Setting my First Traps in 30 Years

After seeing nearly as many coyotes from stand during bow season in Monroe County this season, I am gonna give it a shot. These will be the first traps I have set since I was a teenager. I'm hoping for stupid dogs and lots of luck I went to Hoosier Trapper this afternoon. Man has that place changed! Very cool and super nice folks there.

I'm a little concerned that I only have Duke 1.5s and am not gonna invest any more into it. We'll see if they make it. I was gonna trap raccoon too but looks like they won't be worth the trouble of skinning them.

good luck John!

1.5s will hold them as long as they have strong springs.

Cross stake them or use some kind of earth anchors. Yotes will pump a single stake right out of the ground. 1.5s will hold a few, will lose a few. They're brutal on traps. Plumb tear a weak one to pieces

These traps are new. I am using earth anchors. Sounds like that's the best I can do with what I got. I'll let you know how it goes.

Good luck!!!

TD is right. They'll hold some for a while. Some till you get there. A big old male….. I hope the best for ya. They are brutal on smaller traps. They are hard on big, heavy traps. Being new, with good springs has nothing to do with how well they they will hold. if the coyote pulls and lunges hard enough to slightly bend the base plate, they will pull the jaws right out of them. Not to discourage you in any way John. Thats just facts. Use what you got, and catch em!!!! Good luck, and have some fun with it.

OK, so it's not a yote

First trap.



Second trap - 2 for 2, still not a yote





Other traps were empty.

I did get a chance to try out the new 9. Might be a little overkill for these critters.



Raccoon hindquarters, it's what's for dinner. I'm going to tan the coon and hang it at the camper. With a big ole 9mm hole between his eyes. I'm doing a skull mount to go along with it. I might need some superglue.

This was the first coon I have skinned in many years. Took me 20 minutes. I used to do it in 5 or less

there ya go! Let us know how those hind quarters turn out.

Nice looking coon!

Congrats on the coon and slicktail

Those dang Grinners have tore up a many of my good yote sets over the years.

Got a beautiful red fox today. Pics when I get home. Still no coyote.

Congrats on the red.....it would make a cool quiver

Here's the red. A handsome male.



I sure learned, or relearned many things the past few days. First off, coons are a beeotch to flesh. It got easier after I got into the swing but man what a pain. Fox are much easier.

I am sending these to get tanned so I had to learn how to prep the ears, nose, and lips. It wasn't bad but I made lots of mistakes. They are just gonna hang at the camper so I am not terribly concerned about the imperfections but I wish they were better. At any rate, I had a blast. Can't wait to get some coyotes. I might have a spot in Johnson County so I will hopefully get some sets in soon. I will get some bigger traps for sure though.

Congrats and nice pic!

Wait till you fletch a beaver !!

I actually have the chance to trap beaver in this spot and another in Parke County but I am not sure I want to go through the trouble. I already have a tanned beaver pelt in the round for decor purposes.

What kind of glue do you use? Feathers or vanes?


Trick to beaver IMO is clean skinning.....knife work all the way keeping the fat on the body vs the hide

And make a trough to lay them in while you do. Nothing like trying to skin a bowl of jelly lol