First 220 Bucket Set

[outdoorsman]

I made a couple 220 sets this week and finally connected on one.  Not what I was wanting, but I don't think any really targets these animals, but this is the 3rd one I have gotten in the last three days.  Hoping to get them gone and get some coons soon.  I have 9 sets out for coon now.  I started out with 1 this year and am slowly expanding my line.


This was the scene when I walked up.

This is where I caught it.  It seems to have been a good catch and kill. Doesn't seem to have been any suffering. 

[TitoBoy]

Same thing here I been trapping opossums lately in same set. I am thinking of moving my trap to a more productive place. I tried diffrent bait today see if that helps any. Where i sell my furs they don't take opossums.

[outdoorsman]

I put fox gland lure on all my sets today.  Read that will help bring in the boars.  I also left some sweet lure too.  I don't mind trapping the opossum.  They bring some money.  To me its like seeing a dollar on the ground and not picking it up!

[coonnfoxtrapper]

Where did you get that Beautiful Blue Bucket??? LOL Next year im planning to camo mine their all white. Nice Opossum!

[outdoorsman]

That is a Walmart special!  Is it better for them to be different color?

[coonnfoxtrapper]

Jan 14, 2014 17:29:59 GMT -6 outdoorsman said:

That is a Walmart special!  Is it better for them to be different color?

I dont know i just thought that Bright blue was unique i have White/green and thats all.

[outdoorsman]

I thought maybe it would help it stand out a little too!  I know after catching the opossum today, I am a big fan of the 220's!

[coonnfoxtrapper]

I got a coon in a 220 yesterday and it wore the trap around like a neckless I ended up having to shoot him. Never Thought that would happen. Sure glad i wire my traps to trees and stuff or he would of been trying to den with a 220 on.

[outdoorsman]

I hear ya. I use #9 wire to tie off my dps and 220s. If they break that I'm not sure I want to mess with them!

[x-demoman]

Have used yellow, green, blue, brown, white and camo and they all work. Color only counts to the thief making them easier to see. Mine are square only, no experience with round.

[coonnfoxtrapper]

Next year im planning to have a bunch of square buckets. I do have a question you guys that use the round buckets how to you all Keep them from rolling around? On my round buckets i put a 12" Piece of 1x1 across the bottom of the bucket and screwed it in place. seems to work pretty good.

[jaredskillen1]

I just put a stake throught the handle of the bucket. Does two things holds my trap and keeps the bucket in place

[muskrat72]

never had a problem with round rolling around. I wire trap to handle and go. Have to run a few down when the coon doesnt expire quickly or is still alive. Have yet to have much movement with 160s. My bucket trap retreiving issues always happened with a 220.

[x-demoman]

O'Hearn sells stabilizing legs for the round buckets. Funke sell stabilizing legs for the square buckets. I use them on all my square buckets, have never used round.

[TRapper]

I use round...don't set a lot per say, really only use bucket sets this time of year...but here are a few examples...most you will see the round bucket has wood or rocks on the sides of the trap to stabilize it and keep it from rolling

[coonnfoxtrapper]

Josh do you have a prefrence on Putting ur trap in upside down? And if you do Why? How about Conibear Pans are they worth using or is there no difference

[TRapper]

I have honestly not tried coni pans but it is in my forecasted future...as far as trigger on top or bottom I have used both with equal results...I usually leave it on top with the triggers bent back toward the back...I get several smaller coon suitcased but they ain't goin nowhere either...the bigger coons will be around the neck

[coonnfoxtrapper]

I was kinda thinking about trying the coni pans next year I was thinking about the wood ones but im not sure if theyre worth a hoot. Iv also herd of people useing hardware Cloth for a pan.

[x-demoman]

I put the wood coni pan on 2 doz 220s last year, this year I have none. What I found is that using the coni pans I suitcased most of the coon. During freezing temp this is not good unless you enough conibears to replace each catch. My triggers are always on the top and 99% of the coon are neck caught thus easy to remove even in very cold weather. I do get a few suitcased but they are the smaller coon and sometimes possum.

On a side note when using the coni pans I started putting the pan on the top and was back getting good neck catches, but that is not the reason for going to the wood coni pans just was a way I could continue to use them without removing the pans.

