smart groundhog

[NEPISIGUIT]

Of all animals to say that i have a hard time catching the groundhog is driving me and my clients nuts. He is having a great time eating flowers etc at everybodys house in the neighbourhood. I have been able to capture the female easily but the big male has eluded entering five live cage traps at different houses within three to five hundred yards of one another. Iam now close to a month trying.
Have used lettuce, cabbage, watermellon rind, strawberries and applications of groundhog gland lure. The animal is often observed eating all available food outside the cage but refuses to enter. Not allowed to kill trap or shoot in the area. Using tomahawk and havahart cages. Tried just putting the food in the cage not outside- no luck. Anyone have any ideas for this pest? I have a few choice words for him- not allowed to express on line.

[coyotewhisperer]

Bob Jameson's ADC line of Bait and lure is some of the best if not the best in the country I would get ahold of him for some of his bait and lure when he gets back from the convention.

Jeff

[MRussell]

Have you tried Cantaloupe?

[NEPISIGUIT]

I have not tried cantelope but i will. I plan to check on jamison lures also for next year. Covering the wire floor is something i have not tried but i will thanks a lot for all the good advice. Charlie

[DaveLyons]

Charlie,

Do you have any nose cones for your live traps?? If you do place nose cone over hole and box in your trap I like a double door trap for this set up. Make sure the trap is dark with the only light out the end of the trap.

To give credit where credit is due. Mister Bill Knapp told me about this set up.

Dave

[NEPISIGUIT]

Dave. Not sure of the setup you are speaking about. I do have a black plastic MINNISOTA live trap with one door in the front, It is dark inside the trap and i am going to try this. I have no idea where his hole is except that it is in a cribwork of very large rocks holding the bank in place next to a bay . Is this the hole that you are speaking about or is it the entrance to the mouths of the trap What size are the funnels? Does the nose cone go over his den hole and into the doorway of the trap?
Thanks Charlie

[Bob Jameson]

With a well baited and lured cage trap placed in the grazing area you should be able to capture that hog in a day or so at best. Our formula one and two baits, lure and gland will catch them all very efficently if you are set up anywhere near his travel areas.

Den location isnt mandatory but it does help to speed up the capture time. Set 2 or 3 baited /lured set ups and it is just a waiting game.

We have never had to nose cone our set ups. In some applications where useing conibears it is a good idea to wire cover or screen the hole area to prevent non target catches.

Hogs will enter cage traps very readily if properly lured and baited with good eye appeal. We many times pre bait and lure at the shop prior to servicing a job so all that must be done is to place, stake and cover the trap. Add some trailing scent and go.

[greyscat]

what is a nose cone?

[Smitty]

wire mesh formed into a funnel to guide the animal into the trap..mesh isn;t the right word but you get my drift....and go to the dollar general and get a snack pack of applesauce,,,,1/2 hr. and you will have him

[greyscat]

thanks smitty, will get some applesauce. i called bob jameson last week. ordered formula 1 bait and the trailing scent. used it at my sets for the g.hogs. the sets were by the ground hog holes. next check i had two 3/4 grown groundhogs in the cage. used apples for eye appeal with the bait. should i set the cages back? will the others move since i caught a couple of the litter? greyscat

[greyscat]

i'm using 12x12 cage traps on the g.hogs but i've also got 8x8's. are these to small for the adult hog to feel safe to enter? also please talk to me about using carpet in the cages. is that a good idea? never tried it. seems it would make em pause cause of smell.

[briankroberts]

Bob Jamisons Green lure( LTS 1?) is top notch it will put the hogs in your cage, cut an apple in half, squirt a little on it throw it in the back of the trap than trail a few drops of the green juice out the trap.
Death on summer coons and skunks too....B...

[spectre]

220 over the groundhogs hole and staked down, if its legal and they can keep pets away.

[trapperrron]

I catch dozens with canned peaches -- workes everytime. Open the can and stick it in the back of the cage. Pour one can down the hole to get them interested.

[bud24]

Jun 7, 2008 21:17:01 GMT -6 greyscat said:

thanks smitty, will get some applesauce. i called bob jameson last week. ordered formula 1 bait and the trailing scent. used it at my sets for the g.hogs. the sets were by the ground hog holes. next check i had two 3/4 grown groundhogs in the cage. used apples for eye appeal with the bait. should i set the cages back? will the others move since i caught a couple of the litter? greyscat

i have had very similar results. Im sold on Bobs lures. he'll have my business for many years to come.

[ltgrey2]

Any lure and/or bait is only as good as the trapper. I don't care who's it is or who you are.
Too many trappers try to rely on some "magic lure" instead of trying to just be a better trapper and understand animal behavior better.

One should consider the animal has been trapped before and is a bit spooky...could be, you just need a better presentation or a different style trap.

[sRc]

all the above is worthy of consideration