I have a short break in work/farming and sounds like our 'farming partner' wants to declare war on the raccoon population that ravaged his corn crop throughout the summer. He came up with 40-50 used dog proof traps and I'm supposed to get him started. Not much thought involved--at least not in the beginning. There's a 12" wide path crossing 1/4 mile of pasture headed straight to the corn field from the most likely coon haven. I predict the first 2-3 nights to be an all out slaughter. Pelts are worthless so this is nothing more than population control.
coon trapping lessons
- Thread starter Mobuck
- Start date
I'm grinning just thinking about how many coons you might catch the first few nights, wish I was there to watch.
I used to love trapping coons back in the late 70's when they were worth good money. In 1979 I sold a Dec. caught coon for $50 and a Fisher for somewhere around $175. That was a lot of money to me back then.
I used to love trapping coons back in the late 70's when they were worth good money. In 1979 I sold a Dec. caught coon for $50 and a Fisher for somewhere around $175. That was a lot of money to me back then.
contender
Ruger Guru
Oh,, to get a job call like this! 
I'm sure you know how to do all this. Keep us posted as to the results.
I'd set ALL the traps you have in one day, all along the trail.
I'm sure you know how to do all this. Keep us posted as to the results.
I'd set ALL the traps you have in one day, all along the trail.
harley08
Blackhawk
When you get all these coons, I am sure someone can do something with the pelts. When I was a kid I always admired Davy Crockets Coon Shin Cap he wore. I Think they would sell well!
Rocko Rizzo.
Rocko Rizzo.
The Norseman
Blackhawk
Please keep us updated. I use the Dog Proof traps.
I’d be interested in how you prepare and go about
baiting the traps.
One thing I found out, is skunks can be trapped
in this D.P. trap. Stay up wind!
The Best to you and Endeavors.
I’d be interested in how you prepare and go about
baiting the traps.
One thing I found out, is skunks can be trapped
in this D.P. trap. Stay up wind!
The Best to you and Endeavors.
Last edited:
OP
"I'd set ALL the traps you have in one day, all along the trail."
Yes, that was my plan. Son said we have 4-5 dozen plus the 3-4 dozen procured at a farm sale last week for the other guy. That's a LOT of marshmallows and cat food.
"I am sure someone can do something with the pelts. "
Honestly, the pelts are worthless this early. Not worth the time to skin or the gas to take to a buyer even when prime. MDC has opened the season early in an attempt to decrease coon numbers because no one hunts/traps when fur is worthless. The landowner is also concerned that after corn harvest, the varmints will start raiding his hog feeders.
"Please keep us updated. I use the Dog Proof traps.
I'd be interested in how you prepare and go about
baiting the traps."
Very simple: place a 1/2 teaspoon of fish base cat food in the back of the trap, shove a large marshmallow past the trap trigger(I use a pencil sized stick to do this), cock the trap, and shove the pointy end in the ground. This works 90% of the time. A squirt of 'fish oil' on top of the marshmallow may help at times. You do need to set the trap(s) along a coon trail or where they travel around a pond looking for food. We re-purposed some rebar stakes that had been used to secure a green house sunshade--18-20" of 1/2" rebar with a 3" crossbar welded 3" from one end for our trap stakes. Works well enough most of the time. I've also used SPAX screws driven into trees with a cordless driver when the ground was frozen. Legal for landowners to do this BTW. Contender does this for a living so may have other (better) advice.
Yes, that was my plan. Son said we have 4-5 dozen plus the 3-4 dozen procured at a farm sale last week for the other guy. That's a LOT of marshmallows and cat food.
"I am sure someone can do something with the pelts. "
Honestly, the pelts are worthless this early. Not worth the time to skin or the gas to take to a buyer even when prime. MDC has opened the season early in an attempt to decrease coon numbers because no one hunts/traps when fur is worthless. The landowner is also concerned that after corn harvest, the varmints will start raiding his hog feeders.
"Please keep us updated. I use the Dog Proof traps.
