have some wood chucks under the old slabs around the barn
they are making a mess and digging under the slabs

started by filling in the holes with gravel to see where they were active.

then when I had target locations , I put cages a few feet away in the event they would go there

I also blended a 1 1/2 long spring about 9 inches out of the hole so as they were leaving they would have to cross the trap.
chained so the trap is already at full extension of the chain where it is bedded.

1 front foot and 1 hind foot catch on 1 trap in 2 nights.

they dig out plenty of sand so just sifting from the pile they leave makes for easy bedding material.

I also picked up a sow coon in a cage trap.

I usually use a 160 with a pan when they get under the shed, but the foot hold works too....
Saw a big coon last night, turned on the motion detector...will work on that big bugger tonite!..

I use snares, rbg, and 1.5 dukes over the years. Usually whatever I run across in the shead or barn first. The boys have caught som in box traps as well. They sure make a mess geting under the barn. I suspect there is not much solid dirt under the concrete at this point. We kill 7 to 14 a year on the farm between trapping and shooting.

A 160 in the hole.

they have some cats around they might like to keep.

also a little dog they say never goes down by the barn , but I don't fully believe that

they also had some feral cats they were fine with going away.

the chances of the cat going in the hole is slim but not zero.

if barn cats weren't a thing all my trapping would get easier , it's always how to try not to get cats that can't be let go.

they asked this morning , if I was shooting them and hauling them off.

Yup

how come we never hear any gun shots

well it wasn't because I wasn't shooting , gun mufflers are awesome.

the husband came down to see , so I shot the dirt pile for him. so he could hear why they heard no shots at the house 100 yards away.