Idk about the rest of you, but in certain areas I run bait stations prior to the start of the season. I am just curious how y'all run your set ups. How you build your bait stations, what you use for bait, do you lure them as well?

I build my stations from buckets with lids, 4 holes drilled through the bottom.
Generally filled with corn.
I normally cable or wire off to a tree so it doesn't get dragged off.
Some buckets have a small hole drilled through the bottom so a length of rebar can be drove in through the earth to anchor it in certain locations.
I do lure at my stations generally only when I first put them out, and it's usually something along the lines of liquid smoke or a anise/fruit smell.

At locations that are already proven, I pit out stations 4 weeks before season starts and normally wait two weeks before refilling, then two weeks after that I set traps.
In new locations, I like to put the stations out in the summer and run them for a week or two with a camera to get a rough idea of the visitors.

This post is not intended for an argument or debate on current coon prices and blah blah blah with the market.

I use DP dukes with marshmallows and fish oil.
Do you run yours before season knock the numbers down and alleviate coon catches in your foot holds?

I used them with some success last season, but I didn't get a really good feel for how well they work, because I'd trapped that property with blind 220s pretty hard a month or so before trying the bait stations. For trapping specific areas with no competition, I think they'll work well. I wouldn't use them if I thought someone else would come setup near me to catch them coming to my stations.


If I get a chance, I'll put out three or four 5 gallon buckets with small holes in the bottom and lids. A bag of cat food, small marshmallows shelled corn, and cereal with syrup and lard mixed in it to add flavor is what I'll use. If I get to feeling crazy I might mix in some honey.


I'll set them where I'd trap anyway if I weren't using stations---travel hubs. I'll set them about 2 weeks before I plan to trap it. Trail cameras would be a plus and give an idea how many customers are coming.

There is a thread that's a few years old that had some good information. It was started by a user by the name of Murse, and he updated it as the season went on tracking his catches and methods

Baiting coons (Used to be Murse)

That would explain why I don't need "murse" anymore!


Thanks for the link

I used 5 Gal. buckets with lids - drilled 2 holes in the sides at bottom and glued in 90 degree PVC elbows. hung them from a limb so they were about 8"'s off the ground. I made 3 bait stations this yr. and each worked great. Each time after setting up I came back 9-10 days later and they were getting hit - twice they were empty. I then set 4-6 DP's at each station and caught coons...that simple. They worked great for me!

old tire corn dispensers

Zimmer elbow pointed up or down?

I have found that mixing the bait in well loose soil has had a increase in coon finding and working the site. plus the smell of the bait lure gets into the soil and the coon will dig and scratch at the site even when you cant see any baits.

In this day and age the bait and your time Is probably worth twice as much as the coon your trying catch. LOL

Hey Beav. I’m 71 yrs young and plan on trapping another 15 yrs. Future prices.

Hey I'm 78 and I'm hoping the coon market comes back before I'm 85 but I'm not holding my breath. LOL

I can't afford to trap coon unless I can average $13.00 on them.

Agree on the $13.00

Actually quite the opposite. Only thing the bait stations cost me is gas money, and in today's market I try my darnedest to set them up when I'm already gonna be close by or in areas I'm in regularly or passing by etc.

I get my buckets for free (cat litter buckets from a few folks I know) and a buddie of mine and I take our kids and wives out to his corn fields after harvest and pick up ears before the field is turned over. Kids have a ball and we get our corn So it's a win win.

But I do agree with the production cost of coon versus the the check we get with the current market.

But the new trapper can take advantage of these times and learn a lot so when the price goes up they are ready. education always cost something. also why I dig the baits in now on pre baiting takes longer for them to get it all. Also cracked corn with some persimmon oil or lure mixed in really works well in my area

WE trap pre planted bait piles. 1000s of acres of corn. Dosen't cost us a cent. LOL

Set the tails coming and going from the fields.
Learn coon habits trap were the natural food sources are and you don't have to put out bait piles.

But If it works for you go for It.

Can't find. That was a typo. "Can't find Murse".

First off I don't set the bait, natural or placed. I set the trails coming and going. Maybe you should come to the trapping school in a couple weeks and I will show you how it is done LOL Bait is to train the coon to come check a place out not feed them. Even every coon hunter worth their weight in salt knows this LOL

Thanks! That is a good idea.
Mac