Seems to be a lot of interest in cage traps, lately, and not just from guys in cages-only states. So I thought I'd start a thread on cage trapping.

Now, I know they've gotten a bad rap, but not because of their effectiveness. That is more because in some states the antis have dictated that they are the ONLY traps that can be used.

But, I like cages for coons. In areas where I don't have to worry about theft it is my favorite trap for them.

Easy to set, easy to check, don't have to worry about water level, and they can be weather proofed. Make a tent out of a piece of carboard and it can snow 6 inches and they're still working. Temperature drops to 5 degrees? Who cares? Set still works.

Almost never a miss. I think I had a coon get hit in the butt by the door one time and back out.

Non-target friendly, and I have never had anyone tell me they didn't want me to trap because I was using cages. I've even had farmers let me set them right next to their houses.

Now, cages are not the optimum trap for some species. I wouldn't recommend them for canines. And they take up a lot of room, are big and bulky, and very expensive compared to footholds. They would probably all disappear from ditches or from public land. You couldn't run a line of 150 of them without a whole lot of trips back and forth to get a line out, and like I said, WHERE you can set them is limited.

But on private land, where trespassers aren't likely, close enough to houses where trespassing deer hunters aren't likely to stumble on them, and where you can drive close to the set but they can't be seen from a public road, they are in my opinion the best trap there is for coons. If you are only running a couple of dozen coon traps, I think they would pay for themselves pretty darned quick because of, in my opinion, a much better catch ratio.

Here's a coon in one of Rich Kaspar's cage traps. The coon isn't huge, but is bigger than it looks. That is a 15x15x36 trap.

In 4 years of trapping I have NEVER had a cage trap stolen from private or public land.

When coon trapping I don't place my bait under the cage. Instead, I put it in a plastic "party cup" and wire it to the top/rear of the cage so it's hanging using soft 14ga. wire.

I camo paint my cages. Maybe that's why I have had none stolen.

I have gone from using 36" cages to a 30" cage for coon and skunk. The shorter cages take up less room.

Get yourself one of those orange-handled squeeze type clamps from the hardware store. The are handy for holding a spring-loaded cage trap door open when baiting or when trying to put a fiesty coon away when using a catch pole.

Livetrap, what kinds of cages are you running out there in California, and what kinds of critters are you targetting? You guys have a lot of coons? I see you live in sacramento. Any marten up there in them hills?

I mainly trap withing 20-30 miles from home and that means lot's and lot's of coon and skunk.

90% of my cages are Safeguards. The others are Yancy/Reid built cages.

Martin, Fisher, Otter, and Red Fox are protected. That leaves us Gray Fox, Raccoon, Skunk, Bobcat, Beaver, Coyote, Opossum.

I may set out my fox/cat cages for a week or so on a somewhat far away ranch for grays and bobcats. Gas gets pricey and I haven't had much luck on those tougher animals.

Can't argue with you Buck about either the pros or cons you listed and I love them for those reasons and hate them for those reasons! lol I've switched more to using Grizzes in a lot of locations. For about the same cost you could have had a couple coons in LG's in the picture above. Same for me in the picture below from two nights ago...






This big boar is also dwarfed by the 36"X18"X11" trap made by Schroeder in Grand Island, NE. Before LG's came out, I could say that cages were the simplest, most humane and effective coon trap on the market. Good topic! Beside their bulkiness, expense and a need for a fairly level spot to set them, does anyone NOT like cages for coon?

I knew the Guru of Grays and cages would chime in. Tracy, ya lost that bet, lol. Got any more tips? Any for cats?

4fur, I've got Kaspar's 2-ring gravity close traps, a couple of Havarharts, and Safeguards. The Havaharts and Safeguards don't need level ground, so there are really only 2 drawbacks to cages, bulkiness and expense. And in my opinion they have a better catch ratio than LG's, so they pay for themselves pretty quick.

The major drawback is the bulkiness. I thought about in warmer weather trying some 9x9 safeguards. They'd have a big coon pretty well squeazed in there, but I've read on some ADC forums that less space is better for coons in cages because they tend to fight less. Might be something I have to experiment with.

