Any Trappers Out There?

[farmerjim]

"Do you have feral hog problems?"
Not yet. They are in the area, but no sign of them on my property .
One of my friends about 5 miles from me has them on and off. They will come in and do a lot of damage, and then disappear for 3 or 4 months. I know it is just a matter of time before they find me. I have an
8 1/2 foot fence around my garden area, the deer that can't jump it will ram into it till they make a hole to go through, so I know it would be nothing for a hog.

[Steve]

In the future they might be good eating and fun shooting. Wish I had that problem farmerrjim.

[farmerjim]

A deer is just a rat with antlers.
They have cost me thousands of dollars in the damage they do to my crops.

[Steve]

A deer is just a rat with antlers.
They have cost me thousands of dollars in the damage they do to my crops.

The deer really work over the corn near any timberline here in Iowa, end rows are bare. This year I think the deer population is down in our area.

[357cyrus]

FarmerJim, can you find out where the raccoon are entering the field? Probably several places with trails warn down to the dirt. Around here they can almost look like tunnels going through thick grass. Id set those dog proofs right in those paths so they literally have to walk around them... every 20 feet or so. Im not sure what bait would attract coon but not ants. Vanilla maybe? Maybe some kinda gland lure? Ive seen guys take a Styrofoam coffee cup and cover the dog proof trap after its baited. Coons see it as trash/meal and may keep cats from being able to get it. Either way, if you catch a cat once, i doubt you'll catch the same one again.

[Steve]

When I was around 15 myself and 2 others ran a unsuccessful trap line. 2 would work, one would sleep in. In the morning we walked 3 miles to check the traps before school.

Luckily the only time we caught any coon was my day off. I didn't have to help carry 3 + miles.