No Profanity *** No Flaming *** No Advertising *** No Anti Trappers ***NO POLITICS
No Non-Target Catches *** No Links to Anti-trapping Sites *** No Avoiding Profanity Filter


Home~Trap Talk~ADC Forum~Trap Shed~Wilderness Trapping~International Trappers~Fur Handling

Auction Forum~Trapper Tips~Links~Gallery~Basic Sets~Convention Calendar~Chat~ Trap Collecting Forum

Trapper's Humor~Strictly Trapping~Fur Buyers Directory~Mugshots~Fur Sale Directory~Wildcrafting~The Pen and Quill

Trapper's Tales~Words From The Past~Legends~Archives~Kids Forum~Lure Formulators Forum~ Fermenter's Forum


~~~ Dobbins' Products Catalog ~~~


Minnesota Trapline Products
Please support our sponsor for the Trappers Talk Page - Minnesota Trapline Products


Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Looking for help with racoon trapping #7177748
02/11/21 11:02 AM
02/11/21 11:02 AM
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 7
Virginia
M
Mtn Hunter Offline OP
trapper
Mtn Hunter  Offline OP
trapper
M

Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 7
Virginia
Greetings all, I am looking for some tips to get started trapping racoons. I am an experienced hunter and woodsman, but I have never trapped before. Constructive help and pointers / recommendations would be very much appreciated!


The just man walketh in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7
Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177775
02/11/21 11:23 AM
02/11/21 11:23 AM
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 436
Northern Wisconsin
N
NorthenTrapper Offline
trapper
NorthenTrapper  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 436
Northern Wisconsin
Make coyote or mink sets then wait raccoons will follow.


“We will visit the Holy Land and see those places hallowed by the footsteps of the Savior,”
-Lincoln
Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177788
02/11/21 11:32 AM
02/11/21 11:32 AM
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 254
IN
B
blankenship Offline
trapper
blankenship  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 254
IN
Look for large den trees and trails leading to them slap dps in middle of trail so they run into them. Any bait works for coon. Culvert walls blind sets up against wall. Basically along waters edge is great coon location

Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177790
02/11/21 11:32 AM
02/11/21 11:32 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 116
watertown wisconsin
C
coon69 Offline
trapper
coon69  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 116
watertown wisconsin
best advise join your trapper association. plus the NTA. go to your state meets. talk to trappers. ask someone to take u out on his line. if u were in Wisconsin I take u. watch u tube. coon very easy . to get numbers takes experience and lots of land.have fun with it. you will never stop learning ...good luck

Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: NorthenTrapper] #7177791
02/11/21 11:33 AM
02/11/21 11:33 AM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,857
Indiana
P
Providence Farm Offline
trapper
Providence Farm  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,857
Indiana
Originally Posted by NorthenTrapper
Make coyote or mink sets then wait raccoons will follow.


And opossum.



Check out the basic sets part of the sight to get a general idea. Then set on sign. The basic dirt hole baited with mackerel and Duke 1.5 cool springs are how I started out. As you learn you will experiment with lots of other types of sets and variations of them. Conditions dictate changes and experiments.

Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177795
02/11/21 11:35 AM
02/11/21 11:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,862
Huntingdon Co. Pa.
F
forestman3 Offline
trapper
forestman3  Offline
trapper
F

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,862
Huntingdon Co. Pa.
Buy a couple dozen duke dps and a couple dozen duke 1 1/2 double jaw coilspring traps.Make pocket sets with the 1 1/2.Trap along water where you see coon tracks.

Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177806
02/11/21 11:39 AM
02/11/21 11:39 AM
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 254
IN
B
blankenship Offline
trapper
blankenship  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 254
IN
I make my own dp bait . 15 pound bag meow mix, small bottle malasis, 1 once of anis oil, cherry oil or cherry koolaid packets, some liquid smok, little fish oil, mini marshmallows. Mix it until well coated and just tacky. Don't want it so wet it gets soggy. Throw mix in freezer for long tear storage.Also bacon grease is good to

Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177809
02/11/21 11:41 AM
02/11/21 11:41 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,110
Three Lakes,WI 72
C
corky Offline
trapper
corky  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,110
Three Lakes,WI 72
Tons of information in the archives on this site.

Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177823
02/11/21 11:53 AM
02/11/21 11:53 AM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,236
West Michigan
G
Getting There Offline
trapper
Getting There  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,236
West Michigan
First thing is knowing the laws in your State and the trapping regulations and dates. Then come getting the right traps. Now the fun setting traps. Then come the work, putting the fur up for sale. Look at the total picture. JMO


To Old
U.S. Army 60-63 SGT.
Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177824
02/11/21 11:53 AM
02/11/21 11:53 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,369
Green County Wisconsin
G
GREENCOUNTYPETE Offline
trapper
GREENCOUNTYPETE  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,369
Green County Wisconsin
what I do for coon
buy DP's
buy dog food and fish oil , mix I like to put the dog food about 2/3 of a gallon in a gallon jug add about 2 oz of fish oil , shake

find coon sign , trails , den trees

you can now set the DP at the sign stake it like your catching a small bear double stake swivel and two 16 inch 3/8 rebar stakes

pour the oiled feed in the trap no need to touch it soem fill half some fill just over trigger some fill to the top

set a Gatorade bottle with the bottom cut off and the label removed over the set trap so that it doesn't get soggy with the first rain or heavy dew. other things work but clear is nice to see bait level on your check

if the sign looks good and heavy set more traps but make sure they are staked far enough apart that 2 coon can't reach each other also try not to let them reach rooted vegetation they can pull harder than their weight if they have something to pull on. I had one get ahold of a wild grape vine , pulled about 20 feet of it out of a tree he was still in the trap but he was a big one.


America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177852
02/11/21 12:14 PM
02/11/21 12:14 PM
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 7
Virginia
M
Mtn Hunter Offline OP
trapper
Mtn Hunter  Offline OP
trapper
M

Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 7
Virginia
Thanks to all for the responses. I think what I was mainly looking for was: 1) trap size, 2) bait recommendations, 3) type of setup.
How long do you let the traps set before you check them?
I'll be doing some trapping on the river, around low lying cornfields, as well as some very large swaths of mountain land / big timber.


The just man walketh in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7
Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177857
02/11/21 12:15 PM
02/11/21 12:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,634
Wabash, IN USA
Flipper 56 Offline
trapper
Flipper 56  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,634
Wabash, IN USA
Oh and welcome to Tman!! grin Check your state regs, our traps have to be checked every 24 hours here in Indiana.

Last edited by Flipper 56; 02/11/21 12:17 PM.

"Where Can A Man Find Bear Beaver And Other Critters Worth Cash Money When Skinned?"

Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Getting There] #7177863
02/11/21 12:17 PM
02/11/21 12:17 PM
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 7
Virginia
M
Mtn Hunter Offline OP
trapper
Mtn Hunter  Offline OP
trapper
M

Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 7
Virginia
I'm up to speed on regs and season dates, but I wasn't sure which size traps to get. I do some taxidermy already, and I have experience with coyotes (not trapping; nighttime hunting) so I'm looking forward to working on some coons


The just man walketh in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7
Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177869
02/11/21 12:19 PM
02/11/21 12:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Buy some cages it will save you a lot of headaches if you start throwing the wrong traps in the wrong places we are all in trouble then.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Flipper 56] #7177887
02/11/21 12:28 PM
02/11/21 12:28 PM
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 7
Virginia
M
Mtn Hunter Offline OP
trapper
Mtn Hunter  Offline OP
trapper
M

Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 7
Virginia
Thanks! I'm looking forward to learning from guys who do it regularly. Same in VA its every 24 hrs except underwater body grip traps. My plan was to just check once a day, but was also interested in hearing from guys who do it.


The just man walketh in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7
Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177890
02/11/21 12:32 PM
02/11/21 12:32 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,369
Green County Wisconsin
G
GREENCOUNTYPETE Offline
trapper
GREENCOUNTYPETE  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,369
Green County Wisconsin
Originally Posted by Mtn Hunter
Thanks to all for the responses. I think what I was mainly looking for was: 1) trap size, 2) bait recommendations, 3) type of setup.
How long do you let the traps set before you check them?
I'll be doing some trapping on the river, around low lying cornfields, as well as some very large swaths of mountain land / big timber.



