1.) Ohbuckhunter - 12/27/2013

I suddenly have a high interest in trapping. We have way to many yotes and foxes around and fur is up enough where it's raised my interest in getting into it. So my question is what lures and baits should I get and which ones do I stay away from. I have a few offset leg hold traps now. Going to boil them and wax them up this weekend and hopefully start setting some sets come Monday. Any advise I would highly appreciate it.

2.) Ohbuckhunter - 12/28/2013

Come on you young timers have to know something.

3.) Triton Rich - 12/28/2013

[B]Well, my Bro and Dad both trap coyotes. I'll interview them and see if I can getcha something useful. I know they've both been using trench sets with good success. I believe that is a newer set and is easy to make. Just like deer hunting, scent control is paramount. Not only do you not want human scent anywhere around your sets, you gotta make sure not to get ANY lure, meat etc scent on the trap. They'll smell it and dig up the trap out of curiosity. I'll see what else I can get from the guys.[/B]

4.) Go Bucks - 12/28/2013

coyotes are easy... run line, coyote runs through line, pin pops out, grenade explodes...

I have no idea... use google. there are a number of trapping forums out there.

5.) crookedeye - 12/28/2013

get yourself some traps first..walmart are any local grocery store should have some..i like the victor traps the best, there fast and humane..then youre going to need some bait... cheese or some peanutbutter works best in my experience.
be careful and try not and snap youre finger while setting the traps,placing the traps in corners, under beds,dark area's will work. the most important part is to have fun..

6.) Ohbuckhunter - 12/28/2013

I knew I could count on you CE

7.) crookedeye - 12/29/2013

I seen a possum one night run into my bushes...so I bought one of those cage traps and baited it with tuna one night where I thought I would catch him.. I caught a freakin cat! I never seen a cat so pissed...trust me I feared for my life releasing that thing ...I had on heavy gloves and a football helmet... a replica johnny Rodgers wore in the 70's.... it wasn't very fun...

8.) crookedeye - 12/29/2013

that experience kinda steered me the wrong way of trapping! I was kinda shell shocked.. I think I caught the same cat twice..it was brutal.. i'll admit it I was afraid..THAT CAT WAS PISSED!!!!

9.) crookedeye - 12/29/2013

I did think about shooting it...before releasing it but I couldn't.. its just not me..


read all direction!!! on how to open one of those freakin traps to release something before you take it out to the woods!!!

10.) crookedeye - 12/29/2013

trappin's kinda like Vietnam..everyones afraid.. its just how you control youre trappin fears..

11.) crookedeye - 12/29/2013

I use live traps... when I get one ...its like Oooo F$#k I got one!!

12.) Ohbuckhunter - 12/29/2013

I got a couple live traps and a few leg holds. I might pick up a few snares as well.

I got me a cat 2 nights ago in the live trap and a coon last night.

13.) billy b - 12/29/2013

I bought a 3' live trap in hopes of trapping a red fox that torments my dog, so far I have caught a house cat, armadillo, 2 coons, possum & 2 skunks, trap still stinks but good cover scent.

14.) Ohbuckhunter - 12/29/2013

We have a few foxes around. I hope to catch a few of them with a #2 leg trap.

15.) crookedeye - 12/29/2013

what did you guys use as bait to catch the possum?? I could cook his tail and feed a family of 4..this thing is big and only comes out at night..

16.) crookedeye - 12/29/2013

this is a city possum its not like those little ones you see out in the woods..

17.) billy b - 12/29/2013

[QUOTE=crookedeye;14163]what did you guys use as bait to catch the possum?? I could cook his tail and feed a family of 4..this thing is big and only comes out at night..[/QUOTE]

Sardines

18.) Wild Bob - 12/30/2013

If you are careful with your scent control - I wouldn't bother waxing your traps (over the years I've found waxing a lot of extra work that’s dangerous and with no real benefit). I've caught red fox, coyote and bobcats with traps that are only died. Also, if they are new traps; wash with a good degreaser product, then put in water/mud for a while, then expose them so they take on a nice light coating of rust; this lets your die adhere better than to new metal and it gives them a nice darker die color. Don't be tight with the die; no harm in using a little more than recommended.

If you want to target canines - I'd stay away from any fishy, or sweet baits as those will draw polecats, coons, possums and domestic animals like ringing the dinner bell...musky bait (I had good results trapping fox using otter and beaver musk) and red meat baits work best for canines, if tainted better yet. If you're after cats (bobcats) use fresh bait, no tainted meat; cats tend to be a little picky (unless they are the domestic buggers).

Good luck and I hope enjoy some bonus time outdoors, I found trapping is a challenging and rewarding pursuit!

19.) NEBigAl - 12/30/2013

How do you think I got my girlfriend

20.) Ohbuckhunter - 12/30/2013

[QUOTE=Wild Bob;14229]If you are careful with your scent control - I wouldn't bother waxing your traps (over the years I've found waxing a lot of extra work that’s dangerous and with no real benefit). I've caught red fox, coyote and bobcats with traps that are only died. Also, if they are new traps; wash with a good degreaser product, then put in water/mud for a while, then expose them so they take on a nice light coating of rust; this lets your die adhere better than to new metal and it gives them a nice darker die color. Don't be tight with the die; no harm in using a little more than recommended.

