New to trapping

I’ve never trapped before but want to try it on this piece of property I’ve leased. It’s only 30 min away so I can check it daily. Would now be a good time to try to trap some coons?

Yes. Anytime is a good time! But with turkeys trying to nest it’s a great time. You going to use dog proof traps for the coons?

Yes most definitely
Use Surfin & Turfin dry cat food for bait
I put in enough to come up just under the trigger

That’s the plan.

I like the push/pull Z-trap style DP's the best if you havent bought them yet......

Just set on small game trails with some catfood and you'll be set with dog proofs.

Haven’t bought any yet. Just starting to think about what to do.

I just started and it’s a blast. My girls love helping too

Start now. Trapping coons is pretty basic. You don't have to worry about scent or setting the trap off while your setting up. For bait I use dry cat food. You can use about anything. Grease soaked towel and marshmallows are my backup.
If you are able, progress to trapping coyotes. It's a little bit more detailed but well worth it.

Do y'all just stake the DP's down or attach them to a tree with a wire. I saw some YouTube stuff on attaching them to a tree or a fence post to keep them from pulling it out. And do y'all just dispatch them with a .22 rifle or what?

You can stake them down. Especially if around a feeder or corn pile. Im sure there are many ways to attach it. Just make sure they cant pull trap off. We use something that goes around a 4" tree or smaller. The tree has to have a bend or some sort of split in it or they will climb up the tree and bend it over and pull it off the tree. I use 22 pistol. I dont know how others feel but I am very cautious when handling a dispatched critter. I try not to get anything from them on me.

I just attach the chain to a feeder leg or something like that with one of those chain links with the nut on it ( I don’t know the correct name of it). Shoot ‘em with a .22 and then reset the trap. If you have feeders on the property it’s really easy.

Doc,

I just get a 4' long piece of stainless steel cable (1/4" or so) and make a 5" loop in each end. Make the loop big enough to pass the DP trap through. I then put the cable around a tree, etc. and loop the trap back through. Easy, peazy trap set up; takes about 30 seconds. We just dispatched about 40 coons and a dozen coyotes just before turkey season.

This ^^^^^^........Go to Flemings down in Ramer and they'll have everything you need. They'll have a roll of the wire and hammer on clamps to make it out of.

Cool. Thanks!!

Here you go……This is the setup we’re talking about making…..Also, see the two traps on the far left of the pile…..one of them has a round piece welded to the stob that sticks in the ground and one only has a straight post…..The one with the round piece on the stob is a Z-trap like I mentioned…..That little round piece is one of the things I like better about them. It can be a pain to get them to stick in the ground well when its sandy or wet. That round piece really helps. They also have a two-way push/pull trigger ….They are worth the extra couple dollars per trap IMO.

That looks exactly like my set up down to the color
The only thing I can add is the cables can be a huge PITA to untangle but it’s better that driving in anchors and trying to remove them when you’re finished trapping