Re: conibear over a goundhog hole
[Re: TNADC]
#7908463
07/18/23 02:15 PM
07/18/23 02:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 569 Catskills, New York
ToCatchAPredator
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 569
Catskills, New York
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If you can absolutely assure no domestic bycatch then I would choose a 160 over a cage any day of the week. You will catch skunks at the same sets as they will hunt and check out any burrows they find. Raccoon sized cage traps with corn husks layered on the bottom, corn cobs in the back and a small cantaloupe smashed into two. One customer I caught 7 in 3 days with the cages that way, and another customer I took 9 in 160s the week before. Depends on where and when. If you have bycatch don’t use a coni especially on a client you’re not close with.
Last edited by ToCatchAPredator; 07/18/23 02:17 PM.
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Re: conibear over a goundhog hole
[Re: Tommyran]
#7910482
07/21/23 09:57 AM
07/21/23 09:57 AM
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 569 Catskills, New York
ToCatchAPredator
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 569
Catskills, New York
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Yeah conibears work really well but you WILL catch the occasional skunk and possum as well over a chuck hole. Which is fine by me as they are nest raiders anyway. Tommy, down by us there are way too many stray feral cats. I have cages get plugged up with the occasional cat, I’ve even had a stray in a fisher box deep into the woods. So if you can block off around where you are setting then it works well. Typically if I have to crawl under a deck or trellis to get to a den hole and can’t fit a cage under there I’ll set a 160. In a situation like that you can kinda eliminate the chance for a cat but they will get into trouble EVERY where they can fit
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Re: conibear over a goundhog hole
[Re: TNADC]
#7933094
08/21/23 10:41 AM
08/21/23 10:41 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 379 New York
Jim Comstock
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 379
New York
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Honeydog. The history behind the short Comstock 18 inch groundhog trap. We had been using a 34 inch long trap, which was more trap than was needed, taking up space in the truck and at the location, requiring a more open area to set. Got thinking shorter might also work. Made a 30, then went to a 24 just to see, but having no doubt that it would work, and it did. Barely a week later I woke up one morning with numbers in my head. An 18 inch trap is 9 inches to center, not long, but the power doors stick out 6 inches, which is now a 15 inch span. Because a wire trigger is a net plus, meaning that it allows the animal to go past center before the trap fires, you can add on another 3 inches for trigger travel, which brings the catch portion to 18 inches, which is adequate for even the big chucks. I knew the trap would appear short but after catching 50 chucks in a short time, I knew we were all set. They also work great on skunks and 'possum, while Stan Thain in Georgia even caught 10 armadillos in a row in the 18's, though he and I both would recommend a 24 just to be on the safe side. It was the combination of the moving trigger with the powered doors that made it work.
Only on rare occasions will we use conibears in very safe areas. In the hot weather the 'chuck bellies go green in a matter of a few hours, pretty stinky.
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Re: conibear over a goundhog hole
[Re: TNADC]
#7933682
08/21/23 11:35 PM
08/21/23 11:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 735 Washington
Jingles
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 735
Washington
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Following this and see majority suggest cage traps, my situation is different as My client wants a major reduction of marmots/rockchucks/,grounds hogs removed from their Alfalfa field without someone sitting their popping caps on a 22 mag, thinking a small double coil just inside the burrow opening. Any recommendations on size of trap other than 2 dozen colony cages. Says we'd be talking 35 plus chucks probably closer to 50
Last edited by Jingles; 08/21/23 11:39 PM.
The job of a Patriot is not to protect his country but to protect the people from the tryannical government
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Re: conibear over a goundhog hole
[Re: TNADC]
#7933826
08/22/23 08:42 AM
08/22/23 08:42 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,789 NC, Orange Co.
QuietButDeadly
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,789
NC, Orange Co.
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One and a halfs in the mouth of the hole will work it you insist on going that route. Just stake away from the hole. The wise use of cages mentioned above will be more efficient.
Life Member: NCTA, VTA, NTA, TTFHA, MFTI Member: FTA NRA NWTF
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Re: conibear over a goundhog hole
[Re: TNADC]
#7933881
08/22/23 09:53 AM
08/22/23 09:53 AM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 64 PA
Trapper_Dusty
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 64
PA
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Quick note...I saw a mention of the Comstock traps being harder to set...I would encourage use of the setting tool that is available for those traps. Part of their effectiveness stems from the strong springs. The setting tool comes in handy for overcoming the resistance of the spring and makes the job much easier. I would hate to see someone shy away from them on the basis that they can be tougher to set. I would really miss my Comstocks for groundhogs.
"There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!" -- Kuyper
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Re: conibear over a goundhog hole
[Re: Trapper_Dusty]
#7934490
08/23/23 06:51 AM
08/23/23 06:51 AM
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 843 N.Y. Mid Hudson Valley
Tommyran
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 843
N.Y. Mid Hudson Valley
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Quick note...I saw a mention of the Comstock traps being harder to set...I would encourage use of the setting tool that is available for those traps. Part of their effectiveness stems from the strong springs. The setting tool comes in handy for overcoming the resistance of the spring and makes the job much easier. I would hate to see someone shy away from them on the basis that they can be tougher to set. I would really miss my Comstocks for groundhogs. I'm not a big guy (thin) and 65 years old and I can set my Comstock fairly easily. You learn how to do it pretty quick. Lift it up with the left hand and rest on my thigh, grab the top of the door with that left hand then set the catch with the right hand. Nothing is getting out of those traps, those doors are pretty strong and fast!
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