I think I just 'fell into it', approx 3000 acres to trap in

[soggybtmboys]

Ok guys, keep your fingers crossed for me. Just got a very generous offer to trap on private land not too far from me. Approximately 3000 acres. I was floored, I am trying not to get way too wound up here. Property owner wants to aggressively knock out the coons that are tearing up their corn, get rid of some fox and knock the snot out of the coyotes. I will be going to scout the land out this weekend and see what it looks like. Might get an opportunity to go hunt it as well.

My question is, and I know the answer will depend on a couple of things, what should I be thinking about in regards to how long a good land trapline should be for coons, fox, yotes???? I know it will depend on how much time I can put into it, as well as how much of it I can set up on, ie cant trap in the cropped fields.

I am a second year trapper and this will be my first goings of trapping land. I have got currently 1 dozen sleepy creeks, 1 3/4 cs with offset jaws ready to go (wasn't expecting all this to fall into my lap) and I have 4 dozen #1 duke longsprings and 1 dozen conis. I know I am gonna have to pick up some more........but how much more and of what??????

The property is about 15-20 mins away from me, so its not like it is an enormous drive and could be pretty active after work running the line, but don't want to be out all night on it.

A list would be great fellas for me to work off of so I can pick stuff up as I can manage to. Thanx in advance fellas!!!!

Soggy

[montrose trapper]

if i was you (and i wish i was with that kinda offer for property) i would pick up quite a few # 160 mags. These traps are great for catching alot of coons. All you have to do is find some trails where they are going from den to feed or den to water or any racoon trail and set them about 6 inches off the ground. If you get the Trapper and Predator Caller magazine the last issue had a really good article in it about trapping racoons on land with 160's. You should also pick up some more 1.75's for yotes and fox depending on how much sign you see. Good luck and make some posts on the results.

[soggybtmboys]

Who makes the #160 mags? Yeah I am gonna probably order another dozen 1 3/4 sleepy creeks for the canines and I am sure I will probably get a few coons wandering into them.

[BlackCoyote]

well, your goning to get an education like i did a few years back. I'm still learning.

First scout it as much as you can. Draw maps, take pics and learn the area.
Second, you can't run all of it after work...so after scouting seperate the honey holes out.
Third...pick what you're going after first, coyotes or coons or both?

If you decide coons first, and the corn is standing they need water so start with those areas. I'd set a mix of traps until you figure out what sets you like to make, can make fast and what works for you. (try buckets, footholds, coni's in trails and so on)

Intersections, field edges, points of interest, and lanes would be a good spot for coyotes until the crops come off and that changes their cover situation, food sources, and travel patterns.

Traps...well that's up to you to decide. How many you want to run...and your preference in traps. I'd run a check in the morning for coyotes or coons if your using footholds, not wait till after work. Especially during deer season.

The weather is the biggest factor in land trapping, have you collected any dry dirt? Because the rain will come....then cold, then snow.

A word of personal advice...start small and you'll figure it out as you go. Set up locations or a couple then move after a week.

If you respect the landowner, his property and make an honest attempt you'll keep the permission for years to come.

Keep a journal of what you do, it will help you see patterns as the season progresses.

[dsmithgall]

sounds like a good problem to have if you ask me....

[montrose trapper]

The ones that I have are made by Belisle they are the 160 super x. Not a true magnum but they are the rounded jaws taht make the complete closure.

[gunrod]

Let me know if you need any help with that land.:p

[lang49]

Who makes the #160 mags? Yeah I am gonna probably order another dozen 1 3/4 sleepy creeks for the canines and I am sure I will probably get a few coons wandering into them.

You're going to run out of time to check the traps before you run out of locations to set them. 160's are great. If I were you, I might invest in an additional half dozen 160's and call it good. Concentrate on quality sets rather than quantity...

Besides, you're likely to have to thin out the coon population before you ever catch any other canines in your footholds...

[griffondog]

Sounds like you got yourself into a sweet deal. Is the farm in one big piece or is it broken up in smaller bits of land? If you can drive up to most of your sets,a couple hours in the morning should cover your time.


Griff

[soggybtmboys]

Not sure yet Griff, I am thinking most of it is contigious, with maybe a parcel or two jumping over a road to be adjacent. I will fill you in after Saturday, gonna go check it out Friday or Saturday and report back in! Yep, you guessed it...my mind is running crazy with all kinds of excitement right now!

SBB

[Hunter54]

Hey Soggy was that a misprint. I didn't think there was 3000 undeveloped acres left down here in Southeast Michigan.:lol::lol:

[soggybtmboys]

Hey Soggy was that a misprint. I didn't think there was 3000 undeveloped acres left down here in Southeast Michigan.:lol::lol:


Not a misprint Hunter54

[Hunter54]

That is awesome! I hunt a 600 acre farm in Coldwater. 3000 acres is quite a chunk to have rights to. I wish you luck and hope you get it!;)

[soggybtmboys]

Ok, did not get out there this weekend, the guy was too busy to have me come out. Talked to him yesterday and we are planning on heading out there tonight to walk around and have a look at property lines, boundaries.....go over the rules, where he wants me, where they are having most of the coon problems, and where he wants me to keep an eye on where he is having tresspass problems. I hope it all works out, shaping up to be a great week! Leave for bear camp on Friday, scouting some new trapping and hunting land today. Just doesn't get any better than this, unless I hit the Lotto tonight!!:lol:

Gonna take some pics and throw them up here tonight. Wish me luck fellas!

