coons

[ryoung]

This is my first year trapping and the season started about a month ago and I've only got two coon what should i use for bait or lure?

[catmando1]

ryoung,,,,,,, I am aware that what I have to say for advise isn't glamourous, and it's not some special bait or "trick" that will perform magic, but it is the most sound and solid advise I think anyone can give or get. This is alot of reading, and alot to take in, but please do, you won't regret it.

When trapping any critters, including coons, THE most important thing to concentrate on is where to place your set. Many baits will be appealing to a coon, but not if the coon is traveling 20 yards away from it while on his natural routine. In other words, we must place our sets and baits/lures, very very close to where the coons are traveling already, in that area. Don't try and make the coons come to your sets, but instead place them right smack in their paths they use, so they will encounter them. Once they encounter them, your chances go up greatly. A person can catch many coons with no bait what so ever, if you place the traps/sets right where the coon will walk. This is preached loudly among trappers, but so often is not adhered to. This is known as being "ON LOCATION". Search your area for tracks, trails, scat, hair, ect., and set up right ON that "sign" or very, very, near it. See my post in the "trap line journals" section, and look through it as i have posted alot of pics That may help. Coons will travel the same paths often, several may be traveling the same route. They will mostly take the same routes everytime they come through a particular area. As far as a bait.... canned jack mackeral is cheap, is about in every grocery store, and about as good for coons as anything. Just put it in their way and MAKE them encounter it.

[white316]

There isn't to much a coon won't eat
Cheap shell-fish or fish flavored cat food from the dollar store,sardines -mackeral -herring.
My favorite is liver & fish ground and mixed together'
I started the season off with apples & mint.

[judd]

How many traps have you got set for raccoon.
Try to find tracks,so you know where they are,
I don't know where your from,but usually this time of year
they are around the water ways,
A simple peanut butter sandwich for bait and some fruit
extract for lure,will catch coons.
take a look at coonmans blind set pics for ideas[no bait set]

[maxwell]

I agree with these guys coons will eat almost anything
a few years back i caught 17 on can catfood.

[ryoung]

thanks guys i have found a coon crossing and i think i ll have luck there and i am from Girard PA but aim aim trapping along ELK Creek

[catmando1]

ryoung, that is great news! Now, understand, that a coon isn't a robot stomping down the path every night at the same time. It may take a coon as high as a week to come through and encounter your trap. Most of the time, it's a much shorter time, but it does happen. The more traps you have on location, in different area's, the more coons you will catch more often. One trap placed in the right spot may still take several days, just be patient!