Raccoon trapping

[BC Buck]

I'm about to the end of the 2025-2026 season. This weekend I'll pull the traps out, prep them for storage and begin thinking about placement for next season.

Season Total to date: 22 'coons, 5 'possum, 1 skunk--28 potential nest predators.

The 2026-2027 Raccoon/Skunk/Oppossum season opens August 1 (a mere 116 days) in Missouri. For this upcoming season I will likely change up the trap line based on this year's experience, camera photos and recommendations from this forum.

28 is a good season!

 

[SwampCat]

My coons become trap shy pretty quick. I like to saturate with traps and trap about four days - or until I quit catching - and pick up

 

[Turkey Creek]

World Record Possum!!!

Gentlemen I have killed a lot of possums in my days, but I have no doubt this one was the granddaddy of all possums. This sucker was huge! I did not weigh it, I wasnt that interested in hauling a dead possum around in my pickup in warm weather.

 

[BC Buck]

World Record Possum!!!

Gentlemen I have killed a lot of possums in my days, but I have no doubt this one was the granddaddy of all possums. This sucker was huge! I did not weigh it, I wasnt that interested in hauling a dead possum around in my pickup in warm weather.


View attachment 91313

Enter in Boone and Crocket club.

 

[356]

Enter in Boone and Crocket club.

I have friends in the Ozarks that would love to see that 'coon in the Spoon and Crockpot club!

 

[cswenson25]

Ever tried making a coon hat out of one? My son wanted to try it and my first thought was, of course, lets use everything we can! But after trying to make one, I don't think well do that again. Or next time we'll send it to someone for making a hat.

 

[Telemark]

Ever tried making a coon hat out of one? My son wanted to try it and my first thought was, of course, lets use everything we can! But after trying to make one, I don't think well do that again. Or next time we'll send it to someone for making a hat.

I tanned a racoon pelt once, and it ended up stiff as a board. This was way before YouTube, so I might try again with a better method some day.

I have a muskrat fur coat I wear hunting sometimes. I think it would be cool to have a raccoon coat made from animals I trapped myself.

 

[356]

One more raccoon succumbed, raising the season predator count to 23 'coons; 5 'possums and 1 skunk.

 

[BC Buck]

One more raccoon succumbed, raising the season predator count to 23 'coons; 5 'possums and 1 skunk.

Where are the sets located that are producing this time of year?

 

[356]

Where are the sets located that are producing this time of year?

This one was on the edge of this food plot about 150 yards from the house. The most productive set is on a trail from a bedding area in the woods that goes into a good plot on the north of the property. All of my traps are on edge areas. I have several that have produced nothing for several months, including some that historically were producers! If I was more motivated, I would have moved them during the season.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Field edges or 2 tracks where I drive are the easy to check locations and pretty heavily used by predators. I do seem to have a good number of rabbits running around now, so that is a good sign. Rabbits can take the brunt of any remaining predation.

 

[SwampCat]

I remember one time a couple years ago complaining to my wife that I hadnt caught anything in a couple days. She said “I thought that was the point - to trap them until there arent any left”. I think @356 is right there - and at a perfect time - nesting season.

 

[BC Buck]

This one was on the edge of this food plot about 150 yards from the house. The most productive set is on a trail from a bedding area in the woods that goes into a good plot on the north of the property. All of my traps are on edge areas. I have several that have produced nothing for several months, including some that historically were producers! If I was more motivated, I would have moved them during the season.

View attachment 91355

Thinking many den trees in that bed area? Den trees are only thing that produces during coon rut for me.

 

[Telemark]

Interesting you mention den trees. Isbthere anything to put inside a den tree to make it unattractive to raccoons? Like coyote fur?

 

[356]

Thinking many den trees in that bed area? Den trees are only thing that produces during coon rut for me.

I believe there are den trees on our neighbors property. When I was retrieving a deer that cross the line to expire last October, I saw a large dead/dying Oak with a nice cavity and lots of claw marks that is close to the hottest trap. I've not seen any like that on our property, but there could be one I don't know about.

 

[goatman]

Interesting you mention den trees. Isbthere anything to put inside a den tree to make it unattractive to raccoons? Like coyote fur?

Yeah a dead coon.

 

[Telemark]

Yeah a dead coon.

Ok i will try it. The density are high up, but I can bring an aluminum ladder. I was hoping to use something that wouldn't keep the wood ducks away, but first priority is reduce the raccoons.

 

[356]

I am pulling the traps today, as I will be out of town starting tomorrow (our landowner season ends April 14). Overall it has been a good season, and I may put an occasional trap by the chicken coop as needed. I hope those who can still trap will keep posting updates, as this thread has encouraged me more than once to take the time to set the traps.

As I wrote at the beginning of the season, my goal is not to eliminate the predators, but to keep the numbers in check. Hopefully the burn rotations we will be implementing will do as much or more good than trapping!

 

[BC Buck]

Interesting you mention den trees. Isbthere anything to put inside a den tree to make it unattractive to raccoons? Like coyote fur?

There gold! Keep traps at base will help control #. Many times cant see opening or think hole is way to small. Watch for claw marks in bark of big trees on uphill side.

 

[BC Buck]

I am pulling the traps today, as I will be out of town starting tomorrow (our landowner season ends April 14). Overall it has been a good season, and I may put an occasional trap by the chicken coop as needed. I hope those who can still trap will keep posting updates, as this thread has encouraged me more than once to take the time to set the traps.

As I wrote at the beginning of the season, my goal is not to eliminate the predators, but to keep the numbers in check. Hopefully the burn rotations we will be implementing will do as much or more good than trapping!

Heard regular burs drop nest raider # by 80%. Why does burning help?