over the top. clear the front of the trap and make a small smooth dirt path in front of it.

I had this one totally covered up when I first set it last week but the coon tore all the branches and moss off the sides and top of it a few days ago before I set the camera up (I guess I could have used some larger branches to possibly stop that). My other two coon sets are covered up good as well and I have had the same issue with the coons tearing off all the moss and branches.
I wonder how much of an issue my "shiny" metal is for getting them to be so cautious about going in.

[Humptulips]

Don't let them get stuff through the cage.  on the soup can.

Any chance these coons have been caught in a trap before?

[ouchfoss]

Don't let them get stuff through the cage.  :tup:on the soup can.

Any chance these coons have been caught in a trap before?

He might be a little scared of this trap from the first time he found it. On the 4th day of checking the trap, it had been triggered with nothing in it so more than likely this coon had tripped it and might know better now. None of my other coon sets had been tripped so that is why I wondering if I should change my tactics.

[L8NITE]

I experienced the same problem with a coon...I took a can of tuna put a few holes in it so it would smell good to him and wired it into the back of the cage. Took several days to work but he obviously couldnt resist going in there!!! As said earlier dont give him a free meal make him work for it 

[JakeLand]

take a sharp stick (small) and put 3 marshmellows on it like spear and stick it in the ground in the center of the cage so they cant steal them works every time

[UrbanTrapper]

Is your trap near houses?  I have a lot of trouble getting coons into cages. One of my theories is that many have been trapped before and illegally relocated by bleeding hearts and are now educated, cage-shy raccoons.

[Hawgdawg]

just try surounding it with or in brush and put som fir branches over the top. clear the front of the trap and make a small smooth dirt path in front of it.

I had this one totally covered up when I first set it last week but the coon tore all the branches and moss off the sides and top of it a few days ago before I set the camera up (I guess I could have used some larger branches to possibly stop that). My other two coon sets are covered up good as well and I have had the same issue with the coons tearing off all the moss and branches.
I wonder how much of an issue my "shiny" metal is for getting them to be so cautious about going in.

camera flash is scaring them. Save the picture taking for after the capture.

[ouchfoss]

Is your trap near houses?  I have a lot of trouble getting coons into cages. One of my theories is that many have been trapped before and illegally relocated by bleeding hearts and are now educated, cage-shy raccoons.

This trap is actually along the creek on the back edge of my property. Considering where I live this coon more than likely has never been caught before.

Jakeland: I actually rebaited the trap with more marshmallows this morning using that idea.  Surprised I never thought of something so simple. thank you

Hawgdawg: the camera I'm using has the infrared light for nighttime photos and it seems like it never scares animals away. 

[Humptulips]

I was using an infrared trail camera at bobcat sets trying to see what they were doing. Guess what, they were always looking at the camera when it went off. I never caught one when the camera was deployed either. I finally decided not to deploy the camera as I thought it was effecting how they acted.

[ouchfoss]

Sounds like a good enough reason to pull it then. Its not like I am wondering what animal is showing up anyhow.

[Hawgdawg]

Is your trap near houses?  I have a lot of trouble getting coons into cages. One of my theories is that many have been trapped before and illegally relocated by bleeding hearts and are now educated, cage-shy raccoons.

This trap is actually along the creek on the back edge of my property. Considering where I live this coon more than likely has never been caught before.

Jakeland: I actually rebaited the trap with more marshmallows this morning using that idea.  Surprised I never thought of something so simple. thank you

Hawgdawg: the camera I'm using has the infrared light for nighttime photos and it seems like it never scares animals away. 

one of those pics show his eye's lit up. so he busted you. Move your trap. Put it in a garbage tub or colvert. Change your bait. Suggest canned Anchovies or pink salmon, Cheap.
Good luck. In addition I have a few cased skinned coons in the freezer if you are in the market for fur. Happy trapping!

[ouchfoss]

I have a LOT of canned salmon from this last fishing season so I think I might some for bait tomorrow. 

I am still wondering if my traps are large enough though. Is 10x12x30 big enough or should I just build them bigger from now on?

[Humptulips]

I would go a little bit bigger. Long enough but  maybe 14 x14 or even a little bigger.

[Hawgdawg]

I would go a little bit bigger. Long enough but  maybe 14 x14 or even a little bigger.

 

[kirkdekalb]

Maybe try adding 1x1/2" wire on outside to prevent reach in's.

You may have gotten scent of the food on the door and they are up on the door or bumping it, setting the trap off.( if it is a standard ring locking trigger.

Try one of Bruces' traps with the door down on one end, you will catch him. The way the door is, it would make for easy baiting. You could always add some 1x 1/2" wire around his cage on one end and use 1x1/2" on one door.

If you thought you needed a door lock added, I could make a suggestion, but it would work best for land sets. At least I think it would work. I don,t know if it would be needed. Just seen pictures.

[Machias]

Along the lines of the marshmellow on a stick, I take a wire coat hanger, cut a piece about 6 inches long, and hook it to the top of the cage, hanging down right over the back of the pan and slide three big marshmellows onto it.  If he is trap shy, the snare shop, www.snareshop.com sells a bucket trap kit, it's like $25, very easy to put together and absolutely slays trap shy coons.

[ouchfoss]

I would go a little bit bigger. Long enough but  maybe 14 x14 or even a little bigger.

I think Im going to start building some 15x15 traps or at least more 12x18s. From what has been said on here by you and others, the 15x15 is a good all around trap for bobcats and coons as well.
I built my 10x12s with the idea that it would use less material to build so I could get more traps built and still be productive at getting coons.

[Carp Commander]

I have heard mixed reviews about the bucket traps. Is anyone else using them other than Machias?

Machias,

You seem to be a fan of them. Are they a good overall option or just a good option for trap shy coon?

[70sdiver]

Cover your csge floor with dirt and throw a bunch if loose dirt around the front if the trap. Some times adding an egg at the back of the cage really works too.

[Machias]

I have heard mixed reviews about the bucket traps. Is anyone else using them other than Machias?

Machias,

You seem to be a fan of them. Are they a good overall option or just a good option for trap shy coon?

Sorry, I just saw your question.  They are outstanding traps for coons, skunks and feral cats.  They have always worked well for me, I've probably caught 50 coons in them and twice that many skunks.  I used the orange buckets from Home Depot, but you could go with a different color if you wanted to camouflage it a bit.

[whitey]

The little candy Peach Rings work great, and a small bunch of feathers suspended from the top of the trap is a killer on coons as well as bobcats.
Plus I also would use a bigger trap.

[seth30]

Good luck on catching him

[ouchfoss]

Success!!!

I took my small trap out and put my larger 12x18x40 about 30 yards away from where I had the first trap set and after two days I found where the coon had showed up and pulled all the moss, brush and sticks away from the cage that I had used to hide it and it had reached in and ate all the salmon chunks that I put in it. So I said to hell with using sticks and covered it up really well with some old composite roofing I had laying around. So I check this morning and there he is!
I have some 1/2" x 1" cage material that I plan to put at the back section of the trap to deal with the coon always stealing the bait from the outside as well as using plywood to cover the sides and top of the cage since moss and tree limbs don't hold back coons.

[seth30]

Great job!

[NoImpactNoIdea]

I would go a little bit bigger. Long enough but  maybe 14 x14 or even a little bigger.

I think Im going to start building some 15x15 traps or at least more 12x18s. From what has been said on here by you and others, the 15x15 is a good all around trap for bobcats and coons as well.
I built my 10x12s with the idea that it would use less material to build so I could get more traps built and still be productive at getting coons.

What plans are you guys using to build these?

[hardkorrhunter]

sweet got him, good job.