[muckamuck4]

Goodluck Soggy! Coon prices are supposed to stay pretty high this year too for what i hear. Last year our average coon went for $13 green and our best was $23 (i think) green.

Keep us updated:gaga:

[Big Reds]

Hey soggy it sounds like a great opportunity for you. I only see one problem though. You can't possibly trap all that land by yourself so........ alright I'll help ya if you want! Just kidding. Need pics of your catches!:D

[soggybtmboys]

finally heading out tomorrow to check out the property. Between my schedule and property owners schedule, finally tomorrow will be getting together with him after work to scope it all out. Taking a few things with me to make a few sets minus the steel. Gonna let the canine sets just get worked over and let the fox and yotes work them and get comfortable before I set some steel, plus I really would like the fur to get a little more prime before I attempt to harvest a few. Picked up a few more supplies and should be good to go. If I were not so tired I would really be wound up right now. Check in tomorrow!

[lang49]

Gonna let the canine sets just get worked over and let the fox and yotes work them and get comfortable before I set some steel

Personally (and I'm not an expert) I wouldn't want them to get comfortable with the scent and appearance of my sets. It won't take long before they know the smell of your baits and know that there really is nothing of substance at the bottom of the hole...

[soggybtmboys]

Well fellas, I got a look at it today. All I can say is wow........wow............wow. I will be the only trapper on this spread and may only be a bowhunter but not sure if this fella is going to hunt or not, guess he is pretty old. The fella who gave me permission is the nephew, son, and grandson and he is pretty excited to get rid of a few critter, especially the coons and yotes.......as well as some grinners and stinkers. 100 acres of standing corn still, two bean fields one 60 the other 110-120 acres already been taken down. Swamp behind the uncle's house(deep swamp) surrounded by woods to both sides. A nice creek that runs thru the swamp in between the corn field and the two bean fields and the far side is mostly woods and some small fallow fields scattered here and there.

Sign everywhere......coon.......red fox........yotes......and pretty sure I cut some grey fox tracks back in a brushy field along a fence row. Man I cannot wait to set some steel soon as the 1st of Nov rolls around.

Just got the last essentail goodies from FNT on Thursday, and be working on final preps tonight and tomorrow. Will post pics and what not as they come. Wish me luck fellas!

SBB

[soggybtmboys]

Here is a blown over tree where coons are spending alot of time digging around and making a few dens under the roots. They are using the top of the blowdown for a toilet as well.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z7/soggybtmboys/coontrapping015.jpg?t=1193523000


Here is a wash area where they have been fishing for crayfish and the tree in the back is another toilet.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z7/soggybtmboys/coontrapping012.jpg?t=1193523066



Here is a slightly undercut bank that I am gonna try a few pocket sets in for coon and possibly a mink if they are in the area....its a slow moving creek not sure if mink are present or not yet...no tracks of minks. Totally loaded with coon.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z7/soggybtmboys/coontrapping010.jpg?t=1193523117


Think I am gonna concentrate on cleaning out some coon before I really hit the yotes and fox. I probably saw 10 different toilet logs in 300 yards of this creek that runs behind a decent size corn field.

[soggybtmboys]

Here is another pic of the other side of the blowdown in the creek bank, you can clearly see where they have been digging dens.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z7/soggybtmboys/coontrapping014.jpg?t=1193523495


Here is a pic where they have a trail worn down up out of the creek and into the back of the corn field. Note the torn down corn stalks as well.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z7/soggybtmboys/coontrapping006.jpg?t=1193523554


Here is a pic of the creek where deer are traveling back and forth across it from the scrub field to the corn field. The gentle bank here also provided lots of clues to coon activity, another fishing and washing area. I just wish the creek were a little deeper, I don't have enough water to make a drowner set in almost all of these spots.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z7/soggybtmboys/coontrapping008.jpg?t=1193523599

[soggybtmboys]

Here is a pic of a log that coon are using to walk back and forth across the creek in another spot, another blowdown as well.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z7/soggybtmboys/coontrapping016.jpg?t=1193523964



Another spot for pocket sets maybe, its a little further back off the creek though so I am not sure yet.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z7/soggybtmboys/coontrapping009.jpg?t=1193524029



A small coon toilet.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z7/soggybtmboys/coontrapping013.jpg?t=1193524525

[gunrod]

Check out Joe R's PVC set. It should work great for the coons in the creek.

[J&J'sToy]

Hey soggy does this farm have any Hay lofts, because they are a great place to trap coon in with bucket sets with 220 or 160 coni. in front of the buckets. I have gotten well 500 coons in this set when I trapped years ago.