Coons coons coons

[htdwell]

Might sound silly to some but looking for some pointers on catching coon that are not in residential areas. I don’t have the ability to trap in the city and had some trouble Making a good set in wooded areas.  Been doing ok with beavers and muskrat but want to make a coon hat ever since I started trapping about 3 years ago.  Any help is appreciated.

[redi]

Have you tried marshmallows and eggs? Put vanilla extract on cotton balls and place in back of trap. cover the floor of cage with dirt or leaves, they don't like wire.

[htdwell]

Thanks. Haven’t covered the floor and I’ll give the extract a try for sure. 

[redi]

I caught a big racceoon yesterday in my bobcat set using beaver meat and duck wing.

[Smossy]

large marshmellows. IF they fail then your not in the right spot.

[bornhunter]

Question for those who know. What is considered big for a coon. The other night a coon went after my yellow lab. The coon headed up a tree when it saw me. I got my flashlight and my 12 gauge an when I saw its eyes in the light I blasted him. He was just a shade over 30 pounds. Is that a big one or pretty normal size?

[Smossy]

Question for those who know. What is considered big for a coon. The other night a coon went after my yellow lab. The coon headed up a tree when it saw me. I got my flashlight and my 12 gauge an when I saw its eyes in the light I blasted him. He was just a shade over 30 pounds. Is that a big one or pretty normal size?

30lbs Is pretty dang huge. Like overly huge. We probably average them in the 12ish pound range in WA obviously ranging in size but like 10-12lbs
20ish lbs on the largest end of the scale. a 30 lbs coon would pick your lab up and walk off with it lol

[bornhunter]

Question for those who know. What is considered big for a coon. The other night a coon went after my yellow lab. The coon headed up a tree when it saw me. I got my flashlight and my 12 gauge an when I saw its eyes in the light I blasted him. He was just a shade over 30 pounds. Is that a big one or pretty normal size?

30lbs Is pretty dang huge. Like overly huge. We probably average them in the 12ish pound range in WA obviously ranging in size but like 10-12lbs
20ish lbs on the largest end of the scale. a 30 lbs coon would pick your lab up and walk off with it lol

I know! You should of heard that thing when it lit into my dog. She is only about 60 pounds and went after that coon until it turned and went after my dog. I didnt realize a coon could growl and snap like that. It was a big old male stinky bugger.

[huntingfool7]

A 30 pounder would look awesome on the wall stretched old school "square". 

[bornhunter]

A 30 pounder would look awesome on the wall stretched old school "square".

I should of thought of that before I let the coyotes have it.

[Turner89]

I saw one on lake Washington at the UW that was at least 30#. I couldn't believe how big he was.

[crazywednesday]

A 30 pounder would look awesome on the wall stretched old school "square".

I should of thought of that before I let the coyotes have it.

Wouldnt have mattered much with all those unnatural holes.

[huntingfool7]

A 30 pounder would look awesome on the wall stretched old school "square".

I should of thought of that before I let the coyotes have it.

Wouldnt have mattered much with all those unnatural holes.

Shotgun does a lot less hide damage than you'd think.  Assuming it isn't at your feet when you pull the trigger. 

[redi]

This is a 21 pound coon next to a 35 pound beaver

[Kit Carson]

Personally, I don't like using marshmallows. They can be a mess and they have virtually no scent after a few days (maybe hours). If it's cold/rainy, they're done. If it's hot, they're done. I prefer golf balls (only in the back of the trap).
Maple syrup and any (legal) fish/shellfish for bait. Sometimes a can of sardines (or two or 3 cans) wired up to the top in the back of the cage is good because the scent travels and it also provides some visual attraction.
If you're having a hard time getting them into the cage, try a bottle of Clam Juice from a grocery store and dribble a little of that on the ground leading them in. I've caught them in beaver sets so I know they are curious about the scent of castor. Maybe try some of that. Just a little bit.

Coons love to pick through the side of traps and grab the bait. If this happens, bury your bait and put your cage over that (similar to a dirt hole set) and just put some call lure up above your trap on a branch to bring em in.
I don't think you need to cover the bottom of a coon cage. They don't care about that kinda *censored* if there's food involved 

WCO job on Lake City Way, 40 lbs each.