Good going bean. This weekend should be active on the coons. Looking forward to pictures.

I keep forgetting to take my camera - will try to do better.

I caught 3 this morning. The first pic is a field tile set. I couldn't find a place to secure the trap due to solid rock so I happened to have a half concrete block and used cable extensions to make a drag. I also blocked the sides of the drain tile with rocks and small limbs to force them to the front of the tile. This boar fell for it.


Another successful set was a pvc set. Once again solid rock and used cable to reach the nearest log. She then got entangled around the log above her.




The other success was a pocket set resulting in a solid catch on a boar.

Nice Haymaker. Great pictures also.

Nice catch there. Nothing but opossums for me.

I saw 2 bald eagles yesterday morning on the trapline which made it all worthwhile.

Cool pictures and congrats on a good catch. Caught my 9th possum this morning. Luke got me up at 6am so we could check traps before school. Snowy, cold, windy check.

Waiting on my 1st mink.

76 - every time we go out we are blessed with something.

You guys keep it up! I enjoy the pictures and reports. I hope to be trapping soon. Im still looking for the big one and dont want to go into my hunting area. h.h.

Very nice pictures Haymaker! Thanks for sharing. Looks like you got it going on right now. I had one little kitten coon last night in a DP. I released it in good shape. Not been much activity for me the last two nights out of 6 sets. Time for a change.

On an up note, I checked a trail cam on a set that I haven't been to since the second week of November. It had four coons on it every night coming into a picked corn field. It also showed the buck I'd like crack at a week AFTER the gun season opened. So, he's still kicking, and the coon sets there will have to wait!!!!

0 fer 23 this morning.

The warm up coming this weekend should help some.

Man Chevy, it's cruel to be up and done that early with nothing.

Nothing here also...sure hope the warm up coming helps.

Yaz, how do you get a coon out of a DP or any trap without it tearing you up?

.22

Nothing here as well. Had a coyote walk around a frozen set. Seen the tracks in the snow.

Their bark is worse than their bite...I just take a stick and let them bite on it, step on them, and grab them by the back of the head. Use my other hand and squeeze the DP trap.....give him a quick toss! Steal traps after I have them good, just use my feet to push the springs down. If have a good grip on them, and pull hard against the trap chain, they can't go anywhere. I've been doing this for 40 years, I can still hold my own, even though the reflexes have slowed a tad! Nuttin for me in my traps today. Moving them tomorrow. Making a couple coyote sets.

LOL .22 bean...

Planning on setting a bunch on Sunday afternoon. Seen alot of sign along a cornfield and creek. Been itching to get after my other passion of trapping instead of this deer hunting crap.

Im afraid I would do like bean and pop them with a .22. h.h.

?

So is this a live release or what? Let some loose early w/ a catch pole, but have no problem using the .22 now. Is there a better way?????

I managed to catch three this morning. Two were caught in trail sets leading to a corn field with 220's. My little creek sets were all iced over except one which connected. I also have a digger on a couple dirt holes in the edge of a corn field. Two days in a row, two sets 20' apart have been flipped. I have brought in backup and added a trap to each of them. We'll see in the morning

Sorry Yaz I'm with them. Not gonna risk getting bit. If its in my trap it's gonna get shot. I did let a dog out about a week ago but that's a little different, he was someone's pet and was pretty calm about the whole deal.

This may sound a little cruel but the way I dispatch alot of my coons is to put a catch pole around their neck then they get a couple hard stomps right behind the front shoulder and then I usually stand on then with my full body weight for a minute or two. No blood and no mess. Makes carrying them out and skinning them alot less messy then shooting them in the head. If I need to make a quick kill say along a road or close to houses then I shoot them in the head with a pellet rifle. It works really well and does not make much noise.

my cousin and i are finally setting traps in the morning. i am pumped.

Yes bean. I turned him loose alive and pizzed off!. He was just a little fellar.

After Dinner tonight at my parents, Dad went over the #'s tonight. He's got 50 coon, 45 rats, 8 mink, 16 grinners, 1 fox. That's including my little bit of stuff. I am going with him tomorrow to make some sets, and run all of our traps. Should be a fun day with Pop! He can't walk far from the truck like he used to, so we are going to go look at 3 one mile stretches of creeks, that he always used to trap. Maybe if the weather is good, we'll tag team those over Christmas. Plans to have him make sets close to the road, and me walk through, and him pick me up at the other bridge. I may just take a week off to do it. He wants to catch a 100 coon.

Nice work Haymaker!! All my creek sets are froze in tight also. Good luck, and have fun PSE!!!

Dang Yaz, you guys are tearing them up. You saving the grinners too? you finish them out? Are they worth anything? Sorry, kinda new and still have a lot of questions

Gilley,

Dad is retired, and traps all winter. He has dragged me along on the trap line for over 45 years now. So, I've had a good teacher. He is the one tearing them up. I'm just filling in a few with 6 or 8 sets. To answer your question, yes we will finish out the large grinners. They are worth messing with. They will at least pay for a tank of his gas.

today's check

I caught two more this morning, another trail set and one of the few a pocket sets that wasn't iced over.


My digger showed up again, flipped the original trap for the third day in a row without tripping it. My backup trap was tripped but I couldn't see any hair nor have I ever been able to make out any tracks so I really don't know what is causing my aggravation. I suspect I'm not bedding solid enough. I pulled my traps today and won't be making any sets for a couple weeks.

Nice pictures guys.

we got out nine sets this morning. seen good coyote sign but hardly any coon sign at all.

Got another coon today and a little surprise se...

Had another dirt hole tripped too, I gotta get those pans set tighter.

Great intense look on the red's face.

Yea, he wasn't a bit happy

nice catches!

I am hoping for a big catch the next few days with the warm up!!

Nice pics and keep on getting them...

Ohhhhhh yea!!!!!!! You guys are cranking it up!!!!! Love it!!!!

Haymaker, I have a solution on your digger. I've have had to deal with this kind before. I'll send you a PM. You've likely got a fox or a smart female coyote.

might be time to break out the mafia set...make that digger an offer he can't refuse!!

Ok guys, shoot me some suggestions. I can't set any for a couple weeks but do want to take another crack at this digger. I wont be able to trap but I will check in here watching you guys so keep the post and pics coming.

Had a GREAT day with Pops today on the trapline. We did'nt haul much fur today, but sure enjoyed telling stories about trapping, and following the coon hounds when I was a kid. I ended up with two coons, and Dad a nice male mink. We would have gotten a lot more sets made, and potential creeks scouted if we didn't have to stop on the road and talk to every farmer in the southern 1/2 of rush County!!! He even got flagged down, and we had to go make an "emergency beaver set" in a tile ditch!!

I took a lot of pictures today!

Coon in a DP in a barn. Makes two from this one


I caught an released ANOTHER kitten coon today. Here is the abbreviated tutorial:

#1 Find where a runt of a coon has demolished a perfectly good coyote scent post set.

#2 Snatch the little chit up by the nape of the neck, listening to the ear piercing screeching. All the while your Father is sitting in the truck laughing his butt off, and asking you if you need the pistol to handle him!!! :rolleyes:

#3 Release pint sized bandit, only to have it decide its NOW Billy Bad Azz, and come after you!

you guys that blind set for coons with footholds. whats the best option for this. i have tons of 1.5 dukes and want to use them but
i am stumped on the best way to use them. set in dens trails etc. i just made up a mackeral strawberry coon bait.