I have a couple of the 4x8 hog panel traps with the spring loaded door. I've caught some deer in them in the past and It's always been a bad deal getting them out. Has anyone ever cut the top of theirs out to allow the deer to jump out? Will a pig be able to crawl out over the top? I suspect they would, just wanted to utilize these traps if I can. I tried soaking the corn in diesel but pigs here won't eat it, and I don't really like doing it.
Thanks for advise..

Pigs can definitely escape a trap that has corners. Left unchecked, they will eventually climb out of a round trap as well.

Make a ledge about 10 inches wide with pieces of a panel along all 4 sides at the top. Leaves a pretty sizeable hole in the top. Never had a deer in one since.

Used drop and spring doors on traps. Always tied a t stake across the outside vertical about 36" or so above ground, never had any more trouble with deer crawling in. If you don't have LARGE pigs could drop down some.

I string a piece of smooth fence wire across the entrance about 6-8 inches below the top of the entrance, and another piece at a similar height just behind the doors. I'm using saloon doors. Deer can't see the wire but will hit it and back out, or at least that's the theory. Since I put the wires on ~3 years ago I haven't caught a deer.

Thanks guys, good ideas.

We have caught over 100 pigs in this trap and never lost one going over the top (we have a camera on it) due to the double top rail. We had some piglets make it through the lower mesh. We call it our pig filter because we let the little ones go so we can get them at 30-50 pounds anyway. We have had a few fawns that could not make the 48" leap, they were quickly released unharmed. I suppose if I built another one 42" would probably be good. The big door seems to be more inviting to pigs.


I think you may have a trap like this. I hinged the bottom for two reasons, to let deer out quickly, and to get pigs out easily. They always seem to die right behind the door.

I cut my panels to 5ft high. Pigs don't get out but deer can with enough pressure. Sometimes young deer are to dumb to figure it out until you get there and then they jump right out. Meanwhile they've been there all night walking in circles.

Dang you have good jumpers. Our young deer are pretty dumb or are the non-athletic type. We have had several of them bouncing around like pin balls and would never jump, or would jump unsuccessfully. We are lucky to only have a few minor bumps, they hit the sides pretty hard.

In my years of trapping, I've only had a hog climb out over the top once, and I use standard cattle panels. I have traps both with and without tops, and can't really tell much difference other then the fact that deer can jump out of the open ones. The state boys say the best way to get deer out is just prop open the door and walk away...and I have found this to be true. They settle down pretty quick once you walk away from the trap and walk out with less chance of them injuring themselves.

That's the way I've always done it but just getting to the door to prop it open will cause them to go nuts. I think I'll try the cattle panel across the top of the door and see if that does the trick, make the opening smaller.

I do the same thing with a similar trap. Never caught a deer. It seems to work very well.