I make cages out of 30gal drums, but I had one stolen out of a culvert this year. They work well I'd like to catch a cat in one. Any tips for baiting one for cats

As stated before, they are a crucial tool for ADC work...

Remember last year when you said you would BET me that I could catch a fox in a cage if I followed a few simple steps. I messed up somwhow. No fox. I'm thinking I still need to gain an eye for LOCATION.

A couple sets. You would be surprised to know how many human and horse tracks were within 20' of these sets after I put them in. None but my own walked up to the cages. They either didn't see 'em or saw them and didn't care. Now if only there were some fox or cat tracks walking up to them too! lol.

Reid sold me on the "stackers" last year and I now see why! Makes so much more sense. I owe him.

LOL, probably! I know it wasn't scent. I was wearing a full body rubber scent lock suit. I also know the animals didn't see my footprints as I walked in on stilts with little female fox print track makers on the bottom of the stilts. Could I have breathed on the set too much? I am quite the mouth breather, haha.

Cameron, just out of curiosity, why do so many cat trappers use the sliding doors instead of the 2-ring closure doors? Is it because you can remove the doors and nest them, like someone, I think it was Yancy, talked about in a post one time?

Those are the ones. I think my camera is busted though. None of those cats or foxs show in my. I ought to return it I guess.

My pride went bye-bye awhile ago. Send 'em on over.

Cameron, you have any closeup pictures of the slides those doors are fitted into? And is there some kind of locking mechanism where a coon couldn't lift them up?

Well those 2 look smarter than me so maybe that's what I'm needing.

Great pictures Cameron and Livetrap! I love Rich Kaspers products and I'll check out his cage traps, Buck. Another problem I have with cage traps is they get banged up pretty bad catching big coon. They always work better on the first 5 coon than the last 5 coon. I guess my favorite coon cage is the one made in Missouri by Custom MFG. They are pretty rugged and I really like the bait door. MTP sells them also, I think. Here is one...





These are the only stackable ones I have, Cameron.




They're expensive but they work, though. Shouldn't have showed my 5 year old how to set them LOL. Not sure if this was a non-target or not LOL...





She also had some other action...

If I lived closer, I'd buy some Schroeder cages.

Nephi? Utah?

Hmmm... the wheels are turning as we speak.

Cameron, what are the dimensions of the cage in that last photo, and how much does one of them cost?

Must not be any ambulances to chase today by the look of it!

Nice pics Tracy. To bad that boy looks like his daddy. LOL. Them kids caught more grays than most of the guys on this site. Keep it up. I always enjoy the boys two thumbs up pose. He already has his signature pose.

all the pics are fine except the last few. all im seeing is a white box with a red X in it?

nevermind i just had to refresh the page

jdw, I don't understand it. Works for me. All of the pictures are jpg's so the same program on your computer that opens one should open the others.

all i had to do was refresh the page and now i can see the pics.

PM sent Tracy

ya'll think it would be cheaper to build cage traps or just buy them ready to go?

Depends on what your time is worth. The parts are kinda spendy, and there's not a lot of profit in each trap for the cage makers. But they are set up with the parts ready to go, the welders, the saws, and they can kinda mass produce them. But, sometimes the shipping cost can be astronomical. You'd be amazed at what it costs to ship a cage trap. Just go to the MTP link at the top of this page and check out what they charge for shipping.

Your best bet is to buy them at conventions if someone there is selling, to save on shipping costs.

Another option is to buy Havaharts (which are sold all over) or the ones at Tractor Supply and do a little work to beef them up.

I had a red fox about drive me nuts one winter. I wanted to catch a fox in a cage, so I set one right on some fox tracks at the edge of a field. Dug a hole, baited with chicken neck, put a little wool on top with some Canine Select on it, and set the cage on top of the hole.

Next morning, fox had dug a tunnel under the cage to get to the bait. So, I moved the cage and repeated, only this time set some sticks around the cage to make it more difficult to dig under.

A couple of days later, those sticks were moved, and the fox had done his trenching job all over again.

So I moved the cage and this time put big logs around the outside of the cage. A couple of days later, the fox had been scratching at the ground around the logs, but would NOT enter the cage.

