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Post by Corey on May 8, 2008 6:35:21 GMT -6
Ok guys, i've never set one of these traps.
Just curious if some of you guys in the know could tell me a little about them?
Are they a worthwhile addition to my coon trap arsenal?
Any tips or constructive input would be appreciated.
Thank You
Corey
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Post by trappnman on May 8, 2008 7:12:28 GMT -6
easy to use.
some guys just set them, and lay them on the ground. I never had too much luck that way.
I like to stick them into the ground in a bare spot, so they are visual. I had little luck until I painted mine white, then coon catches kept them polished a nice silver.
What is nice about them, is that you can stick them into cracks in rocks, logs, old buildings-
some put a tube on the trigger- I tried that didn't like it too much of a pain all around.
I put in bait, added lure- others use marshmallows or styrafoam peanuts soaked in lure. Andy S uses them a lot- Andy?
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Post by Corey on May 8, 2008 8:03:00 GMT -6
Thank you Steve, thats what I was looking for.
From what i've seen and heard of them they sound like a great addition to my coon line.
They are quite a substansial investment, i'm just trying to reassure myself that they are worth it to me.
Do you sell them Steve?
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Post by bobwendt on May 8, 2008 10:37:25 GMT -6
I feel like a kid telling how to do it that never has. so here goes. never used one, but some buddies are nuts over them. say they are a miracle trap. but cost has held me back, and then, with the excetion of this year, who would want to go ck. a trap you know for positive will never have a cat or coyote or skunk in it? ever.
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Post by Corey on May 8, 2008 10:45:58 GMT -6
If a trap is not capable of catching a mangy damned Nebraska coyote that is a HUGE plus for me..LOL
I think they fill in a spot on a coon line (from what i've gathered) to me they will be a quick easy set to make where a domestic might be a problem. I also think they will really shine around old houses, brushpiles, and den trees later in the year when coon are hitting those type of dening areas. From what i've gathered gang setting these areas for a couple nights will really pay off with coon.
I've watched Andy's video he made on setting them, they sure look quick and slick.
I will still use pocket and slap sets with foothold traps, but I think these lil griz traps will pay for themselves in specialty locations.
BTW Bob...i'm sitting here typing this trying to eat my dinner....fried mushrooms. :-)
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Post by coyotewhisperer on May 8, 2008 10:56:35 GMT -6
Bob - You catch skunks in the lil grizzes along with every possum and house cat.
And that IS speaking of experience
In fact im quite sure i catch every skunk that walks past one LOL
They are dog proof not skunk, possum, or cat proof
Jeff
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Post by Corey on May 8, 2008 11:19:31 GMT -6
Jeff...what are you using for bait? Could a guy skirt the skunk/cat/possum problem by say using Pro-coon and marshmellows?
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Post by coonhangman1 on May 8, 2008 11:23:27 GMT -6
I've only used a half dozen of them, so take that for what its worth. Each one caught a coon. But I only set them on specialty locations where domestics could be a problem. Places where putting a snare isn't for one, legal, and secondly, not smart. Places I've driven by for, that I can now kill coon off of. I think there an asset to the coon trapper. But where there isn't a speciality location, give me a snare or a foothold!!!
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Post by mustelameister on May 8, 2008 11:56:52 GMT -6
I gave a couple dozen a good testing on the river trapline last season. Very impressive. Worked real well at those places where setting a foothold in place is near impossible; ie. vertical root mass alongside the bank with little place for a foothold, rocky area, etc. If you set these vertically, I would suggest you set them at an angle, maybe 45 degrees or so. And make sure the bar coming through the pipe comes up from the ground side. You'll more than likely have the 'coon facing the pipe with his paw down inside. When the bar compresses the foot it does so on the pad side. Pad side on the bar keeps the 'coon from jerking his foot out. I had no problems keeping 'coon in the trap. I too did not paint mine, but instead WD-40d 'em before using and after removing critters. I figure WD-40 helps me catch bass in the summer on plastic worms, why not WD-40 these traps and keep 'em as rust free as possible. Bait was my jack mack mix with a marshmallow stuck under the trigger. I slid a surgical hose over the trigger (got free supply of those). S-linked 'em all to drowner cables, every 'coon was at the bottom of the cable when checked. Did catch a few 'possum, but that was it for non'coon catches. Curious to see that Bob W says cost has held him back! Thought he was the one saying you couldn't make money on 'coon, so why even consider a $20 trap???
