AboutMongo Expertise I can answer most basic questions concerning predator trapping and some water trapping. Questions about lures, baits, sets, traps, trap treatment, modification, sizes, equipment, usage, etc. I have been certified by the Okla. Dept. of Wildlife Conservation, First Okla. Trapper`s Assoc., and the Okla. State Univ. Extension Service as a trapping instructor, and in years past have given classes to people wishing to learn the sport...I also have a number of years experience in predator calling and can provide some basic answers to these questions as well.
Experience
Past/Present clients As far as teaching what I know to others. I take this to be what you mean here... I have helped my son, and son in law, as well as a number of others in this area, to get started in trapping and predator calling... I have had personal instruction from professional government ADC specialists, and I have 30 years experience running my own traplines, and over a half century of experience in the outdoors...... I have a friend who is a troop leader with the Boy Scouts. In the past I have done several demonstrations on trapping and predator calling for the boys, and on a number of occasions have helped the troop to set up and run a trapline during the winter, with proceeds going to the troop.
Question Hey Mongo,
In Alabama where I live, we allowed to use connibears to 5x5 on land. I bought several and boy do they seem small. it seems unlikely that I can get a coon through it as a blind. I was considering a cubby but again they seem so small. If I'm going to build/buy something that will make a good cubby, I need a little more confidence in them. Any experience? Any suggestions for what to use as a cubby other than to build my own? Square buckets seem too big. Have you used pans for them? I'm also curious about live traps for cats. Any experience? thanks!
Answer Hello Park,
Well, to begin with, the body gripper traps in size 5X5 are generally used for animals smaller than coon, such as muskrat or mink...and I would consider them too small to be used effectively on raccoon. I know of people using body grippers as small as 6X6 for coon, but I always felt that was a bit of a squeeze too, and much prefer traps of at least 7X7 if setting for coon... With the larger body gripper traps, both the round and square plastic buckets can be used as a cubby, and I have read of people using cut-off pieces of large plastic pipe, which can be had in a number of sizes... However, if using body grippers on coon I generally just set them where the coon had trails thru tall grass, or brush, or thru water grass, or I would lay brush or sticks so that they only had one path thru an already tight area along their trail and set the body gripper in the opening...... I would suggest that you lay the 110's back for use on mink and muskrat, and buy 220's to use for raccoon.
Now as to live traps for bobcats... I have an old trapping partner that would occasionally set live traps for bobcats in some situations, but I have to admit that I have never had any experience with it... However, even my old partner admitted that bobcats were much easier to catch in foot hold traps.
Sorry that I can not be any more help than this, Park...but good luck with it.
