How about a 2017/18 trapping catches
- Thread starter whauburger
- Start date
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
Many food based baits seem like the ticket to me for a dirthole set. If they are hungry and there is something that smells like food they will dig and work the set.
freddy
.308 Win
@whauburger It seems that some trappers use three attractants: bait, lure, and urine. Do you do this?
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
Yes and no. All depends on the set. A scent/pee post gets a trap and urine. Some dirt hole type get lure and urine while some get bait and lure and some get all 3. Depends on what you are trying to mimic. A fox or coyote marking territory, hiding food for later, an animal burrowing and living in a hole.
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
@freddy how'd you make out putting the coon up? And you catch anything else?
I had 4 k9 sets out which froze up from the weather and I forgot my puller to get them out and reset. I got 3 more in a different area I am hoping will pay off.
I had 4 k9 sets out which froze up from the weather and I forgot my puller to get them out and reset. I got 3 more in a different area I am hoping will pay off.
freddy
.308 Win
Coon skin is almost dry. I keep thinking the ear cartilage should come out for a coon skin hat. Just worried about slippage or tainting. What do you think? Same with the nose.
No other catches yet on the dp traps. I am learning a lot about tracking though. Think I saw snowshoe hare tracks. Maybe otter too. We only have a tiny seasonal stream here, is it possible otter would be present?
Wax dirt is nearly done so I hope to try my first mb550 today or tomorrow. There are MANY foxes around here.
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
I have never tried removing cartridge from ears on a coon. I Would imagine it wouldn't been that difficult or different from a fox or yote.
I also never went for an otter so I couldn't help with that one.
I also never went for an otter so I couldn't help with that one.
freddy
.308 Win
What is your daily success rate? If you check 20 traps in the morning how many will have critters on average?
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
Haven't caught anything in a week or so. All depends on location and target animals.
HDMotorCop
.40 S&W
I used to make my own concoctions when I trapped a lot as a kid. My buddy and I had several buried mason jars we used to add fish left overs (heads, guts) during summer/fall fishing season. Some we'd add honey or molasses to, some straight up. Nasty smelling shit, but we caught coons and mink of that slop!!!
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
Here's a remake of a step down dirt hole. My trap froze down and I had tracks all over.
freddy
.308 Win
Excellent video Bill! Thanks for posting. Nice looking set. Helpful also to see how you carry everything.
Besides the truck, do you keep the bait/lure/urine bag inside the house? Just wondering if it is bad to keep bait/lure/urine at room temp for weeks on end.
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
In the off season I store my bait and lure in my garage in a cabinet. I wouldn't worry about it being room temp.
freddy
.308 Win
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
Good luck, I have never tried tanning or anything. Post some pics and share how it's going and what not.
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
Well I thought my luck was on the upswing today. Checked quick and got a red in a scent post. It was a duke 1.75 I believe bedded even with ground and blended with just a stick a few inches off set from the pan with a shot of urine on it. Got a great back foot catch high on the pad.
The bad is he was dead and 3/4 frozen with some interesting marks to his mid section. I think a coyote or something took a good shot at him. He was able to fend off the attack but died from the injury. I have to let him thaw and try and skin him with out tearing this gash bigger. Might have to try my hand at sewing him up too.
No damage, nice high pad catch
Bite marks.
The bad is he was dead and 3/4 frozen with some interesting marks to his mid section. I think a coyote or something took a good shot at him. He was able to fend off the attack but died from the injury. I have to let him thaw and try and skin him with out tearing this gash bigger. Might have to try my hand at sewing him up too.
No damage, nice high pad catch
Bite marks.
freddy
.308 Win
Stu on Coon Creek Outdoors has a video on sewing damaged pelts, as you probably know already.
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
I have seen that video and will give it a try after I flesh him out. I just skinned him which took about 5 times longer than it should have. My shop isn't heated so letting him thaw out wasn't gonna happen any time soon so I figured before he was frozen completey solid I'd get him done....his carcass showed a lot more damage, another fox or yote put a hurtin on him.
