He all,
After wrapping up my first season trapping in over 10 years. I have decided to have a longline for coins next season. That being said iv never longlines before and wanted to know y’all’s thought on how many traps would be sufficient for a beginner longliner. And y’all’s preferred traps. I was thinking #11’s for consistency with possibly having a few water way lines as well. Thanks for any input!

Be prepared for theft if trapping road ditches.

Depends on how far you roam, but a couple hundred traps will last you a long time. You are on the right track by sticking with one trap for efficiency. I like the Duke 1.5 dj myself and have used them for years. Mostly r.o.w. bridge trapping for me.

I'd go with a 1.5 coil myself, same brand for consistency.

And cheap enough to lose...

Everyones limits are different. Some guys go 20 hours a day. 40-50 sets is more than I like to keep up with. By the time I'm done skinning and fleshing I'm wore out. Some days with that many traps may get a half dozen. Then you have days of 25-30. How tough are you is the question. Not how many traps.

I think Danny is spot on. I am truly amazed at the guys that run those long lines and catch over 1000 coon a season. "NextGenTrapper" on YouTube, who traps Iowa, has a work ethic and a "toughness" that many cannot match. He has caught 3000 coon a season, plus a pile of mink and beaver. The amount of work that takes is nothing short of amazing.

Like Danny said, everyone's limits are different...

Beginner,
that trapped before
For coon
50 traps.
Mix of DPs
And 1 1/2 DJ Coils

Id run a couple hundred traps and hire ur wife to skin that way u can just trap

Did you find a new meat market for coons?

if a guy could find him 50 cents a pound in the round sold fresh every day you would be on fire.

Speaking as a older person who makes more plans in spring that he can do in the fall I'd go with DP's just for the simplicity

Lots to consider, but freezer space is huge.You can’t put more than a layer in a chest freezer at a time, so freezer space is a must. Multiple chest freezer’s or a walk in is the answer. Takes a lot of bait also.
Strong back and a weak mind is also necessary lol.

With current prices if someone finds your trap they may leave you an extra coon or two.

I found it interesting that no one suggested the use of body grippers where legal and approptriate. I don't know INs regs but I don't think they have a dry land body gripper ban. Body grippers can speed things up by not having to spend time doing dispatch etc. when on the line.

Bryce

I run 4 to 6 lines here in iowa as im mink raccoons trapping both 250 to 300 traps per line 2 to 3 lines open at once every thing is pre stake before season gets going every thing on drowners all in the water i use the no bs 1.5 traps 2 or 3 day checks

I actually quit using body grippers when I'm running hard because I found them to be MORE time consuming. Could just be me, of course. Everyone does things differently.

When considering expenses and accounting for mileage/depreciation put on a truck, is anyone making a good wage long line fur trapping cheap coons? Also, when does the guy who traps 20 hours a day have time to skin and handle other life responsibilities? Trapping 20 hours a day does not seem realistic or sustainable for anyone.

Chuck them in a freezer whole and skin after the season closes or you're done trapping. Or hire someone.

Do most trappers out there have walk-ins that can hold thousands of carcass coon? Coons look too cheap to be paying for fur processing.
Doesn’t pay to fur trap here as cost to operate is too high.

I take a lot of vacation in November and December, so I justify my behavior by telling myself I'm doing fine because I'm drawing full wages while trapping. Otherwise, no.