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The 200 Acre Project #2081310
04/06/17 11:31 AM
04/06/17 11:31 AM
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Awbarn, AL
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Alright, it’s time to take our small scale test runs and expand to a little bit larger run. This will be a practice run on a friend’s lease to get my techniques honed in and be ready to take on some bigger tracking jobs later on. Some of the things I’m wanting to test on this practice run is DP trap line layouts, how much time it takes to set and then check “X” amount of traps, testing a few different yote sets, etc…..I’ll document my progress as we go.

For the most part I’m gonna just start trapping coons and possums to begin with until turkey season is over, then we’re gonna see what we can do on the yotes. The way this property is laid out, there should be a major coon population basically at the front gate. We’re gonna start there so as not to impact where the hunter is turkey hunting in the very back.

I picked up 2 dozen DP traps from the trapping store earlier today. Added to the ones I already had, that gives me 33 total now. I’ll be using 30 of them on the trapping project and 3 will be left here at my home property to keep monitoring any recruitment or activity here. I also picked up a MB-550 yote trap. Between now and when we start yote trapping on the property…..I’m gonna play around with it and see which one I like better, the 550 or 650. I’ll probably get a dozen of the ones I like the best to make yote sets when the time comes. The 200 acre project begins tomorrow. Bout to put the smack down on some baby turkey and baby deer killers. thumbup

To be continued………….. smile


Last edited by CNC; 04/06/17 11:34 AM.

The Corn Crash!!!
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2081459
04/06/17 02:25 PM
04/06/17 02:25 PM
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I played around making some mock sets with the MB-550 this afternoon and my initial assessment of it is that I like the 650 better. I’m definitely not gonna just base my decision on this one run of test sets but one thing I noticed upfront is that the 550 doesn’t bed as solid with the same ease of the 650. Even as a beginner making his first sets ever, it’s not hard at all for me to take the 650 and bed it like its in concrete. Trying the 550 in the exact same spot, same dirt…..I was having to really push it around and manipulate the hole over and over….and I never did get it as rock solid as what I would be pleased with. Now I’m not saying that the 550 won’t bed just fine with someone more use to using them….BUT…..the 650 just seems like it will be simpler to deal with….especially if I'm putting it in less than ideal dirt or something. I like how the 650 locks both jaws open instead of having that one just free floating like on the 550.

I’ll have to look and see how to adjust the pan tension on the 550 but it really doesn’t look like it has an easy adjustment feature. The 650 is just a matter of turning a screw to adjust pan tension and fine tune it. The one big plus about the 550 though is that it didn’t feel nearly as much like playing with a stick of dynamite. To be fair, I actually got my finger caught in the side of the 650 trap the other day where there’s no offset so I’m sure that made it way worse….but damn that bit hard. It made me a little gun shy on the next couple practice runs. I think it was really just a matter of me turning the pan tension down too low. Got me a pan tester now so I’m not just eyeballing it. wink

Last edited by CNC; 04/06/17 02:27 PM.

The Corn Crash!!!
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2081509
04/06/17 03:10 PM
04/06/17 03:10 PM
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Sounds like you got a good plan together! You should be able to put a hurtin on the coons with 30 traps!

Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2081526
04/06/17 03:21 PM
04/06/17 03:21 PM
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I hope you have a lot of success. As I am learning my self and waiting for the end of Turkey season before I start back up. I will be using a dozen DP and 3 dozen Bridger #2. Just completed preparing the foot hold traps for use.

Last edited by gamblerken; 04/06/17 03:26 PM. Reason: additional

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Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: gamblerken] #2081631
04/06/17 04:15 PM
04/06/17 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: Ru2hunt
Sounds like you got a good plan together! You should be able to put a hurtin on the coons with 30 traps!


I’d like to eventually run 100 if trapping a property of say 1000-2000 acres or more. That’s one thing I want to see with this bigger test run…..Is that a feasible number to be able to set and check along with running yote sets too.


Originally Posted By: gamblerken
I hope you have a lot of success. As I am learning my self and waiting for the end of Turkey season before I start back up. I will be using a dozen DP and 3 dozen Bridger #2. Just completed preparing the foot hold traps for use.


Thanks!....Good luck with your trapping. thumbup

Last edited by CNC; 04/06/17 04:15 PM.

The Corn Crash!!!
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2082095
04/07/17 07:25 AM
04/07/17 07:25 AM
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Alright, so it took roughly 1 ½ hrs to put out 30 traps. That was taking my time but they aren’t spread out over a really large area so realistically let’s go with 2 hrs. I set them all out in pairs so there’s 15 different locations each with 2 traps. At that rate you could basically chalk up a full day to setting coon sets if you were gonna trap a big property with 100 traps.