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
Here is the remake of the set.
freddy
.308 Win
The jet sled in action! Very good, thanks for posting.
Do you measure pan tension? If so, how many pounds are your #2 coilsprings set for?
Bushmaster
.308 Win
I use to sew them with 2lb test fish line LOL. You ever try using air compressor to skin them?
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
I try and get my pan tension around 3 lbs and night latched with minimal pan movement to fire.
I have tried the air compressor trick on coon before, honestly didn't seem to make to much of a difference but maybe I didn't do it that well. It was funny seeing him blown up like violet in Willy Wonka.
I have tried the air compressor trick on coon before, honestly didn't seem to make to much of a difference but maybe I didn't do it that well. It was funny seeing him blown up like violet in Willy Wonka.
freddy
.308 Win
Have you ever tripped the pan by mistake when packing the dirt around the trap? If so, how bad does it hurt?
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
I have accidently caught myself many times....I suggest taking an mb550 and setting your hand in. Not only so you can honestly look anyone in the eye and tell them it will not break bone and damage your hand and that you voluntarily will put your hand in one, but also so when you do catch yourself you have some practice on getting yourself out.
freddy
.308 Win
As fate would have it this morning I was fine tuning the mb550s and accidentally trapped myself! Ha ha! I am trying to adjust them between 2 1/4 and 2 3/4 lbs, keeping pan below jaws, and flat/level.
Pickled coonskin is ready for neutralizing, then deodorizing, then tanning.
Ready to put out a dozen mb550s now. I notice a concentration of tracks on top of snow covered fallen logs. Does it make sense to put a blind set on the log itself, or on the ground next to the log, or neither?
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whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
Its a suprise and then you realize it is more uncomfortable than anything, not pain just a shit im stuck.....MB's are set pretty good out of box for tension. If you wax them it'll lighten them up a bit. I do not like bending the dog to adjust tension on them, just a personal thing that annoys me. I use a Sullivan's tester while adjusting all my traps to get an idea of the weight.
I have never tried a blind set on a log, worth a shot. If the tracks are there I wouldn't set the ground. No reason for them to jump off a log and run over your trap if they are use to running the log. I am by no means proficient or near experienced as the majority of trappers. I experiment a lot and do it as another hobby. I don't plan on fur paying any bills. If it covers the money I laid out on new traps and supplies and some gas I am happy. After hunting season and before fishing I needed to fill a void and get out of the house and trapping has kept me busy and it is fun.
I have never tried a blind set on a log, worth a shot. If the tracks are there I wouldn't set the ground. No reason for them to jump off a log and run over your trap if they are use to running the log. I am by no means proficient or near experienced as the majority of trappers. I experiment a lot and do it as another hobby. I don't plan on fur paying any bills. If it covers the money I laid out on new traps and supplies and some gas I am happy. After hunting season and before fishing I needed to fill a void and get out of the house and trapping has kept me busy and it is fun.
whauburger
6.5 Creedmoor
Side note, I am going to be going through a bunch of my gear and will be selling a bunch of stuff I do not use or need to fund some new traps I'd like to buy and try out. If you are interested in anything and want to take a ride down one day I can show you what I have set up and how I go about everything from prep to put up. I know off the top of my head I have some smaller water line stuff I do not use and some 1.5 and 1.75's I won't really use along with wire stretchers.
freddy
.308 Win
Tanned coon pelt came out great. Very supple.
Looking at trail cam pics I see a yote, fisher, and fox approach but then retreat from my sets.
Looking at trail cam pics I see a yote, fisher, and fox approach but then retreat from my sets.
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FrankenCub
.338 Win Mag
How did you tan your coon pelt, costs involved? I've been wanting to do a few yote pelts and really not interested in sending them off to be done for even more cost.
freddy
.308 Win
Here is the process I used. Maybe $15 in chemicals per coon/fox/yote done individually. Less money if multiple pelts tanned together at the same time. Local taxidermist wanted $150 per yote.
Typical Scenario for Tanning a Hide
Tanning Videos