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Post by outdoorsman14 on Dec 4, 2011 13:12:52 GMT -6
How does everybody trap coons once it gets cold out? Is it even worth trying if there's snow on the ground? I have 2 doz dp traps and was wondering where would be the best place to set them? thanks
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Post by schmink on Dec 4, 2011 16:23:45 GMT -6
Coon are still running, just wait for a fresh snow to locate where they denning,feeding and look for fresh poop piles. I trap mostly private land with dps, seems the rows start slowing down this time of year. Just be sure to set on fresh sign  |
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Post by cody13 on Dec 4, 2011 17:26:52 GMT -6
Your not going to catch coon now. The first snow and cold snap will have them denned up pretty good. They've got a lot of fat reserve to live off for awhile. If the temps are mid to high 30s with overnight lows above 20, it may be worth setting. I won't set any number of coon traps until after christmas unless we get a really good warm up. Once January comes, the coon will be hungry and more likely to come out on those mid-high teens nights.
December is a good time to raid corn cribs and other old barns.
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Post by TexA on Dec 4, 2011 18:32:45 GMT -6
"December is a good time to raid corn cribs and other old barns. " That is a VERY POOR choice of words cody13.......... DAMM, I wish I was as smart as you are at your age >>>>>>>> It is a good time to set the areas where the coon are denning, if you have permission but it isn't a good time to "raid" corn cribs or any other place unless you have PERMISSION to be there. I know, we have guys, especially those who call themselves " COON HUNTERS" who come out of the woods at this time of the year. They aren't hunters at all, in my book, they are just out there for the money they'll get for the coon they sell.......... (They gotta pay the DOG FOOD BILL for the year someway........ HUH?) The BEST coon of the year are caught/harvested the first part of DECEMBER, in Northern Iowa & Southern Minnesota. Southern Iowa coon could come a week or two later, just before they start their "re-stalking" cycle. Some of the older Boars have already started "roaming" so they make a good target to go after. The "tail and neck biting" has already started and that's a signal that it's getting close to the time to SHUT-IT-DOWN for the season...... I've already caught some pretty big boars that have their tails bitten etc, as well as some places on their backs and that's the first "SIGN" that it's about over for this season.... If you don't agree with that, I'm SORRY, but that's the way it is If you want to see how good of a "TRAPPER" you are = go see how many COYOTES you can trap/catch in the next month or so............ GOOD LUCK & I hope you had/have a good season. Trap Carefully |
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Post by richard on Dec 4, 2011 18:42:13 GMT -6
I must not be up with the times.What is corn cribbing?
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Post by redbone on Dec 4, 2011 18:49:18 GMT -6
know, we have guys, especially those who call themselves " COON HUNTERS" who come out of the woods at this time of the year. They aren't hunters at all, in my book, they are just out there for the money they'll get for the coon they sell.......... (They gotta pay the DOG FOOD BILL for the year someway........ HUH?)
So, you feel this way about all coon hunters? Or are you talking about what ever corn cribbing is? I'm going to keep running my dogs even if I'm not considered a real hunter.
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Post by outdoorsman14 on Dec 4, 2011 20:11:57 GMT -6
How many coon do you expect there would be in an old barn full of hay?
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Post by riverbandit on Dec 4, 2011 20:53:45 GMT -6
Tex, I want to know what's wrong with making money killing coon?? I trap coon for money, but its wrong to hunt them for money? I know some guys that run coon in barns and cribs with their terriers with permission, "cribbing" in other words. I'd rather the cribbers get them than fly bait. At least the coon are utilized when the cribbers get them instead of laying to rot. I don't think Cody was talking about blatantly trespassing to hunt coon.
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Post by cody13 on Dec 4, 2011 20:56:09 GMT -6
TexA I'm quite intelligent for my age, thanks for the compliment. Honor roll and everything.
As for the corn cribbing. I don't agree with guys going door to door the first week and filling their truck. There not real sportsman.
