I have been reading this board for a few weeks now and am becoming increasingly interested in setting traps. I am just a little curious if someone could give me a good starting point on where to look and how to use them and WHAT to use? Thanks for your replies.

"Clutz by Nature, Hospitalized by Fate..."

Pyral

What critters do you have in Alabama to trap? I presume coons and fox for starters. If you are in a more populated area, I would recommend foot traps either around the #2 size. Coilsprings should work just fine for them. If you want to use quick kill traps, 280 and 330 conibears work great for fox, so they could be an all around use trap. You can check out some traps on e-bay in the sporting goods section. Go to sporting goods and type in a search for trap or conibear and some listings will come up.

Good luck!
ArcticBowMan's Hunting Photo's

Like Arctic said, the #2 coilspring is a good overall foothold trap. If you have a lot of trails around, invest in some snares. They are quick, light, and easy to set. But a few things you may want to look into buying are some good lures and baits. I get all of my bait and lures from http://www.murrayslures.com. This guy has some good lures and if you need to order any other traps or accessories, ask him, he will set you up. Also read any trapping magazines or articles you can get your hands on. Good luck.

Without passion.....Why bother?

Thanks for the info gents, to answer the question about the wildlife we have located in the back forty of the US: we are overrun with coyotes which I have started hunting this year and don't think traps are too practical for such, we also have fox and coons as you stated along with alot of beaver and on the bayous we are just about choked to death with nutrias. In fact I have killed three just driving my boat over them this year. I figured I would try and trap the fox, beaver and coons and just shoot the nutrias with my .22 WMR.

Thanks again for the responses, I appreciate the info.

"Clutz by Nature, Hospitalized by Fate..."

Pyral

for fox and coon, use 1 1/2 coilsprings. For the beaver nothing smaller than a #3 coil or 330 conibear or 3/32 snares. You'll lose more coon than you hold in #2's unless they are on a drown wire.

If I ain't huntin',I'm trappin',If I ain't trappin',I'm fishin'
If I ain't fishin',I'm wishin'!

[Deleted by Admins]

a lot of the leghold traps are not legal here in Fla. so I just use live traps I make myslef.
I make mine a little larger than normal.18" square and 3'long.that way they are good for most anything.
last night I got two big coons in one trap.they are eating all my deer feed.so I started traping again.

read all you can on trapping to get all the other ideas.everyone has there own way.

good luck.

I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.