Really don't want to see other people in my area doing this.....because it works so well.

Frozen rivers are coon highways. And, usually, there is some stellar denning areas along rivers as well. Bridges are a good way to get sets in an area that will have multiple coon roaming around in the nasty winter weather.

Not trying to sound arrogant, but I'd bet our winters here are a lot nastier than a lot of you guys will see.

A chunk of fish and gland lure, any kind of gland lure, worked well for me. Last year the only thing I had laying around when we had a January thaw was bobcat gland, and it worked well.

Might as well put some protien AND some gland lure out for them.

Yes,its easier to get numbers early of low grade fur, and by our January thaw you will start to see tougher grades for ticks and fur color. So there's no winning either way.

Just my opinion, which is usually wrong.

I agree. It is a lot easier to snap a wet coon than towel off a carcass coon.

A coon pelt will dry faster than letting wet carcass coon pile up.

I usually skin them somewhat wet.I also wash with dish soap after I get it skinned.Why does everybody wait for them to dry before skinning?

I skin them soaking wet....and then worry about drying them.

Not that I know what I'm doing, but it seems to be faster. Maybe there is a better way.

Nah...If you have to wait to skin a perfectly dry 'coon, you'll be waiting a long time in this weather.....
Shake 'em out and skin 'em....hang 'em up...they dry faster than on a carcass.

That was my thinking also.

LT,

I am suprised you don't use a tumbler of some sort or do you? I wouldn't be w/o one now that I have one. Sorta like my skinning winch. The real dirty one get soaked in a bucket of water overnight, rinsed, snapped and tossed in the dryer. If they are clean enough they go right into the dryer after skinning.

Thanks for all the good imformation I haven't quite made it all the way through this post yet so forgive me if this question has already been covered but where do you guys look for coons this time of year. Temps are in the low twenties for the remainder of this week and from what I gather I need to be closer to their den... Well my problem is I have a lot of access to small creeks and streams and according to a lot of the guys on here coons seem to abandoned those areas this time of year. I can't seem to think of any other food source to look for since all of our fields are wheat this year. Is there anything else you guys look for in a late season food source for coons when the weather gets cold? Thanks

Cattail swamps

Great thread! Thanks for all the useful info guys! I wanted to share my picture from my first morning check.

I think the ruts are starting here...caught a coon with a line behind his neck, like fur was slightly removed.

I really love useing buckets and bodygripps along corn in the early season and by my grandpas trout ponds in the winter draws them in like a magnet.i normally use trout for bait in both areas

A couple pics for now

Pocket sets and jack mackeral works good for me



=======================

This is my third year trapping. I have learned a lot and still have plenty to learn. But here is my contribution to the topic: dont underestimate a connibear in a bucket. Also, NEVER overlook a simple drainage ditch, such as one that drains a field.

Kat Krazy, when your pipes are that far from the bank how do you ensure the coon will connect with your traps? Ive been setting my pipes about 3 feet from the bank and the trap in front, is this too close?

amen
thats all I use I will post pics tommorow of my coons caught in buckets

Heres a pic of a few coons. My seasons total 2011-2012. My daughter trapped 17 and dogs treed 40 in the picture. 303 coon total

All I use for coon are bucket sets




And you won't catch just coons you will catch

Mink



And fisher