A challenge to you all.

[FARMTOFIELD]

How many people can we get involved? I'd like to see everybody on here buy at least 5 dog proof coon traps, and run them religiously this year. Let's see what kind of improvements we can make.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

It don't matter if it's public or private, make a difference

 

[AT Hiker]

To bad fur prices are low, some serious money could be made. Trapping is a lost art, admittedly one that I know very little about but would like to get into.


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[Shooter77]

I've been thinking a lot about getting some. I have at least 3 yotes, 4 coons & 2 foxes using the 50 acres behind my house. i've not had a turkey in a year there.

 

[woodsman04]

I'm going to do it. Already looked at the Duke dog proof traps, and will also use box traps with a marshmallow as bait.

Any other recommendations?

The only habitat improvements I have worked on so far are creating nesting areas and food plots conducive for poults and hens.

I also run over all armadillos possums and coons on purpose, if I can hit them safely without veering or swerving.




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[RS]

I think trapping would likely help, but it would probably be hard for many due to the distance between thier house and hunting property. I assume traps should be checked daily, and many probably wouldn't be able to do that.

 

[ruger7mag]

Why is trapping season not open right now for coons, possums, and skunks? Right now is when I would want to trap the most to try and protect the eggs.

 

[woodsman04]

Why is trapping season not open right now for coons, possums, and skunks? Right now is when I would want to trap the most to try and protect the eggs.

Exactly. The best we can do though is to trap until the end of February when season closes.


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[Boll Weevil]

Per hunting regulations (unless they've recently changed) armadillo, coyote, and striped skunk is open year round with no limit. All are notorious nest raiders....none get a pass from me. Ever.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

To bad fur prices are low, some serious money could be made. Trapping is a lost art, admittedly one that I know very little about but would like to get into.

Same here. Question for someone with knowledge of trapping:

Are there trap sets (snares maybe?) that kill the animal such that you could ethically set the traps and check them once or twice per week? And if so, are they legal? I would love to learn more about trapping, but if I have to check traps every day, there is just no way I could make it work.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Are there trap sets (snares maybe?) that kill the animal such that you could ethically set the traps and check them once or twice per week?

Duke kill traps, just make sure you're familiar with what is/isn't a legal set. As well, I wouldn't recommend using them where pets or children might frequent.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Dog proofs are a fool proof method, make sure you have it wired to a sapling, marshmallow with a dab of fish oil and you will catch the crap out of them

 

[Boll Weevil]

Dog proofs are a fool proof method, make sure you have it wired to a sapling, marshmallow with a dab of fish oil and you will catch the crap out of them

A smear of peanut butter also works like crazy if no fish oil is available...pretty much the precursor to a steel lightning strike if using kill traps. Seriously y'all be careful with Duke 330s or the Conibear equuvalent. They'll crush an armadillo shell or a mans hand/arm like it was a Sta-Puf marshmallow.

 

[megalomaniac]

I believe you can set coon traps now depending on location, since they can be classified as nuisance animals. Prob can't get away with it in the middle of nowhere, but I think it's legal if you are close to your farm, house, or barns. Prob have to dispose of the carcasses in the woods, but I do that in the winter as well. Occasionally I'll find some locals here that will pay $20 each for fresh kills, esp right before Superbowl

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[catman529]

Per hunting regulations (unless they've recently changed) armadillo, coyote, and striped skunk is open year round with no limit. All are notorious nest raiders....none get a pass from me. Ever.

I still have yet to see evidence of armadillos raiding a nest. They root in the ground for bugs. Maybe if one gets lucky it can get past an angry hen and eat some egg yolks but I don't see it being a big problem for turkeys.

That said, I still shoot a lot of armadillos, because they have overpopulated and tear up the ground everywhere they go


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[TNTomtaker01]

Who makes the best dog proof traps

 

[megalomaniac]

Bridger, Duke, and Freedom (although I've heard those traps don't hold up well over time). Cabelas and most other large retailers stock them. Minnesota trap company has the best selection of trapping supplies, however http://www.minntrapprod.com/

 

[Boll Weevil]

I still have yet to see evidence of armadillos raiding a nest.

http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=750139

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Traps legally have to be checked every 36 hours, I know some people just physically can't do it alot but say, one weekend a month. Set your traps on Friday, check them on Saturday and pull them on Sunday after checking them.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

It really grinds my gears, all the people on this forum, and all the others, griping, but not willing to do ANYTHING but gripe and send emails to help. You can make habitat, and kill nest raiders once a month and it will go along way, but most people just aren't willing to do anything once season is done, and their minds turn to deer, fish, ect.