I'd be interested in how you prepare and go about
baiting the traps."
Very simple: place a 1/2 teaspoon of fish base cat food in the back of the trap, shove a large marshmallow past the trap trigger(I use a pencil sized stick to do this), cock the trap, and shove the pointy end in the ground. This works 90% of the time. A squirt of 'fish oil' on top of the marshmallow may help at times. You do need to set the trap(s) along a coon trail or where they travel around a pond looking for food. We re-purposed some rebar stakes that had been used to secure a green house sunshade--18-20" of 1/2" rebar with a 3" crossbar welded 3" from one end for our trap stakes. Works well enough most of the time. I've also used SPAX screws driven into trees with a cordless driver when the ground was frozen. Legal for landowners to do this BTW. Contender does this for a living so may have other (better) advice.
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I had trouble with coons in the feed room at the ranch. Couldn't use cat food as we have several mousers in the barn. Tried to feed the cats some sweet feed aka horse/mule, but they weren't interested, so I used sweet feed for bait. Caught 5 real fast.
langenc
Single-Sixer
"I am sure someone can do something with the pelts. "
Honestly, the pelts are worthless this early.
Copied from Mobuck-#6
I dont think a month or 6 weeks will make much difference in the price of the pelts-quality maybe a little better.
Honestly, the pelts are worthless this early.
Copied from Mobuck-#6
I dont think a month or 6 weeks will make much difference in the price of the pelts-quality maybe a little better.
Tradhunter
Single-Sixer
You sound like you know what you are doing. Those dog proof traps are nice for coons. Good luck!
OP
"I dont think a month or 6 weeks will make much difference in the price of the pelts-quality maybe a little better."
We just had our first hard frost Friday night. Coon hides will still be 'blue' until mid-November. Buyers will refuse 'blue' hides.
If you are worried about catching barn or pet cats, use marshmallows only as bait with maybe a little honey, pancake syrup, or cheap molasses for scent attractant. I used to trap lots of coons around farmsteads with pet cats and didn't catch any cats in the 'dog proofs'.
Re: live traps
We're talking about massive numbers of coons raiding 30 acres of corn field. It would take a truck load of live traps to catch as many as I expect to catch in 2-3 nights.
We just had our first hard frost Friday night. Coon hides will still be 'blue' until mid-November. Buyers will refuse 'blue' hides.
If you are worried about catching barn or pet cats, use marshmallows only as bait with maybe a little honey, pancake syrup, or cheap molasses for scent attractant. I used to trap lots of coons around farmsteads with pet cats and didn't catch any cats in the 'dog proofs'.
Re: live traps
We're talking about massive numbers of coons raiding 30 acres of corn field. It would take a truck load of live traps to catch as many as I expect to catch in 2-3 nights.
contender
Ruger Guru
Not much I can add to Mobuck's methods.
Too many for most to have live traps & use them.
(I'm an exception. I do it for a living, and I have a LOT of live traps.)
Baits. As noted,, a sweet bait will work on coons, skunks, & possums,, but cats in general ignore sweet baits. There are MANY recipes for sweet baits to be used in DP traps.
Fur,, waiting 6-10 weeks for the weather to change enough to where the skins are worth anything can allow the coons to change their patterns, move to other place, and cause much more damage. Plus,, the time spent skinning & such for fur that's almost worthless isn't good business sense. It may seem wasteful, but thank the PETA types who fought to get fur coats & uses for fur reduced to a much smaller market.
With a high number of animals,, diseases are also a concern. Controls are necessary. Again, thank the PETA types. When there's a potential profit to be made,, people will trap & skin & sell fur. that also keeps the populations in check.
Too many for most to have live traps & use them.
(I'm an exception. I do it for a living, and I have a LOT of live traps.)
Baits. As noted,, a sweet bait will work on coons, skunks, & possums,, but cats in general ignore sweet baits. There are MANY recipes for sweet baits to be used in DP traps.
