Transfer vs. Swap
#5109982
07/04/15 09:28 AM
07/04/15 09:28 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 377 New York
Jim Comstock
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 377
New York
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Most of the time I like to simply swap out cages when a catch is made, trap for trap, super fast and easy with no worries about losing anything and still prefer to do it that way. When pressed for cages, now and then I do some transferring, but always end up with a crash course if why I prefer swap out. Last night had two baby chucks in separate cages, needed more cages so made the transfer, but not quite. I looked the other way, made a move and the little bugger slipped out and jumped off the back of the truck. Without going into the details, I did manage to get him, but it was nip and tuck all the way with the outcome uncertain and in doubt, a close one to say the least. At least there were no clients gawking.
Its surely is easy to make a costly mistake and end up with a wised up, educated critter to deal with, so I'm still on the side of swap out.
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Re: Transfer vs. Swap
[Re: Jim Comstock]
#5110097
07/04/15 10:44 AM
07/04/15 10:44 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,129 Adirondacks, N.Y.
trapdye
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,129
Adirondacks, N.Y.
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Jim had his sneakers on, the poor chuck didn't have a chance to get away. had the same happen last night, had moma in one cage & three little ones in another, last one out of the cage didn't want to go in the holding cage, one second & he was free. went back this morning, he was waiting in a cage for me.
John's Nuisance Wildlife Control If you like what you do for a living, It's better than a vacation. Most days.
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Re: Transfer vs. Swap
[Re: Jim Comstock]
#5110222
07/04/15 12:33 PM
07/04/15 12:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 32 OH
Eric Arnold
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 32
OH
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I think most of it is how long the animal is in the cage and its experience with being caught. Animals left for several days and/or harassed are going to be more of a problem to catch again. Those removed within several hours with minimal stress will be easier to catch again as there is not a lot of negative experience associated with the trap.
Eric Arnold Publishing Editor W.C.T. Magazine Editor The Fur Taker Magazine
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Re: Transfer vs. Swap
[Re: Paul Winkelmann]
#5110236
07/04/15 01:03 PM
07/04/15 01:03 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 604 New York
ponyboy
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 604
New York
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As long as it's the 4th and appears to be time for true confessions, I have one also. I was recently doing a five feral cat removal.
On day number three, cat #3 managed to escape the back of the van very similar to the way Jim described. The customers did not see
the escape and I didn't mention it. A week later I caught the same cat in the same cage ( Not a Comstock ) using the same bait. And
no, I did not charge the customer twice for the same cat. Unlike Jonesie and a lot of you guys, I have no trouble catching animals
that were caught by customers and got out. I have a theory that most animals let their desire for a free meal over-ride their fear of
cages. I know a lot of you will think I'm nuts but that should be obvious by now! How do you know it's the same raccoon? Don't they all look quite similar Paul? Or do you tag them somehow? Usually, when I start catching too many at a place the customer thinks that I am catching the same ones over and over.
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Re: Transfer vs. Swap
[Re: Jim Comstock]
#5110686
07/04/15 09:34 PM
07/04/15 09:34 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,361 mequon, wisconsin
Paul Winkelmann
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,361
mequon, wisconsin
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While I can't tell what the customers' raccoons look like because I have never seen them, they wouldn't call me if they could
recapture them by themselves. We catch every raccoon in the area and if we miss any the customer can call us back. I was carrying an
oddly marked raccoon in a transfer cage and did not notice it wasn't properly closed. The raccoon not only escaped but ran right by
the customer. I apologized and told her I would catch it again. Five days later that same raccoon was in the same brand of cage on
the other side of the house and I used the same bait. This has happened on more than one occasion and I'm not making this up. I don't
think that recapturing escaped raccoons is as hard as getting a lactating female into a cage even though she's never been
caught before.
Last edited by Paul Winkelmann; 07/04/15 09:36 PM.
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Re: Transfer vs. Swap
[Re: Jim Comstock]
#5111521
07/05/15 06:32 PM
07/05/15 06:32 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 78 E. Iowa
hvtrapper
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 78
E. Iowa
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I transfer most animals (except skunks) I catch using a PVC tube trap that I built with a plexiglas guillotine door. Wire cage traps are turned upside down and a cage separator is used to pin the animal in the back of the trap. the trapdoor is then opened and the transfer cage placed in position, usually on top of the trap door holding it open. With the tube trap door open, remove the separator and run the animal into the tube sliding the door shut behind it. My transfer cage also doubles as my euthanasia chamber and has a hole drilled in it just large enough to allow the hose from my CO2 tank to slide into.
Have I had animals escape? YEP!
As to chasing animals on foot, just did that last Tuesday. Chased a juvenile raccoon down in a grocery store parking lot. When I started to run out of gas I flipped him over a couple of times with a cat grasper until I could grab him.
Tom Walters
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Re: Transfer vs. Swap
[Re: Jim Comstock]
#5113476
07/07/15 09:16 AM
07/07/15 09:16 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 377 New York
Jim Comstock
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 377
New York
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I believe the strike 3 is what some guys are running into now in some areas with coon. I am told that animals are not always responding like they should to cage traps in some places where there was no problem only a few years ago, reaction to cage traps changing more frequently, a problem emanating from transport and release perhaps, strike 3? Also, each area has different situations, no cookie cutter solutions across the board for every situation or condition, just trappers adapting to a new day with a new approach.
Using positive sets, trails sets etc. in places that provide little opportunity for refusal, I have not payed a whole lot of attention to odors, except that woodchuck duky really stinks up my truck. However, it does smell like money. I agree with the above in the value of the odor from a catch, a big plus, likened to foxes and dirt hole sets, only better after a catch is made. Cages can be used to that advantage in at least 2 ways, which really becomes a function of not cleaning traps. Traps left or swapped out can both be positive when traps are not cleaned. Even with a swap out traps can be used in the same manner. It doesn't hurt to get to a chuck trap late in the day as more odor is added. Odor is still in the dirt even when a trap is removed, but of course not at much as when the cage is left at the site. However, the uncleaned removed cage with odors can then be placed at a new location to be used as an attractant in the same manner, so the odors are not "lost" but simply utilized at the next location. The uncleaned cage can be left or moved to utilize the scent of a catch. With chucks, a bare double door cage brought from another location can be placed in the open with both doors opened to take the next chuck, no trail, no den, no bait, just a really nasty smelling trap.
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