I've heard the grub works well.

I've just had a bunch of stolen bait using corn.

God Bless,
David B.

Just put a white styrofoam cup over the top of the dog proof trap. I always did that and I caught coons out the wazoo. I also caught some possums and I caught one kitty cat. Both the later when I used mackerel. 3 big fat marshmallows are hard to beat for coons, but they do get funky when they get wet. That's what the cup is for and also to attract the attention of the coon.

I’m gonna be stubborn for a minute and give the grub fix a try. If they keep getting my bait I’ll switch it up. I really like the clean simplicity of the corn though. The only issue is insuring the coon pulls that little lever. There’s no way he’ll be able to resist that big ol’ rubbery white grub.

Are you sure its coons that have been stealing bait? I had bait missing several times from my traps and pulled a camera that I had watching them! No coons were on camera. I think birds, chipmunks, or rats could have done it without getting caught on camera.....maybe even a squirrel?

It's funny you say that. That’s what you call a hair trigger there boys…….



He wasn’t the only bait robber either. Caught a big ol’ boar coon too. This one had a little weight on him. He was trying his best to dig a hole and get away. That’s 7 coons and 1 grinner off this branch so far. A buddy of mine gave me several more DP’s to use so I’ve got 9 out in a line now right along the branch in a pattern really similar to running a trotline for fish. I’ve got one trap about every 25-35 yards. I’ve also got some on each side of the creek branch. I had some traps set with the grubs on the trigger and some with locknuts….this one was caught on a locknut but none of the other sets had been worked so still not sure on the grubs.

Use that mouse for your dirt hole sets.

So here’s my next question I’m asking myself…….I’ve went from 5 traps to 9 traps within this same couple hundred yards stretch of creek branch. Are 9 traps better than 5? There’s a point where adding more traps is just overkill and not needed….it adds time and takes away from traps that could be set in another location. What is that sweet spot for that trap density?

Here’s my initial thoughts for running a coon line. Part of this orderly fashion of laying the traps out is to help me keep up with them easily and to make laying out sets a simple process. I’ve got the go ahead to trap a couple hundred acres close by that I’m gonna move to in the next few weeks so were about to transition our test runs here over to a larger property. I’m thinking about 12 traps spread over a 300 yard line in a pattern like below. Could cut it down to 10 or 8.....How many is too many? How many is just right? Hmmmmm……

More traps, more coons.

Coons will run in pairs, triples, and singles, etc.

Can't catch a pair or a triple if you only have one trap there.

God Bless,
David B.

I agree….but only to an extent. It’s the law of diminishing returns or something of that nature. I’m thinking I’m gonna cut it down to simply 2 sets (a double) put out every 75 yards of creek branch. That puts 10 traps in a 300 yards stretch. If I access a creek bottom from a road and run the bottom in both directions then I’d have 20 traps on about a 1/3 mile line. I think this is how I’m gonna run my first set on the new property.

BTW.....no catches for last night other than another mouse. I'm gonna wait a couple more nights before pulling the traps up but I bet I've about got most of the coons that I'm gonna catch along this stretch. This is a little bit of an example of what I mean by diminishing returns. I've trapped this creek branch for two weeks with 5 traps the majority of the time and have probably cleaned out this bottom pretty well. There was really no reason to run 10 if 5 does the job. It would be better to run more linear ft of trap line with the extra 5 IMO. "Time" would have to be a factor in the equation too I'm guessing. I actually still think I'm overkilling it with the above drawing. Two traps every 100 yards may be fine. That would cut it down to 8 on each line.

No catches again last night. That's two nights in a row with nothing. I believe we have them cleaned out of this bottom now. I'm gonna move some traps a few hundred yards to another stretch of the bottom closer to the beaver pond and see if I pick up any additional coons before we move to the new property.

Our 6 Duke DP traps came in Saturday and we plan on setting 4 with some sardines and building catch poles Friday. Then check and reset on Saturday and check and deset on Sunday this week.
The regulation indicates a metal tag with name and address be affixed to each trap even non commercial. Is that a correct read on that? I still think the license is optional for non commercial pest removal just have to bring the catch pole and a .22 to dispatch them. Feel free to correct any misconceptions I may have.

Yes, that's my understanding of it.


Just an update.......I moved my coon traps about 250 yards and set up several of them on a main trail coming across the backside of the beaver dam and didn't pick up any additional catches after 3 night. I'm pulling everything up now and getting ready to move to the other property soon.

We've yet to find what we think is a coon trail. So We'll probably set a PVC tube feeder out about Wednesday with corn and set DP's nearby. See if that does any good. Every time we put corn out in front of a camera we get LOTS of coon pictures.

I've still be running 2 yote sets but still nothing. I don't think I have any in here right now. I rarely ever get one on camera. I do have some wild house cats in here though and they've stolen my bait a couple times now. I tried easing off on my pan tension and the sum beech bit me!! Got a finger pinched in the very corner and that chit hurt in these 650's let me tell you. Y'all stick your hand in one if you want to. It makes me want to back off to the 550's and I think I may.

I went to check on the traps this morning and as I approached one of the sets I noticed movement in the hardwoods behind the it. Finally I figured out what it was.....A gobbler in full strut. How he didn't see me I don't know. I slipped out so that maybe I can get set up on them in the next few days. It was just after daybreak so he wasn't roosted far off I don't think.

CNC now you're talking right! This is the only time of year I won't run traps.

I've never really been a big turkey hunter.....deer was always more my thing. I'll go turkey hunting but it's never been one of those things where I counted down the days until the opener or anything. It's fun if you got some gobbling though.

We put 6 Duke DP's between the woods and the chicken coop baited with cat food and crawfish smell fishing attractant sprayed on them. pulled camera from other side of post that now has a trap attached to it. it had pictures of a fox, possum, tabby cat, coyote, and coons.

You should get some hits on those Dukes the first night or two then.