I finally caught that fox in a Sleepy Creek 1 3/4 in a dirthole set right next to the cage. Haven't tried to cage trap a fox since.

Who is Mercer?

I've been there. I wish I could set a foothold for those diggers but I have to keep at it with the cage. Even though I have never been successful I keep at it. It's kind of funner that way IMO.

Cameron2, is he hard to get ahold of? I may buy some cages off him y next trip down south.

They strong enough to hold a big Nebraska boar coon? I'd hate to buy one of them sissy California cage traps and have one of our Nebraska coon kits take it apart. But I'd like to try those drop down doors.

BuckNE, seems to me a cage ,eant for cats and fox is not meant to take coon after coon due to no internal frame as stated before.

LT, I hope he chimes in. He is a wealth of info on caging those other critters as you already know.

Problem is, around here I'd probably catch 20 coons for every cat, so it would have to be strong.

Pricey cages to get a big coon in. In fact, I was instructed by Reid Aiton not to set them specifically for coon as repairs and reforming the shape would be a constant. They would hold 'em though.

lol, let me clean house.

Vinke is probably busy charging some old lady subsisting on Social Security $300 to trap a cat food eating possum off her back porch. I'd give her a 10% senior discount cause I'm such a nice guy.

He'll be on here soon. Mention "cage" and he just kinda shows up. Probably has his "cage talk" radar flashing red lights and sounding alarm bells right now.

I have trapped coon in havahearts tons and never had any issues. I have one box trap that has been run over by a tractor fallen off my truck and to this day it is set and in a barn right now. I bet that cheep little trap has caught and held over 100 coon even a fox. Its still ticking and i have never had one get out. Caught some HUGE coon in it too.

Fixed Tracy

Give me one week with that trap and it will be ready for the dump, Flacer. lol. Heck of a testimonial, though!

One of my goals was to catch a bobcat in a cage trap this year. We have a limited season with a quota in Iowa now. No videos, no books, just dumb luck and a dumb cat.






I stacked the three cages and put them away because the Shroeders were pretty pricey and I didn't want coon tearing them up. Well I got them out last week and have caught enough coon to pay for them ($170 at the Nebraska convention) and the traps are not worse for the wear! Caught a wet fox in a Custom MFG doing ADC work on coon at an elevator once on ocean whitefish treat cat food. Lost a lot of respect for fox after that.

I see lots of guys on these forums asking about those Tractor Supply cage traps. I've looked at them, and with some beefing up, they'd do OK I think, for awhile. Probably have to do some straightening after every catch, though. And I'm not sure but the frame might tweek enough for a coon to get out beside the door. But they would be usable, just take some work. I prefer buying cages that are going to last a long time and I don't have to repair. Love my Safeguards.

4 Fur, what do you think about 9x9x24 Safeguards for coons? If the trap was staked down so they weren't pushing it when entering, you think the door would have room to close?

Lot of good info here!

Not to talk out of turn but I have heard of people getting coons in the little 9x9 but I bet you would get a lot of refusals.

Livetrap, the 9x9 doesn't really worry me. The 24 inch depth is what I'm wondering about. Spring loaded door, but would it close all the way and latch? I guess that's the big question.

I could nest my Kaspar 15x15x36, 12x12x30 safeguards, and 9x9x24 safeguards if that were the case.

I'd say you may get one in the but for the most part, a big mature nebraska coon would back right out since the door wouldn't close all the way. I'm sure someone here will say otherwise.

Here's a sow in a 12x12x30 inch safeguard. I tend to agree the 24 inch trap would probably be too small.

I have never used a Safeguard so can't comment on them. I imagine they would take a lot of the coon excluding the bigger sized. You could switch to a larger trap at the locations where you're getting sprung traps. Coons really don't get smart to a sprung cage trap unless they're inside it and subsequently released IMO. Occasionally I have a sprung trap on the 12X12X36" Customs due to the door hitting their butts and them backing out. I just smile because I know I'm going to catch a monster coon there in a matter of time. lol

LT, plastic dish she chewed up.

Great video!

