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Author Topic: Does size matter?  (Read 1743 times)

Offline Eric M

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Does size matter?
« on: October 17, 2018, 03:23:15 PM »
I'm talking trap size of course. I took the trapper class last year. Plan to buy a couple walk in traps for raccoons and maybe a guillotine trap for bobcat. Maybe one of each depends on funds. Should I just get all large traps? Not sure why I'd want small or medium. Appreciate any responses.

Offline Humptulips

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Re: Does size matter?
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2018, 06:50:06 PM »
There are some tradeoffs to consider. Generally the bigger the trap the easier it is to get an animal to enter but then there is transporting those behemoths.
Some cagers like the nesting traps especially for cats and they will range from 16 high to 21 high. They claim all are good so I would stick to that range. Some use smaller but I believe smaller then 16 is asking for refusals. Cats don't mind narrow but longer then about 40" is a waste IMO.
Raccoons, I can't see going much smaller then 15x15 but again if you can nest them maybe a couple different sizes works for you.
Maybe you are only getting a few traps and you don't see transportation as a problem but down the road you may wish you had considered it because you can't fit many really large traps in a PU.
Bruce Vandervort

Offline Eric M

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Re: Does size matter?
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2018, 09:09:30 PM »
Thanks. I was actually looking at the nesting traps in the fur shed newsletter. I was more concerned with an animal being able to get in the trap and hadn't really thought about having to pack the darn things. Appreciate the response

Offline Trapper John

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Re: Does size matter?
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2018, 06:32:43 PM »

If your going after raccoons I would go with 10'x12'x32" standard raccoon trap.  Cost about $39.00
I have used this size for year and I have caught thousands of the mask bandits.
Attached is a large raccoon in the standard 10'x12" raccoon trap that I caught.
This size is also good for just about any other animal (skunk, opossum, nutria, i.e.)
I had larger ones too 15'x15'x40' but only used them maybe a half dozen times in thirty years.  Our raccoons are not big like ones in the Dakota's and Mid Atlantic States

Now that size 15" are good   :yeah: for bobcat.  I will agree with Bruce don't go smaller than that for cats.
JC   :hello:



Offline Eric M

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Re: Does size matter?
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2018, 07:14:21 PM »

If your going after raccoons I would go with 10'x12'x32" standard raccoon trap.  Cost about $39.00
I have used this size for year and I have caught thousands of the mask bandits.
Attached is a large raccoon in the standard 10'x12" raccoon trap that I caught.
This size is also good for just about any other animal (skunk, opossum, nutria, i.e.)
I had larger ones too 15'x15'x40' but only used them maybe a half dozen times in thirty years.  Our raccoons are not big like ones in the Dakota's and Mid Atlantic States

Now that size 15" are good   :yeah: for bobcat.  I will agree with Bruce don't go smaller than that for cats.
JC   :hello:
Thanks John. Do you have any special bait suggestions for the raccoons? Looks like fruit in the cage?
« Last Edit: October 18, 2018, 07:22:37 PM by Eric M »

Offline Trapper John

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Re: Does size matter?
« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2018, 12:30:23 PM »

Hi Eric,
They have a sweet tooth so anything sweet works good.
They do like marshmallows.  The white is an eye attraction and the taste  ...... yep Sweet
The fall and winter months become a little harder because most of if not all fruit (black berries, cherries, plumbs i.e.) are gone from trees
Winter head for the meat baits.  Can (fishy) cat food, fried bacon (works real good), KFC ~ fried chicken (scraps bones, skin)   :drool:

If your in Stripped Skunk Country get the trap up off of the ground.
Strip skunks don't climb but if your in spotted skunk country, they do.
Just something to remember.

Good luck and have a great trapping season
JC   :hello:



Offline Eric M

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Re: Does size matter?
« Reply #6 on: October 19, 2018, 01:23:19 PM »

Hi Eric,
They have a sweet tooth so anything sweet works good.
They do like marshmallows.  The white is an eye attraction and the taste  ...... yep Sweet
The fall and winter months become a little harder because most of if not all fruit (black berries, cherries, plumbs i.e.) are gone from trees
Winter head for the meat baits.  Can (fishy) cat food, fried bacon (works real good), KFC ~ fried chicken (scraps bones, skin)   :drool:

If your in Stripped Skunk Country get the trap up off of the ground.
Strip skunks don't climb but if your in spotted skunk country, they do.
Just something to remember.

Good luck and have a great trapping season
JC   :hello:
Thanks for the help -Eric

 


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