Here’s our basic setup. I think a rough sketch along with a GPS may be about the easiest way to keep up with traps. I didn't use a GPS on this one but it would be a good thing just to mark the beginnings of each line. I just took a small pad and pencil with me and made a sketch about like the one below as I laid things out. The scale sucks so imagine that the double sets are all actually spread out even and that the beaver swamp across the road is a lot bigger. The beaver swamp is on another property so I can’t just set up down each side of it like I’d like to. Instead I’m lining off the other side of the dirt road with a flurry of traps. The whole area is swampy with standing water here and there. I don’t see any distinguishable coons trails right now though. I figure their funneling up each side of the swamp about like the deer so I just laid everything out on a pretty basic line. Now we wait…………



Last edited by CNC; 04/07/17 07:27 AM.

The Corn Crash!!!
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2082437
04/07/17 03:02 PM
04/07/17 03:02 PM
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k bush Offline
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For nest predators it might not be too many, but the law of diminishing returns applies here too. For larger predators I believe you can put out too many traps easily.

Id lean towards quality over quantity.

Hopefully some of the more experienced guys will respond too.


"Cull" is just another four letter word...
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: k bush] #2082534
04/07/17 04:16 PM
04/07/17 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted By: k bush
For nest predators it might not be too many, but the law of diminishing returns applies here too. For larger predators I believe you can put out too many traps easily.

Id lean towards quality over quantity.

Hopefully some of the more experienced guys will respond too.


Yep, I completely agree. The number of traps I have out is probably overkill. Where does that law of diminishing returns kick in?? BOFF said “More traps, more coons.” It’s a very interesting discussion really. I think the number of coons/possums I pick up on the lines will give me a better idea over the next week or so. I think “time” will be effected by the large amount of traps. In other words, if I would have ran say 10 traps instead of 30 I might take out all the coons in the area but it may take say 2 weeks. Where as with 30 traps it may only take a few days to get them all. Maybe….maybe not. Gonna see when catch numbers peak and fall off to nothing.

Last edited by CNC; 04/07/17 04:17 PM.

The Corn Crash!!!
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2082592
04/07/17 05:25 PM
04/07/17 05:25 PM
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I don't think you could wipeout coons in an area even with 30 traps. They're crafty and learn. Too bad you can't use conibears. Not the big ones at least.

Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2082638
04/07/17 06:17 PM
04/07/17 06:17 PM
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k bush Offline
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Originally Posted By: CNC
Originally Posted By: k bush
For nest predators it might not be too many, but the law of diminishing returns applies here too. For larger predators I believe you can put out too many traps easily.

Id lean towards quality over quantity.

Hopefully some of the more experienced guys will respond too.


Yep, I completely agree. The number of traps I have out is probably overkill. Where does that law of diminishing returns kick in?? BOFF said “More traps, more coons.” It’s a very interesting discussion really. I think the number of coons/possums I pick up on the lines will give me a better idea over the next week or so. I think “time” will be effected by the large amount of traps. In other words, if I would have ran say 10 traps instead of 30 I might take out all the coons in the area but it may take say 2 weeks. Where as with 30 traps it may only take a few days to get them all. Maybe….maybe not. Gonna see when catch numbers peak and fall off to nothing.


I think it comes in at the point where adding more traps adds costs in time and resources (traps and bait) but produces no extra catches. Tricky part is figuring out where that point is. I know my investment will likely never reach that point. Hopefully I will remove enough to increase nesting success


"Cull" is just another four letter word...
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2082840
04/08/17 05:41 AM
04/08/17 05:41 AM
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Day 1......0/30

Very surprising to not pick up a single coon or possum. There are several sets in quality locations that should have gotten some activity. Not a single trap had even been tampered with. Makes me wonder if maybe they just didn't move much last night.


The Corn Crash!!!
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2082869
04/08/17 06:23 AM
04/08/17 06:23 AM
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k bush Offline
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Caught a big boar coon last night. 1 of 3 locations. Believe the females are still in the dens. Both catches this week were boars.


"Cull" is just another four letter word...
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2082881
04/08/17 06:55 AM
04/08/17 06:55 AM
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If females are denned up right now then it may be a bad time to trap. I suppose breeding season would likely give you the most coon movement. You would think the females would have to feed a lot once the little ones reach a certain age though. This little experiment will help give me a better idea of coon/possum density. If I come out of this bottom with about the same number of coons as I caught in the bottom here at home then I’ll know that I can cut the trap density way down. I was averaging about 0.6 catches per night with 5 traps over a two week time period here at home. That’s roughly a 10% catch rate. I’ll look at the catch rate on the 200 acre project when we finish and see how it compares. If its say 1-2% in comparison then that would be your law of diminishing returns I believe.


The Corn Crash!!!
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2082929
04/08/17 08:39 AM
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Late summer and fall the females will be foraging with their litter from the spring. You can really put a dent in them then, especially with multi-trap sets. I'm trying to remove any I can pick up now to help the turkeys keep their nest intact.


"Cull" is just another four letter word...
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2083450
04/09/17 05:12 AM
04/09/17 05:12 AM
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Day 2……..0/30

Hmmm……This has me scratching my head a little. I’m set up on sign that has to have been done since the rain came through the other day. I know for sure there’s at least a few coons in the area. The article BOFF posted about the new moon may be on to something. I wonder if the bright full moon is having any effect on movement? We’re gonna ride it out and see what happens. I did see two fox squirrels this morning so that was kind of cool. I haven't seen a single one in quite some time so it was unusual to see two in the same morning.

