I want to try using some longsprings for dryland raccoon this fall. Targeting corn field edges and the trails to and from the fields. No water for half a mile or more at a couple properties I trap. Anything I need to do different than using coilsprings? Main sets would be trail sets (blind) or pvc/dirthole sets.

Thanks.

I use longs, blind set on trails to catch coons. Very effective IMO. I don't bother to bed or bait. I use a lot of Sleepy Creek #11's. I place stepping sticks, and that's about it.

I will be using some #11 and #2 longsprings for coon not going to change anything.

I have heard about that before. You just place the trap in the trail (I assume you make sure it doesn't rock) and put stepping sticks on either side? That would make life easier.



Same thinking here, 11's and 2's.

Make sure they don't rock is right K snow. The #11 SC are center swiveled, so I usually just take my trapping hammer and hit the ground once to create a slight depression the center swivel can sit in. The trap pretty much stabilizes itself at that point. The beauty of a long springs. I do the same thing with #3 longs, except most of mine aren't center swiveled. I don't center swivel them because it would mean I'd have to take the time and effort to create a depression for the swivel. With the #3's I'll stick a few leaves under the pan to break-up the trap outline, but that's it. I love blind trail setting with longs. Mostly I catch the coons, possums, and skunks around using them blind and exposed, but I've picked up several foxes, a few coyotes, and a couple cats doing it.

Always a fan of the #2 long springs

# 2 longs are hard on coon in my opinion. #11 with mid swivels and attached chain to the end of the spring is a decent trap on land. LLL

I agree the more iron hanging on that coons foot the more damage.

11s and 2s here, too. Perfect sized trap for stuff around my area. The 2s hold anything that gets in them. Coon, fox, coyotes, cats, badger, the two long will hold all them.

Here is how my 2s are set up. I set them up for coyote, but easily 1/2 my catches every season at dryland sets will be coon especially at coyote sets around here. The booster spring is are not for more power they are just to make them close faster for coyotes.


I keep my chains short to keep coyotes from getting very much momentum on their lunges. Double stake swivels....and more swivels they are a dryland coon and coyote trappers best friend.

Very nice set up for your long springs....

I picked up a used dz sleepy creek #11 rd pans at nta like new shape for 60.00. I bought them just for coons. I have some Montgomery's too. Like to have few more dzs of sc. I never set a set like that. May have to try it. U dont cover with anything?

I use dirtholes for coon. Big hole, big backing, or I make a double dirthole with something different in each hole for bait or lure.
A bread and butter set for me.
Jim

I don't cover my #11's with anything. Try it.

I don't set my #3's for coons. I just use them in blind trail sets, and they catch a lot of coons.

Thanks for all the tips, guys. I've got a half dozen 11's (or double springed 1 1/2's) that I'm going to try this season. If they do well, I'll probably be in the market for more next year.

I'll try a combination of trail and baited sets. With hundreds of acres of corn, there are plenty of trails to set.

Just remember if using bait sets like a dirthole or double dirthole that coon are grabbers and can stand on backside of set and reach into the hole to get the goodies. A big backing or no backing is what I found works best. Coon like eye appeal too so a big flashy dirthole, torn up dirt pattern in front of the hole, etc work great. I made a mound of dirt once out about 10 feet out in edge of a picked cornfield with a five gallon bucket of good moist black dirt from nearby. Patted that big mound down and made a hole right in side of it about 4" wide and deep into the mound. Set the trap at base of mound in front of the hole and caught a jillion backfoot coon with that set, they were all held well. The sets got better and better after each catch but was a lot of work to construct.
One year I used a 2' section of white 4" PVC pipe dug and packed into the field so that exposed end was up in air about a foot up and at an angle toward coon trail on edge of field. Bait in the pipe, longspring bedded below and a liitle out in front of end of the white pipe. That was a great backfoot coon catch set too. I carried a lot of white pipe for years making that kind of set with #2 longs. Pipe could go in a creek bank edge, in a corn field, wooded area trail edges, anywhere. Was a killer coon set and I picked up a few fox and coyotes with it too. Got a beaver once in a #11 front footed at a pipe set in creek with fish of all things. The #2 or #11 held them really well. Longs are tenacious holders by design.
Jim

jabNE, I've used 2" PVC for sets just like you describe, and yes, they make great back foot catches. I put an elbow on the top of mine to hold bait, and get them to work from the front side. Many of the trails I have are next to or through stone fences, so huge backings are no issue. Most fences are 2 to 3 feet tall and up to a half mile long, woods on one side, corn on the other. Sometimes corn on both.

That set is like a person would use on Bobcats try no to catch coyotes. I am going to get a few more pieces of pipe to use. It's crazy u dont have to cover your trap. But it works I am going to try. I like the little #11 traps

Isn't a double spring 1.5 essentially a#2 ? I know #11 is a double spring #1.

Could be, I'm not the best when to comes to identifying trap sizes and what equals what.

It's the same basic jawspread. Of course, it's also about the same jawspread as a 1.5 coilspring.