For those that trap coon using the rear door Safeguards, how strong is the locking mechanism on these? I have always opted for the single door cages because I figured that rear door was a weak link.

Speaking of 2 door traps, how many of you use the double dor traps? As in the kind where the animal can enter from either end? I know of several situations where they would ba an advantage. I'm always looking for a quality double door.

It's been my experience that when they're done working on the front door they start on the rear. With equal results. They're not getting out.

Regarding the two door traps, I'm very interested. I've tried a couple of Havaharts and they didn't stand up very long. The two door Tomahawks have really caught my interest. They're pricey but I figure there will be one here in the next couple of months.

Can anyone post a pic of the rear door locking mechanism?

I've been using some big safeguards for cats and the rear door when it's locked seems solid. If you were really worried about it, you could easily use some wire or a quick link as a backup. Will throw up a pic.

You pull the wire at the bottom off the handle and lift up. You then can pull the door off. Hope this is what you were asking.

That helps a lot. Thanks for posting.

Where's Vinke? We need more pics.

What are some of your favorite baits for coons and skunks in cages? How about fox and cats?

Livetrap, I've tried a lot of baits, and they all work to some extent. But my favorite is Ol Roy bacon doggy treats.

For which animal Buck?

Coons. They are killer on coons. Come in a ziplock bag, are not messy, got a good bacon smell to them, and coons love 'em. Haven't gotten any skunks with em, but plenty of possums. Anything a coon will eat, a possum will too.

Thanks Buck. Due to some time on my hands I have whipped up the following concoctions...

Jack Mack
Bacon Bits (the real kind)
Castor based beaver lure
Liquid Smoke
Beaver meat

also...

Mixed berries (real)
Strawberries (real)
Strawberry syrup
Castor

As you can tell, I plan on trying a lot of fruit and castor smelling baits on coon and skunk in the next few months and on into the summer.

Another thing coons are partial to is fried chicken. So when I make fried chicken, I take all the scraps and freeze them and then throw a few of the bones in the back of a cage. We can use exposed bait with cages in Nebraska, and I figure the eye appeal helps.

hey livetap,rabbit works great for skunks cats grays,I quarter then you have 4 legs to wire to the back of you're cage,you get 4 sets out of 1 rabbit.

Good call where legal cagey. I have other tried and true baits but I was just curious what you all prefer in your cages.

thought i might wake you up

You did. Thank you for adding that.

lol.....my ears were burning while I was driving out of the hills.....

NICE !!!

You take care of that woman's possum problem?

lol..... No we stared working some cages for cats in the local hills.......
Going in Blind......soooooooo we will see....
Lots of people making the best spots to set out of the question do to tampering....

We will see....
Very thick .....and the cat just came of feeding on salmon that were spawned out...

Pattern the Feed and the breed........

Once we get on top of them it will be "Yat Slam 2010",,,,

does anyone have a close up picture of how the double door trap triggers work,, and also the size of trap,and placement of the pan. Have heard they are great but never seen much as far as info on them

Send me pics of those cats vinke!!!

A little on building the cages...


Picture one shows the door when the trap is set. It's 1/4" rod and the frame is 1" angle iron with a piece of 1" flatstock welded to it to form a channel. The 1/4" rod that the door is setting on goes down to the trigger through a washer to hold it in place. The lock for the door is that block of steel it swings out and then back to lock the door down...



Pic. 2 is the door locked down.



Picture 3 is of the trigger. it is hard to see but the 1/4" rod from the door comes down to the far top corner of the trigger and is bent around another washer that is welded there. The bottom rod of the trigger goes through a washer on either side and then has a nut welded on the ends to prevent it bieng pulled back through.

*another note there is a piece of 1x1/4" flat stock welded to the rod that goes across the front bottom of the trap for the door to land on.

*any suitable wire can be used to cover the trap. I got a deal on this stuff and it works great.

*I set it in a wash tub and brushed on speed dip with a paint brush to get the black color and rust protection.

Here's a few more pictures to help...

















Build them what ever size you want. I use 12x12x36 for coons...



Made these bigger for a beaver trapper from Mn. 24x15x36...





