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bnow0707 · Joined: 25 Aug 2003 Posts: 638 Location: Alabama

Just wandering if anyone else here likes to trap. What kind of traps do you use? What bait do you use?

Going tomorrow to set my line for the first time this year. I usually just bait with dog food and table scraps. I trap more to get rid of excess coyotes, possums, coons, armadillos, and beavers than for any other reason. Hopefully I'll have some pics to post soon.

hunter777 · Joined: 28 Oct 2003 Posts: 1475

I just started trapping last season. It is now #1 on my list of favorite things to do! I caught some critters with my long springs and 110's but this year I am going to concentrait my efforts on snares in NJ and I have a bunch of 1 1/2's and 1 3/4's and more 110's coming in the mail soon(for Pa.). I Can't wait for them to show up.
So far I've had good uck with blind sets. Shellfish oil and paste. I also used a strong call lure with skunk near some snares that I'm not sure if it brought the animals to the area or not but caught some in snares there too.

bnow0707 · Joined: 25 Aug 2003 Posts: 638 Location: Alabama

I set my traps today. I used a mix of popcorn, carrots, lettuce, cheese, canned dog food, potted meat, and canned fish. I feel confident about my setups. Right now I'm only running 8 old victor and Blake & Lamb leghold traps, but hope to add more soon.

ChesterGolf · Joined: 17 Aug 2002 Posts: 1636 Location: Nova Scotia

I used to trap extensively but now I only go after a select few animals. The prices up here went south a few years back and there are only a few animals worth the effort to trap. I still trap beavers with 330's and snare fox. I trap coyote just because of deer pop. but can get some $$$ for them. Otter is still a good choice but I don't look for them. They are more of an animal of opportunity if it presents itself.

psychowolverine · Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 409 Location: Middle Tennessee

I love to trap but dont really do it that much. I use #4 leg traps and have one soft catch coyote trap and also use a live trap. My best catch was a red fox this past spring. Caught tons of oppossums and raccoons, occassionally a cat. Still waiting to get a bobcat. As for bait I use scraps, catfood, sardines, and deer meat. Deer meat seemed to work the best when I was after that fox.

ChesterGolf · Joined: 17 Aug 2002 Posts: 1636 Location: Nova Scotia

Red squirrels work excellent up here for fox and I have even caught a bobcat with this same bait even though I was not after him. Just a bonus. I use chopped up eels for raccoon that I catch in the summer and freeze. It works for mink as well.

thenail · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 571 Location: novascotia

I use a different traps for different animals #3coils for coyoye #330 conibear for beaver 160 conibear for coons #220 conibears for otters .i also use the 280 conibear for otter I get a lot of mink in my otter traps all in the water .The best all round bait that I found is beaver meat . Cats and fisher love it . I use herring for coons . I use a lot of snares for cats on trails .I don't use bait for coyote .I use Hawbecker fox food lure .I find a mound and set my coyote trap on top of the mound and make a small hole with a bar about 4 feet from the trap and pour a little fox food lure in the hole and place a little dead brush over the hole .they really work this set and the first thing they do is up on top of the mound for a good look, they know something is there and really want to see it .This set is deadly on coyote and fox Make sure the trap on top of the mound is in a hollow cause the fox and coyote will step down into the trap.I use a 6 ft or longer pole with about 5 feet of chain attatched to it with a 2 inch staple the diameter of the pole should be large enough to hold the staple .they don't go far with this setup
thenail

ChesterGolf · Joined: 17 Aug 2002 Posts: 1636 Location: Nova Scotia

Beaver meat is an excellent bait. I use it for bears as well. They seem to love it. Have you ever tried beaver meat yourself? I know a few people that want it to eat. I haven't tried it and probably won't but to each is own.

thenail · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 571 Location: novascotia

Yes , I have eaten beaver many times It's delisous.taste between pork and beef .I like it it,s good . No need for a person to go hungry .there is recipes for every wild animal some I wouldn't want to try but If I was hungry enough I would try them . but beaver is really good .I boil it for 15 min and finish it in the oven .U have to cut of all the fat.Beaver castor is good for a number of animals as a good call lure .DON"T GET ANY ON THE MEAT IF U PLAN TO EAT IT Take the back legs off first .The back legs is the only meat on the beaver worth taking

ChesterGolf · Joined: 17 Aug 2002 Posts: 1636 Location: Nova Scotia

Damn, now I'll have to try it. Any luck at all, I won't catch any this year and I'll be off the hook. :thumbsup1: :laugh:

thenail · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 571 Location: novascotia

I had company home from ONT> one time and I was just taking it out of the oven and They walked in and said that smells good Of coarse I asked if they would like a slice and Didn't say what was. Well after they had a slice they went back and helped themselves to another slice they thought it was assum and when I told them what it was they couldn't believe how good it was