Escapee raccoon

I put out some dog proof coon traps the other night, and baited them with marshmallows. I chained them up, but was one short of screw together steel couplers for the chains. For the other one I had a big spring closure loop, and that’s the one where I caught a coon. I went out back and found him in the trap. Didn’t feel like shooting him right then (3 am). At 7 am he was gone, and took the trap with him. Dang coon must have solved the spring closure problem. Impressive…and irritating.

Coons 1, Kirk 0

Maybe you and sa hunter can form a support group.

I tried marshmallows in my Dukes, but the ants wore them out. Switched to cheap dry cat food and that works much better. I fill the tube about 2/3rds. I worry about loosing one of my traps, but thankfully have not yet. I'll be setting mine tomorrow, noticed on game cams I got 4 at one feeder that spend way too much time there.

9 years ago I bought 12 Duke DP traps. I now only have 3 left. All were secured by a chain and wire or chain a quick link to a tree, a post, a ground anchor or pipe feeder leg inside a feed pen. A few the coon broke the wire. One he pulled the "S" hook off the swivel at a water trough with a trail cam set on the trough. Picture before when trap was there and then after when trap was gone. No coon or any animal...just a missing trap. The others were tied securely to a hog trap with a doubled up piece of 14 gauge tie wire. I think either a hog or coyote found the coon in the trap and ripped the trapped off the hog trap. Took the coon and the trap.

Keep mine attached to eye bolts on the feeder legs.

Cheap store brand "Fruit Loops" have been working for me. Took out 7 of the little rascal's last weekend.

I switched to a cotton ball sprayed with either fish attractant spray or Pam cooking spray. Both work but fireants can still eat a cottonball over period of time. But cotton ball works well if you keep it below the trigger. It will last depending the amount of fireants or till the coon destroys it. Fireants are heck on just about any bait form IME.

Put your dog on his trail. As stirred up as he is, should be leaving lots of scent.
Adios,
Gary

Same feed that was in the protein feeder. All are trapped and one had both paws hungup.

We do similar and have good success. Have had a few twist their paw off after they run around the pole a few times and basically make that swivel feature in the trap useless. Still catch way more than we lose.

Thanks for the tip!

JMHO- every type and size of trap I have gets at least
1 MB Crunch Proof swivel, and some get 2
Cheap insurance IMO

Crazy animals can do an alligator death roll and
make hash out of a good trap
Advice given to me years back from a few old experienced
trappers for the same price they charged me back then

I had one this weekend bend the heck out of the hog panel it was attached to. Strong little buggers. Only got 4 and a possum this weekend. Strong Sat evening rain probably didn't help.

Nice catch hook n line

Thanks