I'm trying to catch a nuisance groundhog in a cage trap that's getting into our melon patch. Anybody have any tricks to get one to enter a cage? Thanks.

Try a smorgasborg of things,lettuce,apples,a carrot .
Tom

I'll try those things. I've tried a piece of an eaten melon, but it hasn't worked yet. Thanks.

Spray the cage with apple juice to get rid of any smell and to lure it in

I'll try that, thanks.

Dunlap sells a good woodchuck bait

Thanks, I'll look into that.

www.winterwildlifecontrolbaitandlure.com has a bait called "Crazy Melon" that is good for skunk, 'coon, groundhog, etc. https://www.winterwildlifecontrolba...ait-and-lures/products/crazy-melon-paste

My uncle who had trapped a crap ton said anything like cantaloupe and mulberries will work, but it is very hard to get one in a cage. If at all possible I would use a 220 conibear.

I’ve never had a problem getting them in a cage. I can see that a conibear would be easier but laws in MO say that conibears have to be Completely under water so ive never been able to try it that way

I personally would shoot the ground hog but if you got no pets and its legal I would use a foothold in the 1.5 region. Just place it infront of the hole, 2-4 inches from the hole and cover it. As another suggested a conibear would be the best like a 220 or 160 but thats not always legal. You could also juice up some fruit slices with some ethylene glycol or some liquid rat poison and throw a few slices down the hole, that would be the best and easiest way. Hubba bubba gum "gums up" their insides. I vote for poison, since its almost effortless and you don't got to deal with the dead critter. Rodents can't vomit so you can kill them with baking soda mixed with flour or something since the reaction between the acidic stomach and the alkaline soda will burst there stomach like a baking soda volcano. I think if my stomach exploded I would die pretty fast AND HUMANELY I MAY ADD.

Sunflower seeds in the trap right by his den or close to it. Works like a charm

They love beet top's... If you break them up it releases the scent and can give you better luck.

Thanks for the ideas!