Coons in my corn???!!!!!

[Joe Maisto]

All the animals here are out of control and I'm losing the battle. Growing up on the farm it was my primary job at our place and grandma & grandpas place to keep things shot out and trapped out. I show them no mercy! Coons are easy, between the neighbor and myself we have them pretty much gone. Deer&squirrels are giving me fits and they are here by the thousands. Yes thousands! Deer walk up our steps get on the porch and eat my wife's flowers. The neighbor lade had a couple ears of Indian corn she tied the husks back and hung on her front door last fall. Deer walked up the steps and ate it. A couple of weeks ago I was going to have breakfast with the boys from work so I left the car out in front of the garage. At 5:30 the next morning I went out to get in the car and had a whole herd of stinking deer on the drive milling around my car. This spring we had two apple trees that were so loaded with apples I told the wife we need to pick some off or they will break the tree limbs. We don't have a single apple left, the squirrels ate every single one. All the flowers and bushes are eaten off by the deer, nothing left. I told the wife we might as well move into town as the shear numbers are beyond me shooting them out.

Squirrels ate your apples ? Interesting. ...Fried squirrel is about as good as it gets..

 

[Adam in WI]

Squirrels ate your apples ? Interesting. ...Fried squirrel is about as good as it gets..

Slow cooker squirrel with sliced apples makes for delicious and poetic justice

 

[hammerjack]

Corn thief..

 

[Gary in MD]

Just caught number 5 last night!

 

[Adam in WI]

Just caught number 5 last night!

View attachment 1192692

You're catching these with the Duke traps? What are you using for bait. We've got a dozen rows of sweet corn that needs some guarding...

 

[maxscm]

You're catching these with the Duke traps? What are you using for bait. We've got a dozen rows of sweet corn that needs some guarding...

Honey Buns (Sweets) work for Bait for coons in the Live Traps.
Don't use meats (sardines, tuna,
Meat Baits, Etc, =SKUNKS).

 

[Coonman300]

Just caught number 5 last night!

View attachment 1192692

Good job! I love to shoot coons and coyotes but I get a lot more by trapping. That trap can sit there all day and night and never get tired. I can tell on that coon you got him with the dog proof...did you catch any with the conibears?

 

[Gary in MD]

I didn’t get any with the conibears.
Once I got those Dukes, I was getting even with them. I used sardines, maybe 1/2 down in the trap under the trigger and smeared just a touch above on a corn stalk to get the scent in the air.
Sadly I got into action a little late, they basically wiped out 6 rows about the 100 yards long. Next year I’ll be more prepared!!
Gary

 

[Joe Maisto]

Honey Buns (Sweets) work for Bait for coons in the Live Traps.
Don't use meats (sardines, tuna, Etc, =SKUNKS).

Glad I read this. I put sardines in my live box last night, cause I have always thought coons enjoyed fish. When perch fishing from shore on lake Michigan there were always coons walking around the rocks. Don't know what "honey buns" are. Something sweet?

 

[maxscm]

Glad I read this. I put sardines in my live box last night, cause I have always thought coons enjoyed fish. When perch fishing from shore on lake Michigan there were always coons walking around the rocks. Don't know what "honey buns" are. Something sweet?

Little Debbie Sweet Cakes
With Honey.

 

[Coonman300]

It’s a nuisance trapping in the summer because the ants get bait so fast...especially sweet bait. Dry dog food with a little fish oil works good. A little BBQ sauce as a trailing scent can be helpful too. I use a lure called Moonshine and a touch of fish oil. I’ve found I catch 2-3 times as many coons using coil spring traps with a dirt hole set. Only takes a couple of minutes to make. I never thought they’d get educated on the dog proofs but I guess after they see some buddies get caught they get smart. I catch coons around my protein feeders and I consistently catch 3 coons to 1 with the coil spring vs dogproofs...and that’s with about twice as many dogproofs set as opposed to coil springs. Either way...it’s good to get them out. For immediately success the dog proofs are hard to beat...long term the coils excel. You can also catch an occasional coyote with them.

 

[Dave Zander]

these really work well .
got 14 so far , have 6 traps set around the garden. Coon cuff trap. so far no cats either. using sardeens for bait.

 

[Coonman300]

If you go to a “lower rent” super market you can buy a big can of Jack Mackeral. Basically same as sardines but lot bigger can and cheaper. A spoonful under the trigger is all it takes.

 

[Immike]

“The valley of death”

 

[hammerjack]

Someone above mentioned baiting with honey buns I would be very careful with those as you could catch a
Elvis impersonator.

 

[Iowa Fox]

We went to town today on our weekly grocery run Not a single Duke coon trap left anyplace everybody is out, Lots of coons this year but I have a feeling they are paying a high price. We are riding with the daughter and grand kids to Muscatine tomorrow so I'll check that area out. I'm doubtful since there is a lot of truck gardening in the area.

 

[Knotwild]

In the past weeks I have had some diamondback terrapins come lay eggs at the back door. Something was digging them up and eating the eggs. The other night I surprised the culprit coon, but was un-armed. Made me fume because those terrapins aren't common. So, I'm going to feed the bastard until he gets real comfortable, then I am going to BLAST him.

 

[Treerat-sniper]

I gave up on sweet corn, can't keep them out. One got into my chicken coop a year or two ago & killed all but one of my layers. I declared war on them after that! We saw a mink cross the road from our property last week, so I got a couple of the havahart live traps out...no mink so far but got rid of a big dry sow coon. I'll be giving them hell this fall with the .22 mag.

 

[MrMajestic]

Corn thief..

That left a mark!

 

[markT]

Honey Buns work.. I've heard of Marsh Mellows too. Never tried them but makes sense.