Cage covers

Anyone have ideas for inexpensive trap covers that stand up to raccoons? To be honest, I’m short on time and looking for some I do not have to build myself right now.

How about trim coil? If you don't want to use a break, hold it on with wire.

Plywood would work too.

1/4 luan panel with wire used for hinges. No heavy lifting on the build, few cuts, few holes and wire. Maybe 5 to 10 minute build depending on how savvy you are. IMO it beats a fixed object on the cage because the cage will still be universal and able to just add the cover when needed.

Tomahawk, Safeguard, Comstock all make plastic and sheet metal covers for traps. You didn't define inexpensive but any company built will run 15.00+ each depending on trap size. Inexpensive equals do it yourself, Lauan wood is 15.00 for 4x8 sheet, you get 4 traps covered at 12x12x12x30

anybody got any pictures of how they cove theirs?

When you get time cover the hole trap with 1/2by1/2 inch hardware cloth it help with the side digging but is harder to clean. JMO I do not think anyone makes a cheap cover.

Thanks everyone. I may try coil stock and luan both when i get time.

I've used vinyl soffit panel with zip ties to cover cage traps, Holds up well with raccoons. White side out helps keep the heat from the sun down a little to if set on rooftops.

I use painter's canvas, but all my traps are one by half. I cut it to fit snugly, hog ring it on. I fold the ends back on top so I can fold them down for skunks. I don't do the volume some of you guys do, but I'm pleased after a few years of use. Every now and then a coon will tear one up, but they are only $3-4 each. Having the material snugly fastened is the key.

I really like that idea.

I made mine out of luan or vinyl with wire ties for hinges. The sides were maybe 1 inch longer than cage side so it would hit the ground when swung down making a gap. Coon couldn’t normally reach walls then.

I use rolled rubber roofing;cut to size;drill 1/4 inch holes and wire tie fast...all 4 sides for skunk 2/3 for everything else

For skunk, rubber is my preferred cover for cages. If you plan on using rubber for raccoon I would have extra materials around. They will make quick work out of it if it isn't secured tight enough. Always good to leave a durable occupier in the cage as well. We all have our preference on materials that we use. Some have no problems buying what they need, I tend to make things work if I can make it myself, call meh cheap but it gets the job done and makes money. There are some good cages and accessories on the market, but a lot of these accessories can be easily mimicked and produce the same if not better results.

As long as you set your traps in the shade and remove captures earlier in the day the black covers work fine. However using black or dark colored covers in direct sunlight and not removing catches before the days heat those covers hold a lot of heat.Just something to remember.

White, Aluminum, green or luan material reflect nicely and keep animals more comfortable if late day removals apply.

What we have been using for nearly 10 years is a nose cone/cover made of sheet metal. Some use nose cones. Some use covers. I like the combination tool that will work as a nose cone at dens in positive sets, a bait cover to keep sun and rain off traps when using double door traps in single door mode baited and third as a cage cover when skunks are the target. Skunks can look out the ends, but rarely spray while carrying them or when the are in transit.

I've used pretty much everything, with the exception of metal, for cage covers including sheets and jackets. Corrugated plastic is very good but expensive. My fallback is luan. No matter what I use I spray paint a camo pattern on them.

And especially at this time of year, get to those animals early. I don't feel I have the luxury of letting an animal bake in the heat.

I have some of the WCS green plastic covers. I need to attach them somehow as the coon push them off the trap after they are caught. the metal ones that Comstock makes work well on his traps.

‘And especially at this time of year, get to those animals early. I don't feel I have the luxury of letting an animal bake in the heat.’

Completely agree.

I'm guessing that any who have used thin, light weight sheet metal covers would want to use any kind of wood again. Wood is thicker and heavier. The first nose cones I made were from 1 inch thick pine. Worked, but super heavy. I have used both galvanized and aluminum covers, the aluminum being lighter of course, but either works fine.

Additionally, I also use scrap sheets of aluminum, 12 inches high, for blocking under decks and porches in pieces 16 and 32 long and for narrowing or covering wide den holes. Aluminum sheets used with small T-bar supports to make a solid fence can be put in place to cover a 20 foot opening up to 12 inches high in little more than a couple of minutes, while leaving an opening for the positive set. Often you can see a small dish or slick spot where the animal is going under a shed, but the entire side is essentially open. To make the positive set, just place a double door cage trap at the positive set location and line up the blocking on either side, done. Frequently only two sides of the shed, opposed each other, require blocking, so you may want to use a trap on each end. The longer pieces can be flexed and bowed to suit without kinking.

I've found that 1/4" luan is not heavy at all, although metal might be lighter. For me, try laying a sheet of steel or aluminum and a sheet of luan in the sun. Give it a few hours and feel the under side. I find plastic and luan much gentler. I've burned my fingers on metal left in the sun, never plastic or wood. That's not to say that metal wont work. Conscientious trappers probably have very good results.

We are in the middle of a 90+ degree heat wave right now. Getting to those trapped animals early is more important than what my covers are made of. In my humble opinion, of course.

coil stock.

We use coroplast (plastic cardboard) we buy it from our local print shop. I pay roughly $4.00 a sheet ($2.50 a sheet if they use an unwanted sign.) This is pre cut to the dimensions I give them. I then just wrap it around the trap and attach with duct tape. Lasts a good long time.

I found these at Home Depot. Although they are not real thick they seem to be holding up Ok ecen to coons. For a 12x12 trap, I can make 5 covers. Each 4x8 sheet is 19.98 so my total cost per trap is 3.99. Made one from luan but it’s around 6.00 per trap. Trim coil/alum is next.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-16-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-Plastic-Panel-63003/202090190

Here is my system for covering cage traps - I use aluminum coil stock. I get it at a large builder’s supply where I have my builder’s account which gets me a nice discount. It comes in various widths and colors in both a 50 and 100 foot roll. When I first remove the roll from the carton it is still rolled tightly and taped. I then drill holes about 6” apart around the edges of both sides. When I unroll it, I cut it with a nibbler cutter that mounts in the chuck of a cordless drill. It gives a super fast clean cut. Then attach with tough zip ties.

Whatever you use, I agree that it is most important to check the traps early before the day gets hot. Whenever possible, I set cage traps where they will be in the morning shade.

I had some three sided covers made out of AC duct. Fairly light and durable.