Has anyone tried catching racoon in deadfall traps? I am starting to build one and am looking at a 60# steel plate for the deadfall (small package). They are pretty tough. Will this be heavy enough? I'm only looking at a 6" drop, again to keep the package small. The reason I'm not using leg hold traps is I'm just in the city limits and the noise of a caught 'coon may be a problem.

You might want to check and make sure trapping is legal within city limits. I know here, it's illegal though if it wasn't I'd have taken several coons this last season.

I had a problem last year with coon's getting into my trash every night. I set a Havahart live trap and caught a few last year. I dont know what kind of noise it made when it was first caught but when I went out in the morning they were all quiet. I'd take them about 5 miles away and let them go again in a secluded woodsy area.

A 220 Conibear trap makes short work of coon ,chucks ect.
I set them infront of a 12" pipe with bait in the pipe (other end blocked off).
If you have a Gander Mountain they carry them ( they do in my area).
Just have to block off the area so no kids or dogs get in any trap.

Apples and bannas work great for coon bait ( cats and dogs are not atracted).

Hope this helps .

Johnch

never heard of a deadfall trap, is this a kind of a live trap?

It is a kill trap that drops a log or weight on the animal to kill it .
That type of trap is not allowed in Ohio .

Johnch

Be careful. You might set for raccoon and get the neighbors cat or dog. I would recommend a live trap. That way it will save you legal problems. It the raccoon season open now?? Check your regs before you make any decision on traps and there usage.

Thanks for all the input. I'm sorry I didn't do my homework first. Deadfall traps are illegal in IL also. The bait I would use would exclude cats (they won't touch hashbrowns). No dogs loose in our area (for any length of time) that I have seen in 8 years. I'll check the ordinances for trapping in the city. Probably not allowed. Trying to protect my garbage & garden. Tried the "tabasco sandwich" last year. Worked for about two weeks. I couldn't believe it was eaten! Thinking of something more permanent.

Try the live traps. They're perfectly legal, since it's not killing the animal. Then, like PA said, you can take it away and release it in the wild... or, if you're like my wife, you can put it in a cage and try to domesticate it.

i would check with your local authority,
city limits generally have stricter requirements than state level
might need a specific nuisance license/permit