 

[cowhunter71]

Although he is going to have to wait at least another 2 weeks or so, until these turkeys stop blowing the woods down, I've got a 15 month old cur dog who has been chomping at the bit to catch his fair share of the hogs that have shown up in these mountains ;)

 

[woodsman04]

Per hunting regulations (unless they've recently changed) armadillo, coyote, and striped skunk is open year round with no limit. All are notorious nest raiders....none get a pass from me. Ever.

I still have yet to see evidence of armadillos raiding a nest. They root in the ground for bugs. Maybe if one gets lucky it can get past an angry hen and eat some egg yolks but I don't see it being a big problem for turkeys.

That said, I still shoot a lot of armadillos, because they have overpopulated and tear up the ground everywhere they go


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Not that what they are saying is true, but I had the NRCS come out and look at my land for a wildlife program I wanted to get in. Two guys said that armadillos were second behind coons in nest disruption. That's some pretty credible sources, but I have yet to see it personally. I do 100% believe them though.

That's an issue we have, armidillos are relatively new to my area, probably been here for 8-12 years, and that is when decline started.


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[FARMTOFIELD]

Is say armadillos are as bad as anything, whether they are hunting eggs or not just rooting around on the ground in a straight line, is bound to tear up several nests, especially when you have 100+ armadillo on a small acerage

 

[woodsman04]

It really grinds my gears, all the people on this forum, and all the others, griping, but not willing to do ANYTHING but gripe and send emails to help. You can make habitat, and kill nest raiders once a month and it will go along way, but most people just aren't willing to do anything once season is done, and their minds turn to deer, fish, ect.

Correct on this. Most people only care about turkeys during turkey season. My entire summer involves me thinking about them and what I can do to make better nesting and poult habitat. I plant fall plots with clover for turkeys, yes deer eat it to, but no management I make relates to the pine goats. And I don't fish much but I wish crappie and shellcracker would over populate so the googans would decide to chase them instead.


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[woodsman04]

Is say armadillos are as bad as anything, whether they are hunting eggs or not just rooting around on the ground in a straight line, is bound to tear up several nests, especially when you have 100+ armadillo on a small acerage

Yes I hate them


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[ZachMarkus]

I will continue to do what I do every year all year long, kill every nest raider and predator I can find on my place and create more nesting habitat and try to improve what I have.

I'm up to over 500 armadillo kills in 6 years, I can't hardly find one to shoot now. Ive really seen a drastic drop in numbers of nest raiders on my place since I've been really hunting them the past few years. Nesting success hasn't really improved though but I know it helps more than not doing anything.


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[FARMTOFIELD]

I will continue to do what I do every year all year long, kill every nest raider and predator I can find on my place and create more nesting habitat and try to improve what I have.

I'm up to over 500 armadillo kills in 6 years, I can't hardly find one to shoot now. Ive really seen a drastic drop in numbers of nest raiders on my place since I've been really hunting them the past few years. Nesting success hasn't really improved though but I know it helps more than not doing anything.


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Buy you 5 or 10 dog proof, and run them around the creek and I guarantee you will find alot more. If you want to one weekend we will set mine on your place and see what it will do.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I'm up to over 500 armadillo kills in 6 years.

Good Lord, man! They are apparenlty much worse in middle TN than I realized. I see them sporadically here on the west side, but I've probably seen less than 100 ever.

 

[catman529]

Per hunting regulations (unless they've recently changed) armadillo, coyote, and striped skunk is open year round with no limit. All are notorious nest raiders....none get a pass from me. Ever.

I still have yet to see evidence of armadillos raiding a nest. They root in the ground for bugs. Maybe if one gets lucky it can get past an angry hen and eat some egg yolks but I don't see it being a big problem for turkeys.

That said, I still shoot a lot of armadillos, because they have overpopulated and tear up the ground everywhere they go


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Not that what they are saying is true, but I had the NRCS come out and look at my land for a wildlife program I wanted to get in. Two guys said that armadillos were second behind coons in nest disruption. That's some pretty credible sources, but I have yet to see it personally. I do 100% believe them though.

That's an issue we have, armidillos are relatively new to my area, probably been here for 8-12 years, and that is when decline started.


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I have to wonder about places like Texas that have had dillos for years but also have tons of turkey.

I shot 7 armadillos one afternoon this past winter. Turkey hunted the same ridge this spring, and there was still just as much armadillo sign everywhere as before. I don't know if there is any getting rid of them. They make good target practice

 

[TnKen]

Dog proofs are easy to set and catch a lot of coons. I use fish pellets with molasses mixed in.
You may catch some opossums, but they don't seem to trigger they trap like a coon would. When I used standard leg holds I would catch a lot more opossums.