Ok I have trapped for 50 plus years and never owned or set a dog proof trap, I now reside in south Texas and my deer feeders are overrun with coon, what the preference of trap and bait, thanks!

Not a big numbers guy, but here in WI I have had good luck with marshmallows smeared with a sweet commercial bait or cheap dog food with fake vanilla mixed in.

Duke DPs are best buy for the money. Z-traps are top of the line DPs. I make my own bait for DPs. In a pinch, marshmallows with strawberry jam will catch coons.

Second vote for dukes and Zs. I make my own DP bait from bag of cheap cat food, bottle of molasses, and a little liquid smoke or you can also add a tin of mashed up sardines in oil. Some guys on here will dump in a box of jello mix like cherry or strawberry. Mix it all up and let it all get soaked up by the dry cat food for a few weeks ahead of season.
I have a. Buddy who just uses dry cat food or dry dog food only and does very well with just that too.

Jim

Thanks guys z traps on order, camera tells me tonight I have 4 critters that need to go lol

Cheapest cat food and pour in some grape Koolaide…shake and pour.

Best dog proofs are NO-BS dog proofs.

PCS dog proof traps.
Pull only.
Dry bait.
Coon cap.
Plus a couple secrets.

I run a large marshmallow impaled on the trigger, I prefer fish pellets that I precoat with molasses for bait- filled halfway. I also use cheap cat food often; the fish pellets seem to hold up better in rain and they don't turn to mush. I use fish oil or fryer grease for a trailing scent and I usually put a sweet coon lure paste on the top rim.

Duke dp. use the food that's in the feeder if you're going to trap under feeders.

I put 2 or 3 around each feeder--earth anchored approximately 5-10 yards from the feeder.

Marshmallows. Catfood. Handful of corn.

I think all the brands of dog proofs work quite well. Marshmallows are my go to if the target is strictly raccoon. If you want to pick possums skunks feral cats as well then cat food or any sort of meaty baits.

Duke dp's on the trails to the feeders with cat food and molasses

I use a piece of sponge. Lots of people want use sponge because they believe the coon would eat it. Never has happened with me but I guess it's possible. I use pull only Dukes.

Ok my plan is corn and marhsallmellow mix with either kool aid or molasses. There is not much chance of rain here it appears this year LOL but it looks like the bandits appear about 30 minutes after the feeder goes, so hopefully the pigs continue wandering in later so hopefully the coon get hooked before the pigs come in a root up the traps.

Put a big marshmallow below the trigger on the trap. The pigs can't get it out and as long as they don't work it so hard as to set off the trap by moving the trigger on the outside of the trap, you'll still catch the coons even if the trap is laying on its side on the ground.

Coondaggers are the best and cheap dry dogfood.

walleyed

You just want to get rid of the coon right?
Seems a hog find a coon in a trap , they may just eat it!
As a kid I remember a chicken flew into the hog pen at the neighbors , got stuck in the mud , and the sow tore it up like it was nothing.
Took it in the hog house and yokes were rolling on the floor, and the piglets were eating them.
Never forget how fast the sow was at grabbing that hen.

I like pull only traps like the Duke dp. Another vote for marshmallow-im partial to Cavens Moonshine on too of the mallow or lip of the trap. Not sure if it was mentioned, but put these dead center of the coon trail-make them trip over it. I also squirt fish oil or some other smell on each side of the trap, sometimes even a chunk of marshmallow on each side. After watching coon run down trails, i feel like it gives that added “stop”.

I still like the Griz traps. My favorite bait was to spoon a dab of Jack Mackeral into the trap and smear a little around the trap rim. Coon can't resist it.