if coons are the quarry no faster to set trap than a DP no bedding , just stake , bait . go , you can even pre bait and put a chunk of wooden dowel the top that keeps the bait in and the hole plugged and spring 95% compressed , squeeze set the dog stick it in the ground and drive the stake(s)

I use the dog food and fish oil many other options but my catch was always good with this simple mix.

here 24 hour check , personally you want to be there before 9am if you can at day break is good they tend to be very calm all night half will look like they are sleeping when you get there in the morning

set on sign and if there is enough sign to set 1 then set 2 traps if you catch 2 that night set 4 3 nights barring strange weather with no catch move traps to new location.


America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: GREENCOUNTYPETE] #7177893
02/11/21 12:33 PM
02/11/21 12:33 PM
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 7
Virginia
M
Mtn Hunter Offline OP
trapper
Mtn Hunter  Offline OP
trapper
M

Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 7
Virginia
Originally Posted by GREENCOUNTYPETE
what I do for coon
buy DP's
buy dog food and fish oil , mix I like to put the dog food about 2/3 of a gallon in a gallon jug add about 2 oz of fish oil , shake

find coon sign , trails , den trees

you can now set the DP at the sign stake it like your catching a small bear double stake swivel and two 16 inch 3/8 rebar stakes

pour the oiled feed in the trap no need to touch it soem fill half some fill just over trigger some fill to the top

set a Gatorade bottle with the bottom cut off and the label removed over the set trap so that it doesn't get soggy with the first rain or heavy dew. other things work but clear is nice to see bait level on your check

if the sign looks good and heavy set more traps but make sure they are staked far enough apart that 2 coon can't reach each other also try not to let them reach rooted vegetation they can pull harder than their weight if they have something to pull on. I had one get ahold of a wild grape vine , pulled about 20 feet of it out of a tree he was still in the trap but he was a big one.


Good stuff, thanks


The just man walketh in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7
Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: GREENCOUNTYPETE] #7177899
02/11/21 12:39 PM
02/11/21 12:39 PM
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 7
Virginia
M
Mtn Hunter Offline OP
trapper
Mtn Hunter  Offline OP
trapper
M

Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 7
Virginia
Originally Posted by GREENCOUNTYPETE
Originally Posted by Mtn Hunter
Thanks to all for the responses. I think what I was mainly looking for was: 1) trap size, 2) bait recommendations, 3) type of setup.
How long do you let the traps set before you check them?
I'll be doing some trapping on the river, around low lying cornfields, as well as some very large swaths of mountain land / big timber.



if coons are the quarry no faster to set trap than a DP no bedding , just stake , bait . go , you can even pre bait and put a chunk of wooden dowel the top that keeps the bait in and the hole plugged and spring 95% compressed , squeeze set the dog stick it in the ground and drive the stake(s)

I use the dog food and fish oil many other options but my catch was always good with this simple mix.

here 24 hour check , personally you want to be there before 9am if you can at day break is good they tend to be very calm all night half will look like they are sleeping when you get there in the morning

set on sign and if there is enough sign to set 1 then set 2 traps if you catch 2 that night set 4 3 nights barring strange weather with no catch move traps to new location.


I think I'm going to start with just one, and try to get it placed well and setup properly. If I can get good results with one first, I'll move to 2 if there seems to be enough coons around.


The just man walketh in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7
Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7177917
02/11/21 12:47 PM
02/11/21 12:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,577
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
T
Trapper7 Offline
trapper
Trapper7  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,577
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
If you are trapping along a river with coon sign along the shore, I would use Dog Proof traps. Instead of using stakes to hold the trap, I prefer to use small trees 2-3 inches in diameter. For bait I feel the best bait is jack mackeral. But, if you are afraid of catching domestic cats, use miniature marshmallows. Cats aren't attracted to the marshmallows, but coon, possum, and skunks are. These can all be caught in DP traps.


I don't care how nice the hand soap smells, you should never walk out of the restroom sniffing your fingers.
Re: Looking for help with racoon trapping [Re: Mtn Hunter] #7178023
02/11/21 02:13 PM
02/11/21 02:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 622
Swords Creek, VA
A
ABeardedTrapper Offline
trapper
ABeardedTrapper  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 622
Swords Creek, VA
Hey mtn what part of VA you in. Eric

Page 1 of 2 1 2
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread