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Raccoon Trapping Tips
Raccoon Trapping Tips

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Raccoons are one of America's most prolific furbearers. They inhabit every state except for the high mountainous and extreme desert areas. They range in size from the 8-12 pound coastal coons to the huge Midwestern coons who often top 30 pounds. Lots of people say they have caught 40+ pound coons. Well I want to see a picture of this coon weighed on a accurate scale! I've caught hundreds upon hundreds of coons and have yet to see one top 35 pounds. (In 2000 I did manage to catch one that was weighed in at 33 pounds, and three other that were not weighed but easily over 25 pounds!)

OK, enough of that, raccoons are generally gray with either brown or black guard hair. There are some raccoons who have yellow or red tipped guard hairs and even some raccoons who are entirely red and yellow. On occasion you'll see an all black coon, except for the mask usually.

Raccoon sign is fairly easy to spot. Their tracks are unmistakable, looking like small human hand prints. Raccoons frequently make trails from denning area to feeding areas. Look for raccoon tracks along stream banks, under bridges, and any other place there is water. However do not neglect to look for raccoonss around corn fields, barnyards, silage pits, and any abandoned building. If you trap around the silage pits or barnyard special measures need to be taken (will cover these later).
Raccoon trails can be through high grass and reeds, in which case it looks more like a tunnel. They can have trail going along a creek bank or through a barnyard as well. These trails are about 4" wide or so. If you can find a toilet (place where more than one coon deposits droppings) you have found a good spot, as this is a social type area.

SETS
OK, we'll do the easy sets first. Find a coon trail. Now you have three choices, foothold, conibear, or snare. The choice you make is dependent on your regulations. A coni is a natural choice for a set like this. You find or make a narrow spot on the trail, and place the coni or conis(if it's a heavily used) in the trail. Use some sticks to stabilize the coni and your done. (Some states don't allow coni's on dryland.) A snare is deadly on a coon trail, hang the snare about 4-5" off the trail and about 7-8" in diameter, and go collect the coon tomorrow. (Some states don't allow snares either.) A foothold is a good choice as well. Place it on a light drag so the coon can get of the trail and not wreak havoc and tear up the trail. A little lure or bait on each side of the chosen trap can increase catches.

A good dryland set for coons is just a standard dirthole set, baited with fish and coon lure. For info on making a dirthole go to theFoxes tip page.

Water sets for coon vary depending on the terrain and trapper. Blind sets work wonders when you can find them. A blind set is basically setting a coon trail in the water. A true blind set uses no bait or lure.

A variation of that set is a walk-through set. A walk-through is where you use something to force the coon over your trap, and you add lure and bait to keep the coon walking around, and over the trap. My favorite way to make this set is to place a BIG rock (big enough so it's easier for the coon to go around rather than over)against the bank to force the coon into the water, and have my trap directly in front of the rock. I also add a small stick just in front of the outside jaw of the trap. I then put little pieces of bait on the upstream and downstream side of the rock as well as the tip of the stick and give the rock a good dose of lure on the front.

The most common set for coons is a pocket set. A pocket set simply stated is a hole in the bank with a trap underneath, and bait and lure in the hole. Pocket sets depend on how much time you have to make it, and whether or not the banks are rock or soil. The best advice I can give you here is try several depths and size hols till you find the one that works best for you. Another variation of this set is a mutiple hole pocket set. This is just making a series of holes in the bank, and putting lure in a couple and bait in some others. This keeps the coon busy while he is stepping all over the trap. Shining up the pocket with water and your glove or hand adds to the appeal.


Lures and baits
FISH, FISH, FISH, is the best bait for coons. What kind of fish is whatever you have handy and easy to obtain. Carp works rather well and so does most rough fish (suckers, buffalo, sunnies etc.). I have found that saltwater fish tends to have a stronger smell. Whiting is the best bait I have ever used.

Don't neglect using friut for coons especially apples. For livetraps try apples, watermelon, sweet corn, and marshmallows (their white, smell and taste good, plus they add a curiosity factor).

For lures try to have a variety, some coons like the real sweet smelling lures while others like a sour smelling one, so have both. I recommend you use a very heavy dose of lure, there is no such thing as overluring coons.

Two simple yet effective coon lures are:
1. Mix 2/3 quart of fish oil with 1/3 quart honey, add muskrat musk, beaver castor, ambrette crystal or any other sweet smelling compound. I recommend muskrat musk, and some anise.

2. Mix a 4 oz bottle of shellfish with 12 oz of fish oil, now you have 16 oz of lure that reeks like shellfish oil.

Last tip-----Let some of your lure run into the water it will create a slick that travels down stream!!!!