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Post by mjkluesener on Oct 11, 2008 17:24:34 GMT -5
Just to set the record straight, I am a “hobby trapper” as Bob W puts it. Someone who traps for the challenge, not for a paycheck or to put food on the table. Good thing, I grown accustom to eating on a regular basis. I have wanted to try some coon boxes for a while now. Since I only had a few places I felt confident using them, I started with only 6. Being a tight-wad I scored some plywood from a scrap pile. Wanted a 10x10 box to use with 220’s Here is what I started with.  Top is 24’” long, sides are 18”. Bottom is scrap. Be sure to make it long enough so the box doesn’t rock forward. I glued and stapled them together. Top has an overhang to discourage any non-target critters.  This picture shows the slots for the trap springs. Slots are about 6 inches deep. I cut two different sizes to compare how the trap fires. About the same, but the smaller slot holds the trap a little firmer.  I have since added wires on the sides to hold the springs tight. A little paint to brake up the outline. The black ones need some brown to blend-in better. Front view  Hardware cloth guards the back door. Add a little of this.  And you get this.  These pics are from 2007. Think I be adding more to the line. Mike |
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Post by tonymalone on Oct 11, 2008 18:11:55 GMT -5
sounds like a plan  |
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Post by DaveM on Oct 11, 2008 19:22:30 GMT -5
Mike, it looks like you are ready for all them $40 coons.  |
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Post by Tim Rose on Oct 11, 2008 19:42:45 GMT -5
Cool...nice to see it pay off.....
I wonder if boxes work better than buckets?
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Post by Bottomline on Oct 12, 2008 7:00:50 GMT -5
Looks good. That gizzard shad is great bait.
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Post by bobwendt on Oct 12, 2008 8:10:31 GMT -5
I`ve changed terms now. now I call some trappers businessman trappers and others not, pending their ability to make money trapping , or not. some can be as skilled at trapping as the best of the best, but yet lose money doing it and no problem with that. folks pay to play golf. hunters end up with more $in a deer than the best prime beef. it`s just what floats a guys boat. some need a financial return to justify the efforts, and others not. me,. I`d just set the 220 blind in a hot trail, but know guys that do well with boxes too.
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Post by sawdust on Oct 12, 2008 11:10:51 GMT -5
i got all fired up after watching a matt jones tape where he and his partner stacked up the coons on a river trapline while using boxes. i built quite a few boxes and had a lot of time invested plus a lot of lumber.
boy was i disappointed. the boxes are huge to cart around plus the traps and some form of stake to keep the coons from turning them over. and they just didn't seem to work that great.
i can't imagine a basic dirthole on a dryland location or a basic pocket set on a creek/lake shore or a snare or a 220 in a hot trail can be beat.
i think the boxes are just like any other gimmick set - totally unnecessary and a big consumer or time and energy.
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Post by bobwendt on Oct 12, 2008 12:15:06 GMT -5
the room, weight and carrying would knock them out for me. a lot of videos have stuff in them that what appears isn`t what it appears.
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Post by sawdust on Oct 12, 2008 14:56:06 GMT -5
the best trapping information i ever received from a trapping video?
"make a set directly next to a track or a turd. it's so easy your grandma could do it."
guess who said that.
and you know what, it now seems so easy and so simple and it works like a dream.
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Post by mjkluesener on Oct 12, 2008 20:58:09 GMT -5
When I use them, it's in a boat. Weight not a issue. Trails are hard to find with the water washing the bank clean. I set-up next to log jambs, no self respecting coon gonna pass that up. As far as anchoring...rocks, logs anything heavy works. Cable the trap off to a tree or log. Not saying it's the cat's a$$, just another way of getting the job done. Next thing I going to work on is snares on the toilet logs.
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Post by rivertrapper316 on Oct 12, 2008 23:42:10 GMT -5
i got all fired up after watching a matt jones tape where he and his partner stacked up the coons on a river trapline while using boxes. i built quite a few boxes and had a lot of time invested plus a lot of lumber. boy was i disappointed. the boxes are huge to cart around plus the traps and some form of stake to keep the coons from turning them over. and they just didn't seem to work that great. i can't imagine a basic dirthole on a dryland location or a basic pocket set on a creek/lake shore or a snare or a 220 in a hot trail can be beat. i think the boxes are just like any other gimmick set - totally unnecessary and a big consumer or time and energy. Todd, You can drop them worthless boxs off at my house. ;D |
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possum
Fair Weather Trapper
Posts: 85
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Post by possum on Oct 13, 2008 4:42:31 GMT -5
Norm Abrams would be proud of you. Though he would have routered the edges and used dove-tail joints. After all, it's just a hobby. Otherwise, why not just use a bucket?
As far as the snare on a log set--why not just set one of the boxes next to the log? Coons would rather eat than poop and you won't have a snare mark on the pelt.
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Post by bobwendt on Oct 13, 2008 5:19:33 GMT -5
I can see where they might shine on a big river or washed bank line. still seems like chopping a tree to get a toothpick, imo.
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Post by sawdust on Oct 13, 2008 7:44:35 GMT -5
rivertrapper,
i hope to do some tailgating at conventions next summer.
you can bet the boxes will be for sale, cheap - like about 5 bucks apiece - maybe less if someone buys the whole lot of them.
even in a big johnboat i can't imagine carrying too many of them.
i'm not saying they won't or don't work. i'm just saying that a pocket set or dirthole will work better with less overall effort and equipment required. perhaps even the old fish on a stick would work better.
but, whatever each person likes best is the best for them.
ts
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Post by rivertrapper316 on Oct 13, 2008 9:21:54 GMT -5
Yes they are big and they do take up a lot of room in a boat But , The water leave movement is where they will help you out . You ever tried to keep 60 to a 100 coon sets in good working condition on a river that is up six inches today and down a foot tomorrow and then back up the next. It can be done but it will work you to death. It is boxes ,buckets and LIL Grizz on the river for me or I don’t go.
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