Drowning Your Trapped Prey And a Question

[SwearNoAllegiance]

My roommate and I were talking about trapping the other day. I was telling him that I'd like to trap the coons that dumpster dive at our apartment complex. Right behind the dumpster is a decent thicket of trees and brush that I could set the traps in. They're rather nice looking coons, large too.

My roommate then reminisced about how his granddad and he used to kill the animals they trapped. They drowned them by sticking the whole cage into the river next to their house. I was shocked. I had never heard such a thing and am not sure if this is acceptable hunter practice.

The reason he brought that up is because we cannot shoot them here, city limits, and we do have a nice creek that runs next to the complex. I need to get my air gun from my mother's place.

I am sure the apartment complex folks will give me permission. We're on personal/friendly terms and the coons spread the trash everywhere. Win/Win.

Since I've got permission to hunt on a huge slot of land elsewhere, I'd like to do some trapping there as well. Where would I go online to look for some affordable traps for small game: Coons, rabbit, bobcat, fox?

 

[WardenWolf]

That's horribly inhumane. Drowning is NOT a nice way to go.

 

[Mp7]

anyone above the age of 8 should be over such cruel-methods.

Get a pistol crossbow.
Or get a decent club, drill a hole in top, fill with lead.

i´ve killed very big fish with just one hit.
Takes some determination.

 

[buck460XVR]

That's horribly inhumane. Drowning is NOT a nice way to go

Having almost drown myself a few years back, I have to say that is a very inaccurate statement.....but then IMHO, there is no good way to die.

Years ago when I was an active trapper, drowning sets were the norm for several species......and coons were the nastiest when it came to being trapped. Have you ever seen how a conibear trap works? It's not a pretty sight either and they are considered much more humane than leg-hold traps. Drown the suckers and don't tell the bleeding hearts. Much faster, cleaner and more humane than clubbing them to death.

I am sure the apartment complex folks will give me permission.

Just make sure the season is open and you have the correct license.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

That sounds pretty inhumane to me. Even clubbing it to death would be better if you knocked it out on the first strike.

 

[tcrocker]

Having traped for fur before that is one of the only ways to kill animals with out damaging the fur , there is one other way that I know of but you could get hurt doing it. This would inply you standing on the chest of the animal, if you do this wear thick boots they will bit, I used a pole with a slip knot on one end to put around the animals neck to control it. If you are doing it for fur ether way will do, if you are doing it for meat a 22 is best. The human poplulation has gotten way to soft to survive in bad time. I got a email the other day saying that hunter should stop hunting and buy meat at the store and stop killing animals I guss animals in the store all died of old age.

 

[Claude Clay]

I guss animals in the store all died of old age.

actualy they read their 401's just before they passed away

 

[Lucky]

How do you drown a rock?

Realistically my Grandfather lived on an isolated farm and EVERYONE was what we'd call today poor. When you have a lot of little animals to get rid of, what's recommended?

 

[usmc1371]

I saw a live trap the other day that came with a hose so you could direct your car exhust into the trap and gass them to death. I think I would rather drown them or get a good air gun, clubing a coon that is really un happy could be quite the mission.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Having traped for fur before that is one of the only ways to kill animals with out damaging the fur

Woudn't a small caliber handgun work?

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I always used a one way slide wire anchored in deep water when available to drown my catch before I arrived. Since I also trapped on land for fox and coon I carried an RG22 in .22 short. Body grip traps like the Conibear are illegal on land in Alabama.

 

[TCB in TN]

Drowning while it may not appear very humane, is certainly better than beating on to death with a club! It is also far less likely to end up damaging either the trap or someone than shooting even a .22 into the trap.

 

[X-Rap]

Drowning is the best most efficient way possible on a trapline. If your apt. has a creek nearby I would make drowning sets there and not try to trap in the dumpster area. A big coon in a leg hold will pull out or tear up all the ground within chain radius plus will be very aggresive to any human that might be dumping their trash. A live trap will have to be fastened down well and be very strong to hold a big coon plus you have the exposure problem with the rabbit people as well.
An exception as to the live traps are the ones made of opaque white plastic, the animals don't seem to get as riled when they can't see out.

 

[61chalk]

I've trapped before to, an drowning is part of it. If you can't shoot them, trying to club the coon as you let it out to take a swing.....well...make sure you have a video camera on cause so you can share, could bring some laughs when you miss an it tears up your leg.....YOU had better call the DNR, there are seasons for them, if they are causing damage they may let you trap them.....what I would simply do is live trap them, an take them to a farther area an release them.

 

[bang_bang]

Having traped for fur before that is one of the only ways to kill animals with out damaging the fur , there is one other way that I know of but you could get hurt doing it. This would inply you standing on the chest of the animal, if you do this wear thick boots they will bit, I used a pole with a slip knot on one end to put around the animals neck to control it.

My friend's father is a trapper and uses a technique similar to kill them. Instead of using the slip knot method, he usually pops them on the nose with a hickory cane to knock them out. Then he will watch for their chest to fall, then step on them.

He did tell me once that after doing this to a bobcat as thinking it was dead, him and his cousin put it in a sack they used to carry them out with. While both of them are riding a dirtbike down to their house...the bag started moving...

Needless to say they made sure it was dead before continuing on to the house.

 

[Reyn]

I have been rendered unconscious(not going into it so please dont ask) from a lack of oxygen and it goes quick. Had no pain or memory til i came too. Never hurt really just scary afterwards. I always figured one would struggle for a while but i didnt. There was panic then out.Very fast.

Id say it's as humane as shooting or beating.

 

[CoRoMo]

I'm not going to cry my eyes out because a raccoon drowns instead of it dying from clubbing attempts to hit its thrashing head.

 

[shaggy430]

I've trapped coons from apartment complexes before. My wife manages an apartment complex and they were always getting in the dumpsters. I got permission from the owners of the property. I would always trap them and then shoot them in the head with an adult pellet rifle. None of the residents were any the wiser.

 

[X-Rap]

The big thing with animals with the size and disposition of racoons is being in close proximity when they are alive and POed. They are quite able to inflict damage to a human as well as transmit some very bad diseases.
In a lot of areas a very high % of tested animals will be rabid or have distemper.
If you choose to gas use a box trap that limits the view the animal can have of its surroundings and build a plywood box that will hold the trap. Flex your exhaust into a fitting on the box and let your engine idle until the coon is dead. You want to leave it in the box until you are sure its dead, I cannot stress how bad it will be if this coon revives and is in your car trunk, garage, deepfreeze, backpack, or skinning gambrel.

 

[frogomatic]

drowning is the method I like best for several reasons. I don't have to worry about damaging my traps, I don't have to worry about the critter escaping, the pelt is never damaged, it doesn't cost a dime, and no extra tools are required.

edited to add: it's also perfectly safe, no worries about getting bit/clawed/whatever

 

[CoRoMo]

Some of you guys sound quite experienced, and drowning seems to be the best option.

 

[X-Rap]

I agree especially with leg holds. Anyone who has caught animals on dryland when its muddy can attest to the extra time needed to wash all the mud from the fur, at times it can be difficult to even identify the species. It takes little effert to stake or weight your chain in deep enough water to drown the animal and in the case of muskrats it will help protect them from becoming mink food.
Most wild animals are very tough and strong for their size and having them dead before you get there will speed up your whole operation.

 

[SwearNoAllegiance]

I am really glad to hear that experienced trappers agree about the drowning of the animal. Having thought about it, I agree with your reasons. At first glance, it just seems barbaric.

Do ya'll ever have any trouble with people stealing your traps?

 

[X-Rap]

Trap theft is one of the greatest expenses for the trapper IMO.
When I was doing it I would loose traps to kids that were trying to get started, some who saw an animal in my trap and at times the prices were more than they could resist, anti's, rival trappers, pheasant hunters walking the waterways.
You have to be out early and late both to retrieve your catch.
Its hard to hide a big critter floating in the creek, or an ear of corn stuck into the bank with a trap set in the water below it. Your best bet is to trap private land but even then the land owner will likely allow others to hunt and otherwise trespass his land. Some lazy thiefs will drive the county roads and find your sets in culverts,tiles and bridges and just steal the animals ahead of you. Get dirty and stake out such spots once you can narrow down the time, it can get nasty when you come out of the grass and confront the thief in the act. There are still people I hold a grudge against back home after many years because of trapping issues.