~ADC~

Awesome, I needed this thread. I just got a brochure from Schroeder traps, but they are a little more than I'd like to spend. I was considering a Havahart, but I've heard they aren't what they used to be. I'm not handy enough with tools to do one myself. Any other quality cage makers I should know about?


Also, why are the front bars so widely spaced, leaving such large gaps in the door? I watched a video where a guy had a ringtail cat squeeze through the bars and steal a guys bait. I would rather not let those things, or similar critters, out.

THIS IS AWSOME!!!!
sooooo much good info on here!!!
you guys ever cage weasels or other small fur bearers?

Hey ADC... that "beaver trapper from Mn. is Me... I'll give you credit for building those Two cages, but the Catches were Mine...

330, just out of curiosity, why are you cage trapping beaver in Minnesota?

I've got a stipulation in my ADC regulations here in Nebraska that as long as I'm operating under my ADC permit to trap in a municipality, I have to use live traps. If I'm trapping beaver out in the country it is a different story and I can kill them any way I want, even spotlight them. But in the city it is live traps only.

Now, I haven't had a call to do any city beaver trapping, but it may happen some day. So, I was wondering about these cages as compared to the suitcase beaver traps.

ADC you have a message

You buy those 35mm film cannisters in an antique store? LOL

Can't remember the last time I saw a film camera.

thats a great tip and if you have trouble finding the film cases prescription bottles are good and different sizes

When my knee is giving me trouble I eat Aleve like they are M&M's. I should be saving the bottles....

yup and white would be a great color imo

When I set out to fur trap mink my "main" target area is bridges over small creeks and streams.
Washington has LOTS of water so finding area is simple.
This is all public access do to road right of way.
Thief has not been an issue because No One traps......

This is a typical set.....No covering on the floor, Bait is carcass duck
When there is land under the bridge the cage is placed there,,,, If there is land on "Both" sides....use two cages Or more depending on populations




This mink was taken at a cross over that went around a flood gate...... From experience we know they (the mink, otter even beaver) will no go though this particular gate (or most of them for that matter)
The cage was inside a plastic garbage bag (black on white snow) to prevent freezing of the trap



When specifically targeting mink I will use a smaller 8x cage..
When using smaller cage make sure it is staked and it is constructed so that coon can not "Easily" close the door by investigating....





This is a "typical" set along side of a bridge with no Land under it..... Door is facing they way it is so that it (the cage) can be checked from above, quickly....but still remains hidden



I am a big fan of Lenon Lures,,,,,,, !!! pm me if you need his contact info......

Summer pulling them off the cannery food...



Winter pulling up the Hill........




Floating cage have produce very well......this video was made to demonstrate how easy it is....

Thanks Vinke that was very informative

Excellent video Vinke. Do you find any more refusals with the 8x cages than with that 1078?

[quote=BuckNE]When my knee is giving me trouble I eat Aleve like they are M&M's. I should be saving the bottles....[/

Sorry! should have , been PM which it is now.

Cletis, I don't take them 365 a year. But, I probably go through a bottle of 24 per month. Get a complete physical once a year. I assume they check my liver enzymes. Check everything else.

i thought drs recommend an aspirin a day

Great video Vinke.

BuckNE, I had those Two Traps made by ADC just for Beaver to pick up ADC jobs that I might not have gotten without Using a Live Catch Trap... some people cannot understand their dog won't get into my underwater 330's

ttt

Any one have detailed drawing for trigger and door system for a good box trap for grayfox.I have the equipment but need to get my hands on some good plans.

Do you own any cagetraps? Not to sound smart but here's how it works:

Animals steps on a pan or plate which is directly attached to something that holds the door open or up. Picture that thing being pushed or pulled in a way that causes the door to fall or close.

Picture the way the pan moves when stepped on then think of what direction the item holding the door up must move in order to release the door. Visualize in your mind the connecting hardware and which way would be the shortest to connect both the pan and the device which holds the door open.

I wish I had some pics but if you google "box trap desighns" and it will show you plans on how to make a rabbit box trap. Apply this to the dimensions which you have planned and go for it. I bet you'll think of a better way before you're done building the trap. Good luck!