Before you go insulting me for not being a sportsman (or smart), I trapped hard right up until this weekend. I put in 8 hours of trapping/ skinning and 8 hours of school EVERY day. I caught more coon in one season at 16 y/o than a lot of guys catch in one season their whole life. And I have a lot of room for growth next year.
I've had a couple farmers want me to shoot coon out of their corn cribs this year which I have waited on until this month. I always have permission to be in the barn I'm in and over half the time the landowner has asked me to come shoot them. There is no other way of getting coon this time of year other than maybe one or two on a good day. I will be setting some snares for coyotes but won't be able to put in much effort since I have to drive close to 10 miles to find any kind of coyote population
As for corn cribbing being illegal, I can see it being illegal when guys are pulling them out with barb wire then killing them. Shooting them in the bins of the corn crib though, thats not disturbing their den.
As for hay barns, I've never gotten many coon out without a coon caller.
Seems as though everyones a little touchy this year with coon population down. I really hope you guys are right and we have a normal year next year because I'll be over 500 easy.
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Post by TexA on Dec 4, 2011 20:58:55 GMT -6
redbone.......... Not at all........ I have some pretty good friends who "run dogs" after coon, BUT they don't do the "CRIB THING" either...... If you " sit too close to the fire - you deserve to get burned"! Like JD said, do it right or be ready to "pay the price"! congrats on the good season. I don't have anything against someone who works at it and does it legally... that's all. SORRY if I stepped on your toes... |
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Post by riverbandit on Dec 4, 2011 21:01:06 GMT -6
Great job Cody.
Tex, What are you doing killing them big boars? They're the ones bringing the big money, and making money is a no, no, remember! ;D
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Post by jim blakley aka Gadget on Dec 4, 2011 21:01:16 GMT -6
Tex, I want to know what's wrong with making money killing coon?? I trap coon for money, but its wrong to hunt them for money? I know some guys that run coon in barns and cribs with their terriers with permission, "cribbing" in other words. I'd rather the cribbers get them than fly bait. At least the coon are utilized when the cribbers get them instead of laying to rot. I don't think Cody was talking about blatantly trespassing to hunt coon. Well put Dave !!!! |
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bobafett
Hyper-Active Trap Talker
Posts: 146
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Post by bobafett on Dec 4, 2011 21:02:37 GMT -6
Nothing wrong with cody's wording
once again the morally superior TEXA has spoken. I'll be sure to go pull my sets at hay sheds and corn cribs where farmers have asked me to trap. Maybe I'll suggest they use the golden concoction instead!
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Post by TexA on Dec 4, 2011 21:09:50 GMT -6
Did I ruffle your feathers? Maybe.......  |
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Post by grinnergetter on Dec 4, 2011 21:24:15 GMT -6
Good job Cody!! Keep up the good work. It is the younger folks like you that will keep this sport going.
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Post by P.E.T.A on Dec 5, 2011 5:03:12 GMT -6
what do you suppose is going to happen when you get 15-20 coon living in one building? DISTEMPER.
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Post by Montour Cooner on Dec 5, 2011 6:01:00 GMT -6
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Post by LLLTrapper on Dec 5, 2011 6:19:15 GMT -6
Removing a nuisance animal from a building is a far cry from den raiding guys. LLL  |
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Post by possum63 on Dec 5, 2011 6:52:19 GMT -6
Removing a nuisance animal from a building is a far cry from den raiding guys. LLL  But if you ask my CO he would disagree. Flat out told me that abbandoned houses, cribs, barns, and buildings in general are considered "den's". So without proof of damage, and permission to be there it is illeagal to hunt them. In my mind and the DNR, climbing a crib or barn is no different than climbing an old hollow tree in woods. |
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Post by riverbandit on Dec 5, 2011 6:59:15 GMT -6
If the DNR does nothing when thousands of coon are illegally killed with fly bait, they sure shouldn't pursue some one for denning coon in buildings.
How is trapping them out of the buildings anymore skillful than going in and shooting them? Coon trapping ain't rocket science. It will just take a little longer to trap them.