Last edited by CNC; 04/09/17 05:19 AM.

The Corn Crash!!!
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2083464
04/09/17 05:37 AM
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Here’s that article again BOFF posted………

http://www.mossyoak.com/our-obsession/blogs/conservation/2013/03/21/trapping-for-better-hunting

"Roughly 36% of the raccoons trapped over the past eight seasons, were taken with less than 12.5% of the moon’s surface illuminated. When the moon’s surface is illuminated for less than 12.5%, only 27% of a full lunar cycle, then the 36% catch rate during this time becomes more substantial. This trend proves true across years of trapping and many different weather patterns.

The moon has a strong correlation with raccoon movement. If your time to trap is limited, then wait for the “prime-time” to set out your traps, look in the forecast for the new moon. The data suggests that this is the best time for successfully trapping raccoons."

Last edited by CNC; 04/09/17 05:37 AM.

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Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2083488
04/09/17 06:24 AM
04/09/17 06:24 AM
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Awbarn, AL
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I’m continuing to play around with the MB-650 vs the MB-550 foot hold traps. I’m letting the new 550 rust a little before I dye and wax it. I went ahead now that I’ve got my pan tester and put a fresh coat of dye and wax on both 650’s to test out the pan tension. I’m seeing an issue develop with them. When freshly waxed, the lubrication between the pan and the latch is so slick that you barely have to breath on it to set it off…..even with the pan screw tightened down good. I’ve tried scraping it with my pocket knife and it still way too touchy. I don’t even think it made it to 1 lb. I may have to dirty ‘em up a little. I’m taking 5 right instead of getting frustrated. About to go back for round two. Again, this is coming out of the mouth of someone new to trapping but I just believe that you are gonna want accurate precision with your pan tension. If 3 lbs is seen as ideal…..then I believe we want all traps firing real damn close to that number. Easily replicating that each and every time after waxing a 650 may be an issue.....we'll keep trying and see what we can figure out.

Last edited by CNC; 04/09/17 06:26 AM.

The Corn Crash!!!
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2083544
04/09/17 07:47 AM
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Originally Posted By: CNC
Day 2……..0/30

Hmmm……This has me scratching my head a little. I’m set up on sign that has to have been done since the rain came through the other day. I know for sure there’s at least a few coons in the area. The article BOFF posted about the new moon may be on to something. I wonder if the bright full moon is having any effect on movement? We’re gonna ride it out and see what happens. I did see two fox squirrels this morning so that was kind of cool. I haven't seen a single one in quite some time so it was unusual to see two in the same morning.


Yep 0 fer myself. Didn't think much about it until I was headed to listen for a turkey this morning and the moon was full and orange as it set. Going to ride it out myself until Wednesday then pull everything. Will move to another site next Sunday afternoon late.

Know when I use to coon hunt with some folks years ago we didnt do as well on bright nights. Also boars would run a long ways back to familiar territory in February when they were looking for females to breed.


"Cull" is just another four letter word...
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2083546
04/09/17 08:00 AM
04/09/17 08:00 AM
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Looking at the lunar charts, prime trapping dates should be something like April 19-May 2…..give or take. That would put you trapping during the new moon and just either side of it. The new moon is April 26. Seems like I remember reading that coons could go without eating for pretty long periods. They may just completely shut down during full moon nights.

Last edited by CNC; 04/09/17 08:03 AM.

The Corn Crash!!!
Re: The 200 Acre Project [Re: CNC] #2083625
04/09/17 10:37 AM
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Today’s test runs with the two different traps favored the 550. We’ll see how it does after waxing but right now the 550 fires at about 3 lbs basically right off the shelf. I’m hoping when I wax it that maybe it just lighten up slightly. Even though the 650 does have an easy to adjust screw on the pan….it doesn’t seem to do much good after waxing when the trap is well lubricated. It’s the latch that’s holding the pan that appears to be where most of the hair trigger is coming from. It just doesn’t hold the pan well enough when waxed.

I played around more the 550 and did much better today. I’m trying a different technique for making my beds and it seems to be working much better for me. The one thing I did notice was that my pan tension after completing the set was 5+ lbs as compared with the 3 lbs of tension it had before being in the ground. I used peat moss on this set. Granted its not a waxed trap…….I’m still concerned with nearly doubling my pan tension. We’ll do it again when its waxed to get a truer read. I’m sure it’ll be a lot touchier when waxed.

Here’s one of my practice sets. The red circle is where my pan is sitting on the 550 trap. I took some fresh dug up dirt and mounded it slightly on either side of my trap to help funnel the yote and look like something had been freshly digging. Feel free to critique my set up. I’m thinking that even if the yote comes at it from the side….he’s gonna be likely to step right over that little mound and down onto my pan. I really wouldn't mind my pan being a little closer to the hole.



The Corn Crash!!!
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