Rookie trapping coons

[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.