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Post by mustelameister on Jan 1, 2009 17:13:27 GMT -6
Page 14 in the January issue of FFG. Had some time on my hands over New Year's and actually read some of the articles inbetween football games. What a couch potato I've become . . .
Specifically . . . . "During even the bleakest winter, raccoons awaken and waddle out into the snow. And they are suckers for any kind of bait. It doesn't pay to wait until you see the tracks, not in my area, anyway, because it is often a one-night thing and then they return to semi-hibernation. I usually catch them in bucket sets that are actually made for bobcats. Most are caught near a frozen river, but not all. Sometimes they are miles from the nearest waterway."
Suckers for any kind of bait? Not my experience.
Usually catch them in bucket sets? I have a hard time enticing a 'coon into a bodygrip-guarded bucket this time of year.
I don't picture Bob G has a hard-core winter 'coon trapper, and I wonder how many incidental 'coon he gets in bobcat bucket sets.
Maybe this works in MN but not here? Or maybe I need lessons from Bob G?
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Post by JWarren on Jan 1, 2009 18:26:22 GMT -6
"I have a hard time enticing a 'coon into a bodygrip-guarded bucket this time of year."
I find that now is about when the buckets start hitting good, I always used a large chunk of meat for bait and it worked good, tried little baits, pastes and lures and never had any luck, maybe give it another try with a big chunk of meat for bait
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Post by garman on Jan 1, 2009 18:31:01 GMT -6
Jwarren I agree and that is what I have found, of course I used to set alot more of them than I do now. It takes a big chunk of bait and if possible a loud lure. I also found they by far are not "MONEY MAKERS" LOL
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Post by trappnman on Jan 1, 2009 19:01:55 GMT -6
I agree with MM here- I don't find baits to be very good at all this time of year- I think coon repsond far better to lures-
baits or lures- I use both even now- work far better for me before the first big cold snap- or not really before, but should say until that first big cold snap that really puts them down
and when they come back out, I just don't think hunger is on their minds- I think that semi hibernation slows down their metabolism
I've given winter buckets a try many times and while I catch coon, I get so many refusals that I shudder-
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Post by mountainman on Jan 1, 2009 20:43:36 GMT -6
does anyone ever write articles on blind setting coons with leg hold traps?
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Post by dogpaw on Jan 2, 2009 7:33:34 GMT -6
A good coon set up here in the north is the pole set used for fisher. a big chunk of beaver with a 220 on a pole catches alot of coon for me during the month of Dec. seems like every time it thaws I pick up coon big boar coon mostly. It takes very little work to keep this set working, not an early season set but seems to work well up here during the month of Dec.
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Post by marbleyez2001 on Jan 2, 2009 9:06:16 GMT -6
I says Bob is running into coon setting 220's for Cats. Probably with a huge chunk of beaver and a skunky call lure too. Hes not trapping in big number coon area, but is probably catching the few coon that are around. I have lived/trapped in the same general areas as Bob traps. I have never seen track indicating a coon passed by a cat bucket/cubby. But you have to take into consideration if I catch 25+ coon a year here I am a big coon trapper!
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Jan 2, 2009 9:29:05 GMT -6
Maybe its your guy's climate or something but my experiences from say end of november on mimic Bob's and Marbleye's.
I dont catch what would even considered being alot of coon in early to late winter but I do have success with the buckets Last year in late february i did well with buckets and I didnt see the refusals you guys speak of.
Seems strange to me but maybe its a region thing.
I wouldnt give you a nickel for a bucket in october early november
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Post by mustelameister on Jan 2, 2009 9:37:28 GMT -6
Interesting. Gotta be a regional thing.
A good coon set up here in the north is the pole set used for fisher. a big chunk of beaver with a 220 on a pole catches alot of coon for me during the month of Dec.
Do you have lure or some other attractant on the ground with this set? Approximate diameter of leaning pole? Do you consider these 'coon incidentals, or are you targeting them?
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Post by garman on Jan 2, 2009 10:22:24 GMT -6
I also agree with steve we do get alot of refusals, they have to be close to dens and big chunk of bait and good lure, but the thing about them is not to catch every coon that goes by but an easy check of traps, face it 220 buckets are simple and easy to check and an every 3rd day check. No getting on the waders etc. But they are not worth a darn early in season, down in SE IA when I was there they worked early to late season...my opinion is because there are so many coon competing for a meal.
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Post by dogpaw on Jan 2, 2009 18:27:54 GMT -6
All of the coon I catch in Dec. are in pole sets for fisher, but if I see a coon track while setting I most likely will catch it the next time it comes by. I make my own fisher lure it has no skunk its a sweet smelling lure and goes on the underside of the pole above the bait. The diameter of the pole is 2 to4 inches and at about 45 degrees or greater if you don,t get enough slant on the pole coon and fisher will go over the trap you will also get alot of snow build up if you don,t have enough slant.The trap should be set tight to the bait. I do 20 to 30 coon during the fisher season not a big catch but the set does work.The weather has alot to do with it alot of snow and cold and coon don,t move much up here.
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Post by mustelameister on Jan 2, 2009 20:46:25 GMT -6
I've never set a trap for a fisher. I've seen the slant pole set in literature and on video, but . . . what keeps the 'coon from climbing the tree the pole is leaning on???
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Post by dogpaw on Jan 3, 2009 6:21:26 GMT -6
The pole is leaning free by it self, check out the fisher set thread it shows you the tree and the angle, Iam not a pic poster or I,d post some. Stef and Brandon both posted pic of the set pretty basic set used up here in the north.
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Post by Woodswalker on Jan 3, 2009 6:46:37 GMT -6
My experience is like the northern MN guys. Baited cubbies or pails with conibears will get coon after colder weather comes in late November to December. They are very poor for coon early in the fall.
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Griz
Demoman...
Posts: 240
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Post by Griz on Jan 3, 2009 9:45:38 GMT -6
What Woodswalker said.
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Post by trappnman on Jan 4, 2009 8:18:49 GMT -6
garmen pretty much nailed it- buckets aren't to maximise coon, but to make checks easier-
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Post by JWarren on Jan 4, 2009 13:26:55 GMT -6
if you know a better method to get them when water is frozen and blowing snow I'm all ears
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Post by garman on Jan 4, 2009 13:52:13 GMT -6
if you know a better method to get them when water is frozen and blowing snow I'm all ears I believe setting trails w/snares is good, water pocket, t-posts I really loved in shallow rapids and they work great. They are, I believe more PRODUCTIVE but, I hate piddling in Ice cold water anymore with wet frozen coon a person has to thaw out. I also believe that a better way is calling on days it gets warm lol it appears anyway.
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Post by trappnman on Jan 4, 2009 14:42:18 GMT -6
many better ways as far as more productive for coon- but maybe not easier
a cubby- the old fashioned kind, will, in my opinion, far outproduce buckets
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Post by garman on Jan 4, 2009 15:18:13 GMT -6
I have done many cubbies with 220 in front and had much better results also, a whole lot more natural
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