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Post by blackhammer on Dec 5, 2011 7:36:32 GMT -6
The dnr just wants to regulate and fine you.What a joke coon poisoned like there's no tom morrow and try to knit pick and fine you over buildings.Maybe the coon are just visiting the buildings.lol Can they be sure there denning there?The CO should find something useful to concentrate on.Many COs luckily use common sense and our advocates for trappers.The ones in this area are pretty decent.
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Post by rockcreekshane on Dec 5, 2011 9:26:13 GMT -6
Back to the original topic, yes you can catch a bunch of coon during cold weather. Cody, sounds like you had a great season in the ditches but if you don't think you can catch a bunch of nice coon in December and January you are wasting a great time of the season. DP's, buckets and any open/running water will catch you a bunch of nice late season coon. Takes a little more leg work, scouting and skill then ditch trapping can be just as affective. I for one am looking forward to the next couple months, buyings starting to slow down so I can finally get out and catch up with the rest of you guys.
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Post by jdrogge on Dec 5, 2011 9:28:10 GMT -6
Yep your right guys, sell your traps, all you need is a pry bar, a hook and some barb wire and you'll get all the coon you want.  |
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Post by possum63 on Dec 5, 2011 10:10:33 GMT -6
Wether or not we think the co should be worrying about something else is not for us to decide. the fact remains he told me it was illeagal and he writes the tickets. as for nuciance animals, dont u need a adc lisence for that? or does it make it ok during season? i agree, sell ur traps, give the hound away, get a catch pole, and start climbing cribs.
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Post by riverbandit on Dec 5, 2011 14:55:31 GMT -6
Ask that same CO if using fly bait outside its labeling is illegal and I bet he says yes as well, and I also bet he hasn't written one citation for it. I don't personally partake in this "cribbing" deal, but for those that do I see nothing wrong with it. A coon is nothing but a rat with a ringed tail to a farmer and he could care less how you get them. He just wants them dead. IMO its far better than killing them in July with fly bait, and any CO that writes a ticket for it better re examine his priority's.
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Post by cody13 on Dec 5, 2011 15:57:33 GMT -6
Rockcreekshane, I will be trapping coon late season but its a huge waste of gas and time trying to trap coon when the temps aren't getting over 25-30 degrees.
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Post by riverbandit on Dec 5, 2011 18:16:44 GMT -6
That's simply not true Cody. As long as there isn't any snow, coon movement will be just as heavy, if not heavier than when the temps were warmer. The idea that coon hole up when it gets cold is one of the biggest wives tales there is.
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Post by cody13 on Dec 5, 2011 18:30:56 GMT -6
We've got around 3-4 inches of fresh snow.
Riverbandit, is wind a factor in coon movement? I've noticed that coon move on cold nights but not cold, windy nights.
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Post by billallenisu on Dec 5, 2011 18:56:56 GMT -6
If the farmers are asking Cody to help out with the coon, I see it as the same type of goodwill effort as someone helping a farmer stack bales in the summer to gain permission to trap his ground in the fall. If the law as its written is ambiguous, thats not the trapper's fault. Its also been my experience that CO's for the most part are interested in helping trappers interpret the laws so they stay within the law. Its when trappers (and other sportsmen) try to find loopholes in the laws as written that they would be more inclined to write tickets. I also wonder if most of the laws are written as they are BECAUSE of the people out there trying to find loopholes. Just my two cents...
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Post by schmink on Dec 5, 2011 19:06:32 GMT -6
I highly disagree about the coons running hard right now. I'm trapping around active dens and very few are coming out. They are holed up sucking their paws, when we receive a 15-20 deg. jump be ready |
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But if you ask my CO he would disagree. Flat out told me that abbandoned houses, cribs, barns, and buildings in general are considered "den's". So without proof of damage, and permission to be there it is illeagal to hunt them. In my mind and the DNR, climbing a crib or barn is no different than climbing an old hollow tree in woods.