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Post by bobwendt on May 8, 2008 12:00:00 GMT -6
jeff, I want the skunks, every one of them. what did you use for bait for the skunks and how applied? I`d guess about anything stinky, how are the feet and legs? do the rub hair off the foot or leg to where they wont sell taxidermy? how about coons? feet leg rubbing hair off I mean. I box trapped maybe 75 coon last year and maybe 1/2 of them rub the hair off the front legs. no damage for the fur market, but ruins a taxidermty sale on dd colors or dinks.
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Post by coyotewhisperer on May 8, 2008 13:44:19 GMT -6
I used ground sardines and fish oil.
I never used just a lure and a marshmellow. I always figured guys telling me marshmellows were the bomb were full of it so i never messed with them just ground sardines and fish oil.
I did mix some glycerine in my sardines when it got colder.
Some of the skunks could have went taxidermy and most probably wouldn't have.
On coons i can't remember any damage at all.
Like andy i have quite a few on video but i post pics not video LOL.
Jeff
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Post by coyotewhisperer on May 8, 2008 13:48:38 GMT -6
I'm surprised knowone has caught a mink in one actually.
Jeff
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Post by gcs on May 8, 2008 14:49:35 GMT -6
They are all I use here, Have used the Marshmallows, and pieces of fish, both salted and froze, spiked with a dash of ProCoon. If they don't catch coons, then you don't have any.
Two things to do to them, drill out the drain hole to a bigger size, otherwise it clogs up and fills with rain, and put a drop of mineral or veg oil on the trigger pivot, a little rust binds it up pretty quick.
I stake them down with a regular Berkshire, or slip a re rod stake through the swivel, they set quick, fast, and in a hurry.
Anyone ever set them "upside down", by hanging them?
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Post by Billy Y on May 8, 2008 15:47:32 GMT -6
Do you guys wax them?
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Post by TurTLe on May 8, 2008 16:15:26 GMT -6
They definately take the feral cats. I have no doubt that if the hole was bigger you'd catch bobcats in them. I keep expecting to catch a kitten bobcat one day, but hasn't happened yet.
Suprised someone hasn't come out with a slightly bigger one yet for bobcats. High dollar cats without worry of dogs and coyotes.
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Post by mink900 on May 8, 2008 16:42:50 GMT -6
I would not call them a miracle trap.In some places a conibear or foothold is just the best choice.With that being said I think a guy could use them just about anywhere.It's just that when a coon is going down a trail or thru a crawel under or out a hole under a building - That type of place yells conibear to me.
They are easy to set and have worked well for me.But they are quite abit more expensive than footholds or coni's.I caught coon in them when they were shiny brand new out of the box.And I've caught coon in them that were a couple yrs old and rusty.I've meant to spray paint them or dip them but have'nt got around to it.I like the idea of cotton in the bottom to maybe hold lure smell longer.I've used bait alone,lure alone,and bait & lure and caught coon every way.Have not had any hair missing from foot or leg like when cage trapping.No damage at all for me so far.Has been a very humane trap on the coon so far.I have some good pictures too showing no damage.But they are just reg.35mm pictures.Overall I like them.But I still have hundreds or more places where I like a conibear or foothold as well or better.
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Post by coyotewhisperer on May 8, 2008 17:04:58 GMT -6
I set them around abandoned farm buildings where i want to catch the coons and not the bird hunters dog.
Only problem with that is I've donated quite afew of them to pheseant hunters.
Jeff
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Post by bobwendt on May 8, 2008 17:12:31 GMT -6
mink, western coon are twice or more the size of indiana coon. here we think 15 lb is big. that`s a grunt in the west or north. one huge advantage a 220 has over a griz is humans see movement, as in a `live coon. they will walk or drive within feet of a dead coon and see nothing.
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Post by mink900 on May 8, 2008 17:28:07 GMT -6
I agree Bob.I don't think I've ever had a conibeared coon stolen.And I'm sure for the reason you mentioned.It's hard for someone to take what they cannot see.
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Post by garman on May 8, 2008 18:50:26 GMT -6
I do not nor will believe they are the NEW, ONLY way to go but boy they will help certain areas alot, and will be great for the dryland season in MN. Also places where 220's are not an option. I used about as many as nick last year, BUT did not feel either 1.) was missing something in how I set them 2.) feel some people had more coon 3.) people using them do not understand what good coon catches are... after talking to many trappers they had mixed results. THey sure are quick to go in
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