Open season

[muddy]

Iowa recently opened year round deprivation on coon and grinners because turkey numbers are plummeting due to no one trapping. We set 14 dog proofs last night and snagged 10 coon (4 nursing) and 1 grinner (had 10 babies in pouch) this morning. The goal is to once again have sustainable turkey broods on our property. The last 8 years we haven't had single broin. I do feel bad for wanton killing, but these nest raiders don't hold back on eggs or poults

It's on.

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[blackwidow]

Iowa recently opened year round deprivation on coon and grinners because turkey numbers are plummeting due to no one trapping. We set 14 dog proofs last night and snagged 10 coon (4 nursing) and 1 grinner (had 10 babies in pouch) this morning. The goal is to once again have sustainable turkey broods on our property. The last 8 years we haven't had single broin. I do feel bad for wanton killing, but these nest raiders don't hold back on eggs or poults

It's on.

20230527_180415.jpg
20230527_180348.jpg

Well done Muddy. I hate the wanton killing too, but understand the need for it. As people continue to foolishly develop everything that they can make a buck on, wildlife continues to suffer from being more crowded on less ground. The results aren’t pretty unless we do something about it.

[Bowhunting Brian]

I'd rather trap them in late fall when they have more value.

[muddy]

I'd rather trap them in late fall when they have more value.

Well, the thing is, there is ZERO value. A buck a coon if you're lucky around here.

[Chad Gus 715]

Been doing the same around our farm, as well

[muddy]

7 more today

[Ol Split ( ) Toes]

I'd rather trap them in late fall when they have more value.

Well, the thing is, there is ZERO value. A buck a coon if you're lucky around here.

Not last year wait untill fur primes up in November if I remember correctly xxl coons were bringing in around 15 dollars average green.

[muddy]

I'd rather trap them in late fall when they have more value.

Well, the thing is, there is ZERO value. A buck a coon if you're lucky around here.

Not last year wait untill fur primes up in November if I remember correctly xxl coons were bringing in around 15 dollars average green.

I'll be in a tree come November

[KRONIIK]

Kill as many as you can now.
Then in the Fall, kill as many more of them as you have time to kill, after getting your deer.

And if you happen to get the (one in about a hundred) that will actually fetch fifteen bucks for its' pelt, buy yourself a case of beer and celebrate all of them.

(I hear you can get a case of Bud Light for pretty cheap these days.)

[Kokes]

awesome job muddy, totally agree a lack of trapping these coons is really putting a dent in the turkey numbers

ive caught 6 this season running 2 dogproof traps, was hoping to get more but had a lot of days when there wouldnt be anything in the traps.

Do you have any tips on trap placement and preferred bait?

[muddy]

awesome job muddy, totally agree a lack of trapping these coons is really putting a dent in the turkey numbers

ive caught 6 this season running 2 dogproof traps, was hoping to get more but had a lot of days when there wouldnt be anything in the traps.

Do you have any tips on trap placement and preferred bait?

Gotta move them around. Look for big den trees or fence crossovers, etc. We've been using cat food and mini marshmallows.

[Kokes]

awesome job muddy, totally agree a lack of trapping these coons is really putting a dent in the turkey numbers

ive caught 6 this season running 2 dogproof traps, was hoping to get more but had a lot of days when there wouldnt be anything in the traps.

Do you have any tips on trap placement and preferred bait?

Gotta move them around. Look for big den trees or fence crossovers, etc. We've been using cat food and mini marshmallows.

Great good to know, Ive been using the bigger marshmallows and sardines..

[Hawthorne]

Kudos to you guys for doing the stewardship. The better areas I know for turkey hunting are where guys run dogs for racoons and coyotes. My old spot I don’t turkey hunt anymore has so many racoons they are almost tame. Maybe why low turkey numbers. If I lived there I would do some control

[hunter_mike]

That oughtta make a difference!

[Dewey]

I’m surprised how many coons are dead on the roads around here. Seems like the population has exploded. Wish more people would trap them and get them under control.

Possums get a feee pass since I found out they love to eat ticks.