Cleaning Traps

Say you just caught a big ole bore coon. What's your process for cleaning the trap?

Reset the trap and catch another.
Some of mine are cleaning right now.....it's raining.
Other than that I don't.

I'm really conflicted about this question. I have a tendency to agree with Brian for the most part. But I also have good reason to

believe that catching your big boar coon close to a nesting female is not going to help me catch her. I would certainly invite lots

of other opinions!

Car wash on the way home for me. Cost less than 25 cents a cage. Always carry quarters in the truck. With clean traps, I don't have to worry about catching young/female coons or ground hogs. Just what works for me.

Jim had an excellent response. How about some more ideas.

Paul, if you're targeting a nesting female, you shouldn't catch a boar. (although I did catch one boar in a 220 over an entry, he was going in. Then I caught the sow and pups/kits/babies coming out).
99% of my groundhogs are positive set. It doesn't seem to matter if the cage smells. But, I do prefer to use aired out cages for them.
If they really need a rinsing, I will hose the blood and dirt off.

I typically use a pressure washer, or car wash. I always wonder during those times when the coon just seems to avoid the trap, is it trap shy, or is it scent left on the trap? I've always wanted a steam washer, not just for traps but could never justify the expense or space. Anyone use one?


Steam washer

Females with young are already programed paranoid by nature and many times just avoid unfamiliar things or devices just as a built in defense mechanism. Some coons are just educated by us or the bunny hugger catch and release consumers that do it all the time.

Scent in or on a trap can be an asset or a curse depending upon what you are trying to catch, the animals age, past experiences and what time of year it is.

Then you have forced positive trap setting which requires less concerns with trap odor situations to help us all out at times.

If our cages get real bad caked with feces, mud, lure/bait and hair or start to show a bit too much rust I will pressure wash those. Then I pan dip the cage bottom 4-6" into a rectangular tray I had made years ago with some diluted rustoleum and let air dry on a good sunny day and I am back in action for a few more years.

Positively agree with Brian and Bob on positive sets whenever possible. ( And even some times when it's not possible ) I figure if my

pressure washer can cut a hole through drywall I probably don't really need the steam washer. I spray painted for 25 years so I'm not

against touching up rust spots with Rustoleum myself. Great answers-keep 'em coming!

I try to keep a cage that has caught a ground hog available but everything else gets run through the car wash. Hot water, soap and wax.

I haven't washed my beaver cages though. The tannins and the acidic water around here puts a nice black stain on them that I like.

See, Steve brings up another question I've always had. Do you use the soap at a car wash or any type of cleaner through the pressure washer at home or just stick with pressurized water like I've been doing? I had never tried it, but always wondered if it would attract or repel different species?

Cleaning traps is going to be more of a concern as our industry continues to grow. Since this question is being addressed in WCT Magazine I won't do my typical multi-paragraph, anal retentive response (I know, some of you are soooo disappointed, lol).

The first question that needs addressed is why does the trap need cleaned in the first place. Is it for disease purposes, odor, removal of feces/hair, storage issues, just because, etc.

Second, once you know WHY the trap needs cleaned the question then turns into how do you clean it? There are different cleaning styles and possible location restrictions based on the method you choose. Also, based on the reason more than just the traps themselves may need to be cleaned which again is something that needs to be thought about.

You sound so professional eric....if only they knew you in person hahahahahahaha

Well I guess I can forget about doing a column about trap cleaning. I'm so glad I'm a member of Trapperman ADC or I wouldn't know

what is going on.

G Hanold, I use plain water in my pressure washer on traps but I use Simple Green and a mitt to wash the vehicles. If you use soap on

your cages, I suggest Irish Spring around St. Patrick's Day, Dove on pigeon traps, Safeguard soap on your Safeguard cages, and of

course, Ivory on your elephant and walrus traps. I hope this helps.

I usually only wash the opossum poop off cages, cuz they are REAL stinkers.