This is an odd topic but if I don’t ask, I’ll never know.
Big, flat cornfields with few connections to cover, and only occasional grassy waterways, still have coon populations. Similarly, a cornfield surrounded by cover presents the same situation. Theoretically, if one drove or walked the perimeter, you could find coon trails. For a cornfield of 40-200 acres, that’s a heck of a lot of walking. My question is: what would you do to concentrate the pathways into and out of the corn to reduce trapper time at this (large) location?

I use an ATV to run fields when looking for trails. Doubt you'd be able to force coons that way. They are going to use the path of least resistance, along with all the other critters that run that area.

I suppose one could set up pre-baits at strategic places along the edge. With a strong lure above bait bucket, it should start the process. I was hoping someone had an easier method already in use.

Gonna be hard to break coons from using the same trails generations of coon have used withoutajor habitat modification or offering alternative food sources that is more attractive than the corn.

Lot easier to just carpet bomb the existing trails then move on.

I suppose carpet bombing is the best way. But big fields with tight corn edges, it could mean a lot of walking. I do a lot of walking as it is, and it’s paid off, but pulling a plastic sled full of bodies gets old fast. I was hoping someone would chime in with experience on how to “concentrate” them

Most good trails are going to be going to cover of some sort .

Hard this late in the season to create travel patterns as the boars are going from den site to den site looking for love not really food. and sows are not really moving hard, But planning for the early season can be done, and the coon will carry that habit of travel route into the late season. pic the spots that the coon have to come to and put in bait stations gang set those spots. I will be showing this method and how to set them up with the different traps this weekend at the trapping school.

Ttt

It is not always least resistance either. Some of the main trails through property have been used for decades and the off shoot or side trails may vary from year to year depending upon crops etc. For me it is a lot easier to find the trails they have been using for months than to try and retrain them. After you have trapped an area for a season or so you will almost always know where to look. Also you can spend a lot of time trying to setup a trail and then the crop goes off and the coons are not there. I find it pays to look for the nearest cover, light pole, tree grove etc. to the food area or open area, the coon use the cover as long as they can and in our area telephone poles etc. are common areas where the trails lead to and from.

Bryce