TRAPS . . .

[Poundhound]

There are pages and pages of what to use for bait to trap a coon in a live trap. Even some really good tips on how to make sure your set will be more effective. I have enjoyed reading them, and learned some things I never knew before.

Here is a new question:

What traps are preferred for trapping coons? Brand? Type? Size? One door or two? Is bigger better?

Now a story to go with it:

I have used now three different brands of traps. Little Giant is very reasonably priced, I find them on sale for under $40. Hav-a hart I have the 1079 model I think, and paid $52 for it. Tomahawk, I was able to use a borrowed one once, and liked it.

Because the Little Giant traps are cheaper, I own a couple of them. Something to be aware of with these, if you look at the top of the door there is a rod that act as the hinge, this rod is secured on each end with a push-on type washer. It is really terrible to finally trap a coon and have it work on the door until one of those washers comes off and your coon gets away. Now you have a coon that will likely never go back into a trap. (when this happened to me it was about a 25# coon) Simple fix for this is to drill each end of the rod and put a cotter pin or something similar through the rod to keep the washer on.

Then I loaned out my Little Giant traps to a nice guy that calls me once in a while with a coon he has trapped for me. Then I see a coon in a big ole cottonwood in the middle of the day, I need a trap and I need one now! Closest place to get one carries only the Hav-a-hart, so I buy one and rush home to set it at the bottom of the tree. I go check my trap in the morning and the trap is sprung, no coon. The trigger rod for the Hav-a-hart is on the outside of the cage, and it is really sticking out there where a coon trying to reach through the cage to get some bait can hit the trigger bar. And by "trigger bar" I mean the rod that goes from the trigger plate to the release on the door. Again, haven't seen that coon again since. A fix for this might be using this trap when I can put that side of the trap up against something so the coon doesn't approach the trap from that side. Any thoughts on this?

As for the Tomahawk trap; the one I borrowed from a buddy once was like a "transfer" type trap, meaning it has an slide door on it that you an lift up to move a coon from the trap to a roll cage or carrier. I really liked this feature, it makes it way easier to bait a trap. When I used sardines I was able to zip tie the can to the floor of the trap to prevent the coon from just picking up the tin and walking out of the trap with it. Another way I used this feature was when we found a coon in a nearly empty dumpter once. From outside the dumpster I was able to set the trap down over the coon, and then dive into the dumpster and slide the door into the trap slowly, eventually the coon lifted up each foot so I could slide the door under him. Tadahhhh ! ! !


I have never used a double door trap before, and would like to hear from some of the folks that have. I generally use an 11"x12" trap, or similar size. I haven't used the larger traps, although I think I will be in the market for one soon because I have the need on occassion to have to attempt to trap bobcats as part of my job.

Even though I have shared a few of my mistakes, I feel like I am a novice at trying to trap coons. I fail way more then I succeed. I am hoping to hear many responses from some of the seasoned trappers. And if I help one person to not make the mistake I have made, then it was worth the time it took me to type all this up.


ph

[FullCryHounds]

Tomahawk trap company is horrible to try and get any satisfaction out of when your trap falls apart. I own a nuisance wildlife control company and trap several hundred coons a year. Coons will tear apart a Tomahawk trap eventually and trying to get them to back thier product is a joke.
The best traps on the market are Safeguard Traps out of PA. I have about 200 of them. They stand behind their product 100%.

[Poundhound]

Thank you FullCryHounds,
That is the kind of feedback I was hoping to hear with this post. I had never even heard of the Safeguard Traps until your post, mostly because I had never seen any place in my community that carries them. Having as many traps as you do, I would imagine you deal directly with the company? Are your traps single door front release? Double door? Or single door but with a rear release door?

Anyone else? Ever have a bad experience with a trap of a particular brand? Or swear by one brand or another?

I really like the rear release door for being able to get to the area behind the trip plate.


ph

[MTblack&tan]

I used to use a double door hav-a-heart, and like you said the trigger mechanism was on the outside and the coon always tripped it before going in. I also learned that I could only open the one end and not both doors, the trap was too small and the coon could easily reach the bait without going in the trap. I went to the local ranch supply store and bought a new single door trap. Don't remember the brand off hand, it has a 12 or 13 inch opening and the trigger is inside the trap and runs righgt along the wall of the trap. I plywooded the sides and back of the trap so the coon can't get at the trap from the outside. I zip tied a tuna can to the back of the trap, so the coon can't reach over the trip pan and grab the bait. I use a pb&j sandwich and cram it in the can. Worked every time since I got the trap, haven't had any problems or missed coons. Only had one small coon get his hands around the front of the door and disengage the door catch mechanism. I am going to work on that next year, but it was a small coon and he tore his legs up doing it. Good luck in your trapping hope this helps.