In the latest newsletter, Tomahawk is now building a 12x12x36 inch raccoon cage because customers were demanding a larger cage. For

what? Certainly not for raccoons. There isn't a raccoon alive that can't comfortably fit into a 10x12x32 inch. As a matter of fact,

if you set a 9x9x26 inch next to a larger cage, you will find that the smaller cage will be filled first. Why? Because the raccoon

is several inches closer to the bait before he has to enter the cage! Now since you guys are those demanding customers, I'd like to

know what you're using those big cages for. You can tell me; I promise I won't tell a soul.

I am with you Paul, 30" length is plenty for most Nuisance wildlife work in the East

12x12 would do for taller fox or bobkitties but no need for three foot of cage. Agree or the smaller, Paul.

Some western states have gone cage only, including Cats/K-9's.

I have way less refusals with the larger cage. Don't know why, but that's how it is for my style of trapping.

I have 5.5" custom made one way doors for raccoons and the largest coons we have will squeeze through them when they want out, but they wont hardly enter a smaller cage for me going in.

I just ordered on of jims, right time, right place.

You sure it's WCO's doing the asking? Tomahawk has a lot of customers who aren't in the business.

Steve, I thought about that too. I figured if I was in need of a cage, and didn't know any better, I would spend $25 on a cheap cage

rather than a hundred bucks or more for a 12x12 Tomahawk.

That's because you're a cheap Wisconsinite Paul. The rest of us pony up for what it would take to do the job hahaha

Not only am I cheap but this year I've got more deductions than income. If we don't get called in this year we never will.

WOuld think after 40 some years you would be able to do math, or at least know that you dont know how!

I can see where a 12x12 would be nice, of course truck space is nice too. I just dont feel to good about running a 9x9.

If I start experimenting with building my own traps soon I will probably do 12x12x36. Not because I think i need all that trap, but it will still be way cheaper than buy and way less cuts and waste. I dont want to waste, but dont know what I would do with all the scrap.

I'll have you know it takes a mighty shrewd mathematician to come up with more deductions than income.

Be careful what bait you use in that 12x12. I know a guy who caught a Tyrannosaurus Rex in one and got a fine for harboring

endangered species.

Silly how a 12x12 id large enough for a trex, but nothing is large enough for coyotes.

I like using the 12"x12"x36" traps when dealing with trap smart raccoons. Several times we've had clients say they watched the raccoon stretch itself into the trap to get at the bait and keep one back leg out of the front of the trap, when the trap fires the door hits them on the rump and won't fully deploy and they just back out. The longer trap seems to address this.

Gary

I know some catch fox in the 10x12 but I sure couldn't last summer...Just ordered some 14x15 Bridgers from (of all places) CABELAS! They were clearing out their MTP stock. I agree no need for longer cages.

I'm one of those guys that catch fox in 10x12x32. We don't get a barrel full of fox jobs but I have caught a couple hundred in the

regular sized cages and most are youngsters. Keep in mind that when I get a fox call, they are already quite used to humans. For

kicks I grabbed my tape and went up in our storage space above the garage. We own a 12x12x36, a 12x12x40, and three 12x12x42 inch.

I have no idea how we acquired these cages, but we've had them for some time. The first two are unidentified but the three 42 inch

are Tomahawks. I'm saving them because Vinke told me if I ever got an otter job, these would do the trick. I do recall one of our

guys using the Tomahawks for raccoon but got tired of the extra size very quickly. Instead of using a larger trap for a difficult

animal, I will resort to 2-door Comstocks.

That looks like a good buy!! I have caught a few bobcats in 10"X12"X32" single door cage traps in rural areas. Also, quite a few of both red and gray fox in rural and urban areas in the same size traps. In fact, I seldom set a larger trap in urban areas for fox, just never had a call for bobcats in a truly urban area. However, for cage trapping both fox and bobcat in rural areas I do prefer a larger (taller) cage trap, at least 10"X14"X36" and larger. I use bait/lure attached to the rear of the pan trigger. If and when GritGuy gets back in production,(and if legal in your area) the "The FurFindR" http://www.wasatchwild.com/teaser.html is an excellent tool to attract animals into the vicinity of your traps.

Paul,

As always thank you for the constructive criticism. Hope you had a great Christmas. To answer: Customers from all segments have been asking for a 12x12. We have had the 12x12 traps available in the Original Series traps for quite some time and I'm pretty sure that is the one you have in your stock. After quite a few custom 12x12 Pro Series traps we made it a full time product. I'm sure soon there will be a 15x15 before too long.

Tomahawk Live Trap

-Always Improving

Well Tomahawk, I used your coyote trap at the suggestion of one of your sales reps.
I wasn't convinced coyotes could be caught in cage traps, having trapped for over 40 years.
Coyotes, most of those.
I did connect on a pup female that weighed about 25 lbs.
It absolutely destroyed the end of the trap!
But, held the coyote...



I had to reinforce the damaged end.
Over the next two years of trying I was able to capture two more more coyotes that simply 'blew' out the door.
And I lost them both...

LT

It really doesn't matter how big you make the cages. The customer is still going to say, "That's not my animal. He was twice that size."