Gary Meis gave a demo at the Minnesota NTA a couple of years ago with the wood pans but he was trapping bobcat in wooden cubbies. I have no experience with this set up for bobcats only coon.

Gene

[~ADC~]

Personally, bucket sets for me have been a very low percentage set, unless you count the possums, cats, and skunks. I like using bodygrips but buckets (or boxes) just never worked all that well for me... probably just me. I'm not sure what other options are better for the type locations when its all froze up that buckets are used, but there has to be somethings better. I know I can can do better with cage traps.

~ADC~

[x-demoman]

With the weather highs in the 20s and lows 0-10 above my % of catch in buckets runs about 25-30. Some days it is mainly coon and a few possum other days it reversed. That does make for some very successful day for putting fur in the shop. It seems the rougher the ground you can get to the better the buckets work.

Gene


























5

[ntg2]

I flip the conies upside down when I am along water for a little better chance that if a mink goes in and out of my trap will fire. If I'm in a barn or rock pit I will go with the triggers normal unless I have missed a coon a few times and then give him a different look . X demoman (or anyone else)have you boxed coon with 160's with the conie pans, it's something I might have to go to some day.

[~ADC~]

Jan 16, 2014 20:50:39 GMT -6 x-demoman said:

With the weather highs in the 20s and lows 0-10 above my % of catch in buckets runs about 25-30. Some days it is mainly coon and a few possum other days it reversed. That does make for some very successful day for putting fur in the shop. It seems the rougher the ground you can get to the better the buckets work.

Gene

I don't doubt it a bit Gene. I'm sure its just my luck. I'm gonna still keep looking for a better mouse trap though. lol

~ADC~

[muskrat72]

Are you able to tell if your having refusals Jayme?

[x-demoman]

ntg2 I have not used the coni pans with 160s. Was a time most of my buckets were guarded with a 160 but now they are all 220s. The 160 is an excellent trap with cubbies or buckets. The reason I switched was the slot in the bucket did not fit both traps properly. There are many way to do the slot but I like 3"deep 1" wide.

Jayme not being critical. I think one of the biggest factors with the buckets is location. All of mine are along ditches, ponds, river and as remote as I can get. Cages also work great and I concentrate them around the active farm buildings. Some times like LLL you have to use the cages to protect the farmers cat.

Gene

[cody13]

I can't find coon this time of year farther than 200 yards from a house without a lot of driving. If I do, it's only a set or two of tracks. My buckets seem useless.

As I gain permission in the coming years hopefully I will.

Buckets sure thin out the possums though.

[~ADC~]

Jan 16, 2014 21:33:09 GMT -6 muskrat72 said:

Are you able to tell if your having refusals Jayme?

When I used them the most, a few years ago now, I never bothered to pay attention to it. I may have to give them another try, at least thin out a few of these overly abundant possums.

Gene, I understand, I hate asking permission to get way back in there. lol .... but I have permission on a lot of locations already. Not many places here though with much for trees/cover to hold coons in the late season besides farm buildings and the surrounding lots (most of them where people live).

~ADC~

[coonnfoxtrapper]

The Mice are ridiculous around here Im thinking about putting a bait cage in my buckets fasten it to the top of the bucket. I swear i bait every bucket 2-3 times a week with i get a coon. I definitely have to get down and check every bucket every other day right now or they will be sitting baitless

[lil griz]

Jan 17, 2014 10:15:45 GMT -6 coonnfoxtrapper said:

The Mice are ridiculous around here Im thinking about putting a bait cage in my buckets fasten it to the top of the bucket. I swear i bait every bucket 2-3 times a week with i get a coon. I definitely have to get down and check every bucket every other day right now or they will be sitting baitless

old glass baby food jars with a hole in the top have stopped the mice for me

[4fur]

I've never seen mice so bad. I know one farmer who but $100 worth of poison in a big machine shed where he stores his equipment and he said it was all gone in a week! Mice love enclosed areas (like buckets) to feed. Big carp heads (1/2-3/4 lb.) hung in the back of my baited 220 set up seems to be fairly mouse proof. Especially when the head is frozen hard as a rock.

Mink of course are mouser, I suppose coon are, too. Anyone know? It just doesn't seem like the coon on my line have been as hungry this year as Januaries past.