Hello, I am new to trapping and would love to learn how to catch badgers. The landowner that I use their land has a lot of badger holes in his cornfield that I often accidentally step into while checking my coyote traps... I have seen a few badger in the area, but can’t figure out how to catch them... I can’t tell if the holes still get used or where the good spots are and I can’t find any real solid info online so I figured at least 1 person here knows something about badgers! Thanks for any tips

Make a dirt hole set for coyote close by. They'll find it, just make sure you anchor for an elephant.

Will a 24 inch rebar stake work?

With Badgers plan for an 8 foot stake! They really tear things up so you can't "over stake" a badger set!

Cross stake with 24" rebar, and set every dig you find. It may take several checks, but you'll get him! Use the same bait/lure that you would for coyote!

Their exaggerating! Always use two stakes driven at opposite angles or a earth anchor for coyotes, but if your expecting a badger, don’t use an earth anchor. They dig them out much easier than double staking. A longer chain is helpful also, something around two foot. That will get the badger away from the anchor point more. When you catch a badger in a foot trap, they dig in a circle, that resembles a moon crater. Never set in the middle of a two track, or you will be filling the hole and packing it! It is best for land owner relations to always push the holes and crater back in. They can make a mess! The hole that the badger is in will usually have the hole plugged with loose dirt if they are in there. If you find a hole like that, square out the hole to accommodate a 220 bodygrip trap, and be ready to wait. They will stay underground for extended periods, later in the winter. Those holes will usually be south facing holes, and they like to lay out on the mound and sun themselves on warmer days. Usually in a badger’s territory, there will be holes dug all over, but most are just inches to a foot or so deep, and were where they dug out their meal. They travel a lot and you can always readily catch them when trapping fox and coyotes. Good luck!

trapped a lot of badgers ad the dug in a circle around the stake and a few dug the stake out and just stayed in the excavation any way . Badger =All Braun and no brains

I’ve trapped a lot of badgers, they are not hard to hold, they just move a lot of dirt. I usually set for coyotes and end up with a lot of incidental badger during warmer spells. They don’t move in extreme cold, but a longer spell of warmups they move again. I cross stake rebar or use earth anchors of various types on cable and haven’t lost a badger yet. You can always tell when you catch one it looks like a bomb went off and you can see the mound of dirt for quite a ways off. Usually they go out as far as they can reach and move all the dirt to the middle. Longer chains and you will get hole excavations. Shorter chains and they just end up on top of the dirt piled in middle.
The remakes have a ton of eye appeal and odors. Great remake sets for other critters.
Love badger catch remakes.
Feel free to PM me.
Jim

Jim, the reason I don’t recommend earth anchors for badgers is that is the only way I have ever lost one. Sometimes they dig down right at the stakes, and if they do that, you will lose your rig. Like all trapping, it is all opinions and what has worked for you pesonally.

Thanks Lee. One bad experience with anything can leave a lasting impression. Got a certain brand/model of truck I feel same way about.😁 probably an outstanding truck too for most folks, but mine wasn’t.
Jim

I say there is nothing like following a trail of mini crop circles which is what happens when you catch one on a drag!

Where in Nebraska?

I'm in Dawson County, and am the resident 'Badger Specialist '.

If yer close enough, come see me, for a 'show and tell'.


Charlie

AS Lee said keep your eye open for an almost filled entry to the hole. Good chance the critter is home there. I carry four things in the pickup for these occasions.
#1-The first is 10'-15' of old garden hose. Take your time and snake the hose down the hole as far as it will go. #2- the funnel I get out will fit in the end of the hose.
Do not setup to allow a mess with #3. #3- 1 QT of household ammonia. Straight out of the grocery store cleaning supplies. Now for the most important, #4- 12 gauge shotgun, 4 buck.
With these items setup and at the ready I slowly pour the ammonia down the hopefully occupied hole. Stand back with 12 gauge ready, in about 30 seconds there will be an explosion of dirt flying out of the hole. This is caused by the Badger with an attitude coming out kick behind! Shoot quickly and accurately!
I have used this method at several damage jobs and can say it works in my country. I have never explained it before.
Roy

Make a coyote dirthole and you'll catch every badger around. I you can use a single 24" rebar on coyotes with your local soil, you'll hold badgers fine. If you use 2-3 foot of chain, you'll never lose one.

If you can wait for snow, you can tell which hole is active. A 220 conibear over the entrance is deadly. If you've got lots of conibears, and no snow, set a bunch of holes, if legal and prudent in the situation you have.

I'll add badgers don't prime up till February or March it seems. Later the better for fur quality.

Depending on your soil and chain length it sure should. In central SD I caught countless badgers using a 18 in smooth stake but that’s in dirt clay mix and 12 inches of chain checking every day. Everyone will have their own opinions.