2025/2026 Trapping season.

For your planning purposes:

Trap dip is a one season thing.

I tried to revive it but gave up. Stained hands and pants is all I have to show.

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Heres a fox, half offset and offset. All MB 450s.

The "fox" is closed jaw but comes with an extra swivel.

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Heres a 450 and a 550 adjacent.
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Size wise they punch in a different weight class but the springs are the same size so it seems like a 2 coil 550 will do the same amount of work as a 450.
 
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Duke 110….anyone else had this happen before? Happened on the trigger? Maybe a pred twisted a marten out of it and caused it to disassemble? I’m perplexed. No snow. Minimal sign of struggle. Thoughts?


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One more unsolicited prep post.

I used brake parts cleaner because I only have 3 traps to prep but otherwise I would use a big azz pot of boiling water.
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I used wax today but man I wish that dip had worked out. Wax stinks too for different reasons. Leave 'em in the wax until the trap is the same temp as the wax and you're done.

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as.ks.ak said:
8444859f0d20a8830ad881268bc7fbcd.jpg


Duke 110….anyone else had this happen before? Happened on the trigger? Maybe a pred twisted a marten out of it and caused it to disassemble? I’m perplexed. No snow. Minimal sign of struggle. Thoughts?


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Was there any fur laying around like a fox or coyote ripped it out of the trap?
 
It’s been so damn windy if there had been its long gone.


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My annual week of nest raider trapping has come to an end here in Missouri. Here’s to hoping it helps at least one turkey nest this spring. Here are my totals:
  • Sunday 2/22/26 7 raccoons, 1 skunk
  • Monday 2/23 1 raccoon
  • Tuesday 2/24 4 raccoons
  • Wednesday 2/25 2 raccoons, 1 skunk
  • Thursday 2/26 nothing
  • Friday 2/27 2 raccoons
  • Saturday 2/28 1 raccoon, 1 opossum
  • Sunday 3/1 nothing
2026 Total - 17 raccoons, 2 skunks, 1 opossum

Here are my previous year totals:
  • 2025 - 13 raccoons, 6 opossums
  • 2024 - 31 raccoons, 4 skunks, 4 possums…this was 3 weeks
For anyone interested in targeting nest raiders and you don’t know where to start, here is what I do:
  • Dukes DPs rock. I have an alert set for deals. I usually pick up a handful every time I can get them for $10/each to my house.
  • I have ~33 traps right now. I’ll probably pick up more between this year and next year. I have way more than I need for the small area I trap, but I think more is better. This gives me the opportunity to put traps in weird places. My best spot is a random place I put a trap in on a whim, and now I put 5 there.
  • I put a golf ball on top of my DPs. I’m not sure if it helps, but it makes checking the traps so much faster. This protects the bait as well. If the golf ball is still on top, you don’t have to go over and check the bait.
  • I run dry cat food as bait. It’s just very easy. There is probably something better, but the dry cat food seems to work well for me. I also use a squirt of fish oil around the traps. I haven’t noticed a catch rate change across all the baits I have tried, so simple is the best for me.
  • I have tried a handful of different ways of securing the DPs including stakes, cables, and screws. I like stakes the best. Assuming the ground isn’t completely frozen, stakes are so easy and they can be put just about anywhere. I initially thought that cables were the best, but they get tangled and they can get the raccoons in a bad situation after they are caught. I have purchased my stakes from Scheel’s.
  • I use a 22 rifle to dispatch the raccoons. I aim for the brain. If you don’t hit them just right, it can sometimes take a second shot. I usually shoot each one 3 times just to make sure it doesn’t suffer more than it has to.
  • I use a 5 gallon bucket with a “tool organizer” to carry everything (cat food, fish oil, extra stake or 2, mallet, bullets golf balls). Here is the link to what I put in the bucket: https://a.co/d/0fFw8IsO
  • I have a jet sled that I drag with me to throw the raccoons into. You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to carry 4 raccoons in your hands for a half mile (personal experience).
  • I like to check traps in the morning before work. Assuming they are caught overnight, I feel bad if they have to sit in the traps longer than what is necessary.
If you like turkeys, it doesn’t take much effort or money to put a hurting on some raccoons. If anyone has any questions, feel free to pm me.
 
Saw coons on the road a week ago. Moved some DPs and finally connected with a sow.
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Twinkle toes is back and still comically avoiding the mine field.

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as.ks.ak said:
Ahhh okay. Now it makes sense to me. I have a lot of places I can do something like this. Thanks for the explanation.

I’m getting my traps degreased and boiled/waxed this weekend…late to the game for this season but still a few months left up here. Better late than never right?

So much to learn.


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The second you catch fur you’re going to have a new obsession on your hands! Best of luck this season!
 
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