Chew Outs

[mustelameister]

Are your drowner cables taut? Does the slider lock easily slide down the cable? And as mentioned earlier, is the trap "started" down the cable as far as possible?

The top stake doesn't necessarily have to be set down into the water. I've set up on the bank causing the 'coon to travel several feet down the bank then into the water then down the cable to drown.

But the key for my operation is to have a taut drowner cable. And a slide lock that will easily travel in only one direction. If you're running a drowner lock of the "letter L" variety, make sure the long arm is long. There are short-armed drowner locks out there that, IMO, allow a 'coon to jack it back up the cable a bit.

Please describe your drowner system.

[dpomm]

Set up is cable with top stake in water. Drowner lock is of the longer version L shaped short part of the L is attached to the cable. Cable is taut with no obstructions under the cable to cause issues with system not working right. When I set up the rig there is no play in the rigging but there have been several suggestions that have been made since I posted this that have made me rethink several things. All of my checks are less than 48 hours but rivers here can drop and raise a lot in that amount of time. Second I have never set my traps up in a bowl type setting. The traps are always level and set solid but never in a depression. Next year I will be setting them that way.

[trappnman]

where were the traps (on the chewouts)? at the bottom of the slide, or in shallow water?

[thebeav2]

How many chew outs In season?

Less then 5 don't worry about It. It's called Murphys law.. If It Can Happen It will happen. It's what coons do and It will happen no matter what you do when using foot holds. And sometimes when using body grips.

[trappnman]

beav- I think dpmm talking above the jaw, same as the dps

I've had 2, that were very different. both dry land, both big traps staked solid.

so several in a seaosn, seems to me excessive

I agree, if trapping large numbers of coon, 5 chewouts or toes isn't the end of the world- coon are so damn touchy feelly at times, that you are going to get some toe catches.

one reason I like stepdown type sets on land, esp coming off of a backing rock or log- you avoid most if not all toe holds

[thebeav2]

We can do all we can to elimanate these situations but In the long run we are going to have problems like those being discussed.
You know sometimes a coon just won't go down that slide wire or rod.
I use a lot of slide rods In culverts and If I catch that coon by a hind foot and It goes Into that culvert I have yet to have a chewed foot. And I have had only a few coon out of 1000s that when caught by a front foot In this same culvert situation chewed on It's trap caught foot.
They just seem to calm down when they can get out of sight.

[dpomm]

I had a total of six this last year but I don't run really big numbers of coon. All chew outs were above the trap in shallow water. I believe they could lift their foot out of the water and were usally out in the open with no cover.

[blackhammer]

On a line your checking every day chew outs should be a non issue for the most part.A short chained trap would be a situation were it could happen.Also were a coon has wrapped the chain around something like a small tree or something if you are using a grapple type deal.You will see more of it a two or three day check day checks were a coon doesn't drown like there suppose to.I think it seems like smaller coon are the ones that chew.In DPs you once in a great while you will see a coon try to chew a little.Probably like Beav says sometimes when there out in the open they get very nervous and start chewing.Overall I would say chewing is a non issue for me as the percent that do is so low I don't worry about it.I will have once in a great while have a toe caught coon power out of a leg hold.That happens more than chewing on my line.Contrary to others I don't really have any problem with loses in dps .Ive used the Grizzes longer and have more of them than the Dukes.I can say that with the GrizzesI don't ever lose coon and so far the Dukes seem to be similar in results.

[thebeav2]

There may be a time or two where a coon will chew above the trap jaws. But I feel In most cases that coon may have broken It's leg and then starts to chew above the jaws.

[wolfrunner]

Jun 14, 2011 9:59:51 GMT -6 dpomm said:

I had a total of six this last year but I don't run really big numbers of coon. All chew outs were above the trap in shallow water. I believe they could lift their foot out of the water and were usally out in the open with no cover.

Did you ever think someone may be stealing your coon ?