Coon Gotcha, Part 3

[dustoffer]

Went to the pastures last night and set/baited 7 traps for these corn-thieving bandits--had 2 this morning in the bear hug--13 so far in the past month.

[Hamshire]

How are you making your sets?

[Tuffbroadhead]

Look like Conibear kills...

[bobfishbw]

Nothing better than dead coons. I killed 22 in 1 week at my ranch. That was a month ago. Now I go coons back on my feeders. They are the worst! KACs!

[dustoffer]

How are you making your sets?

I use a Conibear #220, set in a square or rectangular plastic bucket with notches cut into the rim to hold the trap in the bucket entrance. I use re-bar through the loops in the ends of the springs to help hold the trap in the bucket mouth. Can also drive another length of rebar at the other end of the bucket to stabilize it if the coons start pulling at the bucket instead of trying to go through the trapl I have also built a "square tube" of plywood about 3' long, notched like the bucket, and set a trap on both ends, with bait in the middle. Best bait I've found is banana flavored moon pies which you can generally find at any convenience store/gas station. I recently bought a bottle of banana flavoring at WM and will test it as I can get at least 100 sets from a bottle for $2 rather than 5-10 sets out of one moon pie at $1 each, and hopefully the flavoring on a q-tip won't draw ants.

Here's a pic--




You can also use a round bucket, but I prefer the square or rectangular ones. This pic shows the trap set better than the previous pic.

[Tuffbroadhead]

Only time I ever use Conibears are in water sets....to big of a chance of killing non-target animals..

[dustoffer]

I've been using them for about 4 years now, and the only non-target animal I've caught is one buzzard. No skunks, 'possums, squirrels, pigs, armadillos, just 'coons. I think using the moon pies as bait is the main reason--other critters aren't attracted to the banana scent.