Fur,, waiting 6-10 weeks for the weather to change enough to where the skins are worth anything can allow the coons to change their patterns, move to other place, and cause much more damage. Plus,, the time spent skinning & such for fur that's almost worthless isn't good business sense. It may seem wasteful, but thank the PETA types who fought to get fur coats & uses for fur reduced to a much smaller market.
With a high number of animals,, diseases are also a concern. Controls are necessary. Again, thank the PETA types. When there's a potential profit to be made,, people will trap & skin & sell fur. that also keeps the populations in check.
OP
I sent a text to the landowner suggesting that with the rain shower(s) predicted for the next couple of days, it would be a good time to set traps. Told him to raid the grocery store for cat food and marshmallows. He sent back a smiley face.
BROKENBEAR
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2016
- Messages
- 161
Suggest fish oil be sprayed around the trap (50/50 water oil) on the ground and not in or on the trap as the odor is indeed an attractant .. the actual taste to the coon of fish oil is bitter ..or so I’ve been taught
You understand I’ve never taken a “pull” off a bottle of fish oil
Bear
You understand I’ve never taken a “pull” off a bottle of fish oil
Bear
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2022
- Messages
- 23
Wild hogs big problem in central Tx as in most other places
OP
Since the raccoon can't see the bait, the idea is to get it to reach inside (as coons are prone to 'feel around' for their food).
My relatives near Williamstown MO (far NE part of the state) live on a blacktop but a mile from the nearest neighbor. Surrounded by woods and farm ground …. Their house sits on about an acre they mow.
Every year without fail they will catch 30 or more coons and a dozen or more possums … in their YARD. We might be very surprised if we knew the real total population of coons in the county.
Every year without fail they will catch 30 or more coons and a dozen or more possums … in their YARD. We might be very surprised if we knew the real total population of coons in the county.
contender
Ruger Guru
"Every year without fail they will catch 30 or more coons and a dozen or more possums … in their YARD. We might be very surprised if we knew the real total population of coons in the county."
With that many,, I wonder what they are feeding outdoors to attract that many so close. Pets? Livestock? Birds?
Bird feeders, pet food dishes, livestock feed bins ALL attract wild critters.
With that many,, I wonder what they are feeding outdoors to attract that many so close. Pets? Livestock? Birds?
Bird feeders, pet food dishes, livestock feed bins ALL attract wild critters.
My son was enamored with the idea of a real coon-skin cap so we bought a bunch of dog-proof traps and will give it a go mid-nov. Quality of the pelt won't matter, its for the adventure!
That’s a good question. I assume it’s just over-population. The house and un-attached 3 car garage are surrounded by woods and pasture on one side and corn or soybean fields on the other sides.
They have 2 outdoor cats but no dogs. ( I think they need a good old fashioned outside farm dog! ) No bird feeders, trash is stored in shut and locked garage until disposed of, no livestock in the area. The cats are fed on the back porch twice a day and food bowls then moved indoors. This is a very rural and remote area.
When I grew up 5 miles south of there we always had an outside dog and didn’t ever see a coon or possum.
When the SHTF in our country coons could be a big part of our survival food supply. Just saying.
BROKENBEAR
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2016
- Messages
- 161
I live in a rural subdivision with woods near by
My bird feeders are surrounded by 4 wire electric fence with a 25 mile rated solar charged “fencer”
The coons were still digging up garden, shrubs and potted plants and coming up 14 steps to krap on my second story deck
Bought 6 dog proofs last year
First night 6 for 6
Second night 5 for 6
Third night 4 for 6
etc etc
Took them up at two weeks after 3 days of no “hits”
Did I ever tell you how silent out of a single shot, bolt or pump action a CCI “Quiet” 22 long rifle 40gr lead round is?
