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!