I posted the instructions for a simple very effective trigger mechanism a few posts back on this thread, what's wrong with them?

~ADC~

fram of no fram cage, is about like a cadillac and a GEO. around here I couldn't give a no fram cage away. Sure I would love to build a no fram cage all day but there are people who still want quality. John

do you think it would work for cats if I built a cage trap with plywood top, bottom, sides with a wire door that opens on one end and wire fastened to the othert end. I would use ADC's trigger setup

Personally, I don't think the full frames are necessary and just add to the weight and cost. I've got Safeguard traps that don't have a full frame, and they are rock solid. The only framing is on the front, the back, and one near where the door hinges. No longitudinal framing. But, they use a wire mesh that is extremely stiff and solidly welded.

Buck. The combs I make are the same way. Framed in the front middle and back. To me thats a must for our big coon we have. Beleave me, I know all about the weight and cost. I once tried that, just a square pice of wire, back put on with J hooks, door and pan bolted on. there still setting here. some day I'll learn how to do them right. LOL

Cagemaker, got any pictures of yours? I've got some of Kaspars, and they are full frames. Heavy suckers, but will probably last until long after I'm gone. I've got some out for cats right now.

Has anyone else noticed that once a skunk sprays or "dribbles" some of that juice in a cage, that particular cage seems to produce a little more than the unscented ones? That's why I don't mind if they let out a "warning shot" prior to being dispatched.

Buck give me until after supper. I'll post some that.

Seems here when a skunk hits the cage I just get skunks only.

Is this going into the archives?
It should as it has many different cages and ideas on how to use them.
GREAT THREAD.

Good topic.

Buck.......Cagemaker cage are HD,,,,,but not to "heavy" to carry long distances with out to much effort.... I carried 2 18x15?..ers in a Looooooooonnnnngggg ways the other day (at least 2 miles???) but I'm a manly man....

I currently have 9 out "trying" to catch cats....

Went in Blind so.... it will take time to get on them.....

The only animal I would be concern about damaging johns traps is a bear...

I think Cagemaker fell asleep after supper before he could post the pictures.

moring Buck... buddy of mine stoped over after supper. stayed late. Had a few calls foe the bigger cage, and I just ran out. 6:00 and I'm heading to shop, will check in latter.

What's the furthest west you come John?

I've seen him in Montana and with this years western being in Wyoming. I would think he will be there, but economics will tell.

can someone show a clos set of pics of the triggering mechanism. Also show how to set the live traps so i can have a better view on how to make them.

Fezz go thru the thread your answer is there .....in several variations depicted

livetrap, I'll be coming to the western NTA in WY. this summer. was in MT last year and I thought you were coming.

I'll throw in a few pictures...

Full frame 15x15x36.

15x20x48 Fold down with straight drop door (full frame). Over 100 pound cougar. Did a job on the door until I started putting rod across center.

15x18x36 Full frame. One of my cats this year.

11x18x36 Half full frame (combo) Another cat I caught this year.

Set of three combos. Half frame.

48 inch fold down.

15x18x36 Full frame. But now all come with solid pans. (Todd's favorite)

Sorry Todd. This is the double door Todd and I invented. This cage is 13x20x48 inches, full frame.

Double door (not set)

Double door (set)

Cagemaker, I ran into some health problems last year and didn't make any of the planned trips. In fact, it even canceled my trip up to WA for a visit with Mr. Havahart himself.

If it weren't for shipping, I'd run all of your cages. Looks like they'll outlast me and I have heard nothing but GREAT things.

What make of cage is that?

How much "duff" do you put on the bottom to cover the wire?

livetrap, do you know anyone who drives truck. I have a lot of truckers stop when going through NE. I'm not to far from I80. had one stop the other day and we put 6 fold-downs in his sleeper. (not good). saves money on shipping.

I wish. I have exhausted myself on figuring out how to get some of your cages here and not break the bank. I MUST own some of your cages... and before next season!

Livetrap i cover the bottom completely,no wire shown but leave pan clean.They are Jeff Yancy copies,nice light weight traps

Cage maker!
That is a nice Trap!! The recessed door is spectacular.....

That must be the one that is in all the videos of the Colorado cats?