Bear
My bird feeders are surrounded by 4 wire electric fence with a 25 mile rated solar charged “fencer”
The coons were still digging up garden, shrubs and potted plants and coming up 14 steps to krap on my second story deck
Bought 6 dog proofs last year
First night 6 for 6
Second night 5 for 6
Third night 4 for 6
etc etc
Took them up at two weeks after 3 days of no “hits”
Did I ever tell you how silent out of a single shot, bolt or pump action a CCI “Quiet” 22 long rifle 40gr lead round is?
Bear
contender
Ruger Guru
Ruger00fan,, if you wait until later in November,, the fur will be thicker & fuller. Makes for MUCH better skins. It's worth the wait. December is even better.
A good time would be during the normal "Christmas school break" to take that young boy trapping & let him REALLY learn stuff.
A good time would be during the normal "Christmas school break" to take that young boy trapping & let him REALLY learn stuff.
OP
Two or three days of warm weather following the first cold snap is a GREAT time to have a few coon traps out.
BuckRimfire
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2012
- Messages
- 135
It's my belief that just a run-of-the-mill SV .22 from a 10/22 is quieter than some of the hammering I do in my garage, and would be even less remarkable if preceded by a minute of actual hammering on something.
Might be a good idea to put a cheap tarp under the trap to avoid staining the concrete...
OP
Aguila Super Colibri or CCI Quiet in a 22/45 5.5" unless I'm in close proximity to someone's house-then I use the muffler. When the Aguilas are gone, I won't buy any more. Once in a while those won't penetrate an old boar coon's skull--knocks him out for a while and then he wakes up later. Not great if you have him slung over your shoulder headed for the pickup. Which reminds me of a really funny story:
Years ago we did a lot of coon hunting with dogs at night. One guy liked to wear a hunting coat with a game pouch that was inside the back of the coat. He could get one big coon or 2 smaller ones in there. One night we're stumbling along in the dim light of a carbide lamp when this guy goes absolutely bananas--yelling and spinning around, bumping into trees and all manner of crazy moves. We thought he'd gone over the edge from sort of loony to full blown bonkers. We finally got a flashlight on and found the guy 30' away rolling on the ground wrestling with his coat which was half off but he still had one arm in a sleeve. Finally he gets the upper hand and has his coat pinned to the ground yelling "SHOOT IT SHOOT IT". I'm carrying the 22 rifle and trying to decide whether to just shoot him or wait until he tells me what "IT" he's talking about. Turns out the big boar coon he had in the game pouch had come to life, exited the open top of the coat's internal game pouch, and was trying to reach higher ground by climbing his back.
A Jerry Clower moment if I ever saw one.
Years ago we did a lot of coon hunting with dogs at night. One guy liked to wear a hunting coat with a game pouch that was inside the back of the coat. He could get one big coon or 2 smaller ones in there. One night we're stumbling along in the dim light of a carbide lamp when this guy goes absolutely bananas--yelling and spinning around, bumping into trees and all manner of crazy moves. We thought he'd gone over the edge from sort of loony to full blown bonkers. We finally got a flashlight on and found the guy 30' away rolling on the ground wrestling with his coat which was half off but he still had one arm in a sleeve. Finally he gets the upper hand and has his coat pinned to the ground yelling "SHOOT IT SHOOT IT". I'm carrying the 22 rifle and trying to decide whether to just shoot him or wait until he tells me what "IT" he's talking about. Turns out the big boar coon he had in the game pouch had come to life, exited the open top of the coat's internal game pouch, and was trying to reach higher ground by climbing his back.
A Jerry Clower moment if I ever saw one.
contender
Ruger Guru
Definitely a Jerry Clower moment there! Loved it!
warren5421
Single-Sixer
Import hundreds of coyotes no coons, rabbits or opossum. We had lots of coon and rabbits till the saddleback coyotes moved in. Have not seen rabbit in 3 years, only 1 opossum and 3 coon. In a 5 year period when my son lived at home going to college, between us 300 notes went to the land fill. For the last 10 years I get anywheres from 30 to 60 a year. I live about 2 miles from the Indy airport in an area that is 600 acres with only 3 houses around me.