If you want to target canines - I'd stay away from any fishy, or sweet baits as those will draw polecats, coons, possums and domestic animals like ringing the dinner bell...musky bait (I had good results trapping fox using otter and beaver musk) and red meat baits work best for canines, if tainted better yet. If you're after cats (bobcats) use fresh bait, no tainted meat; cats tend to be a little picky (unless they are the domestic buggers).

Good luck and I hope enjoy some bonus time outdoors, I found trapping is a challenging and rewarding pursuit![/QUOTE]

Thanks for the response. Have you used any artificial bait.

21.) Wild Bob - 12/30/2013

I don't have any experience with artificial...but I would think that so long as the scent was enticing they should work. Again, back to scent control; so long as the artificial bait doesn't have any human odor/scent contaminating it, I don't see why they wouldn't work.

The biggest issue where I have seen people have problems with scent control is transportation and/or handling. Think like you would for deer hunting...no bare hands on any traps, tools, or gear. Also, I boil my tools and gear in the dye as well (i.e. my hammer(s) sifters, drags, chains, sod busters, anchors, stakes, cables etc.) Don't go through the trouble of controlling scent on gear, then throw it in the back of your pickup next to a gas can, oils stains etc. or strap on the back of a 4 wheeler, then let the exhaust smell get all over it (or put it in a dirty bucket that held some petroleum products or pesticides).

I use throw-away rubber gloves for handling any scents, bait or urine. I only use these a time or two out, then go to a new set. (By the way, I often use just urine for canine sets and have good luck with that too) And then I use another set of clean, aired out cotton gloves for handling traps and anchors. Then keep those gloves isolated in your pack basket or bucket. I.E. it doesn't do much good to go through all this then handle your hammer with bare hands and throw it in a bucket with every thing else.

Like I said, be careful and think scent control like you are deer hunting. You can get away with not being as careful and catch plenty of coons, but fox and coyote especially are super weary of scent. If you find any of your traps sprung with nothing, then nine times out of ten, you've got a digger that smelled some contamination and dug your trap up and sprung it. If you got one of those; move on...he is educated and it is very unlikely that you'll go on to catch it then; it'll just make him even smarter and harder to catch if you keep after a digger. Just move on, and go back for him later, or next season. Or change tactics and go to a snare if one is digging up your traps.

Just a few pointers that have served me well. Good luck amigo.

Another important factor for catching canines is pan tension and adjustment...if you haven't already, you may want to read up on this for those leg-holds...

22.) Ohbuckhunter - 12/31/2013

[QUOTE=Wild Bob;14240]I don't have any experience with artificial...but I would think that so long as the scent was enticing they should work. Again, back to scent control; so long as the artificial bait doesn't have any human odor/scent contaminating it, I don't see why they wouldn't work.

The biggest issue where I have seen people have problems with scent control is transportation and/or handling. Think like you would for deer hunting...no bare hands on any traps, tools, or gear. Also, I boil my tools and gear in the dye as well (i.e. my hammer(s) sifters, drags, chains, sod busters, anchors, stakes, cables etc.) Don't go through the trouble of controlling scent on gear, then throw it in the back of your pickup next to a gas can, oils stains etc. or strap on the back of a 4 wheeler, then let the exhaust smell get all over it (or put it in a dirty bucket that held some petroleum products or pesticides).

I use throw-away rubber gloves for handling any scents, bait or urine. I only use these a time or two out, then go to a new set. (By the way, I often use just urine for canine sets and have good luck with that too) And then I use another set of clean, aired out cotton gloves for handling traps and anchors. Then keep those gloves isolated in your pack basket or bucket. I.E. it doesn't do much good to go through all this then handle your hammer with bare hands and throw it in a bucket with every thing else.

Like I said, be careful and think scent control like you are deer hunting. You can get away with not being as careful and catch plenty of coons, but fox and coyote especially are super weary of scent. If you find any of your traps sprung with nothing, then nine times out of ten, you've got a digger that smelled some contamination and dug your trap up and sprung it. If you got one of those; move on...he is educated and it is very unlikely that you'll go on to catch it then; it'll just make him even smarter and harder to catch if you keep after a digger. Just move on, and go back for him later, or next season. Or change tactics and go to a snare if one is digging up your traps.

Just a few pointers that have served me well. Good luck amigo.

Another important factor for catching canines is pan tension and adjustment...if you haven't already, you may want to read up on this for those leg-holds...[/QUOTE]

Thank you very much sir. I've been reading as much as I can with this whole trapping ordeal. I'm mainly after yotes and foxes. I do set some live traps for coons. I have a gallon of scent free stuff half gallon of yote piss. I'm a big time be leaver on scent with everything. I'm hoping I can outsmart them. Learn some more about my woods and have a great time doing so. If y'all can think of anything else please feel free to chime in. I'll have my camera with me on at least checking the traps. Prolly make a few clips of setting some as well