Anyone here trapping predators/varmints as part of a turkey management program?
Definitely
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One of the conditions of my biggest farm is to kill as many coyotes as possible. I try to thin them out 10-15 times a year plus targets of opportunity :OGturkeyhead:
Several opossums on my belt this spring already
I trap raccoons , possums and skunks. Also the guy I share the lease with takes care of the yotes , fox and bobcat. This is the first year we started this so can't comment if it's going to be productive.
Short answer-no. I trap on my own farm to help out the small deer herd. There are turkeys just to the north and east of me. I'm sure that helps the turkeys too. I have seen some cat sign on the public I hunt this year. If it was closer to my house I would consider setting a small line or two. I do enjoy trapping coyotes and cats and I may add some coon traps for next winter. I generally catch a few skunks in my sets every winter along with a coon or two.
I should add I don't do it for the fur, I give my catches away. I do it just to remove predators.
I am actually studying for my fur-trappers license now. My landlords kids let me hunt their land and I want to give back to them in some way and they have a lot of coyote out there. I also intend on giving them some kind of seed to plant or just handing them the money to use for what they will on the land. When I was unable to hunt the one son would give me a bit of venison ever year so we all have a very good relationship. I have lived above their father and mother and now their mother since 91 Their father was a great man.
Absolutely! I hammer the coyotes, cats, foxes, coons, possums, skunks, ferals, etc. I don't discriminate when it comes to predators/furbearers and wear them out. You won't see an immediate benefit but after a couple years you'll definitely notice.
I have a scorched earth policy on nest predators and fawn killers BUT I go into knowing that I'm only making a very small dent in my local population. It would take a lot of time and determination from every land owner to thin them as much as it is needed on a yearly basis.
Any advice on trap brand/size for getting started? Coyotes are taking over my land and making the turkeys skittish as hell. Saw several this morning. I am wanting to go hard core on them this year as well as coons. Poor turkeys don't stand a chance. Any advice from experts would be great. I have been researching trapping on Utube.
Quote from: saverx on April 20, 2018, 07:32:19 PM
Any advice on trap brand/size for getting started? Coyotes are taking over my land and making the turkeys skittish as hell. Saw several this morning. I am wanting to go hard core on them this year as well as coons. Poor turkeys don't stand a chance. Any advice from experts would be great. I have been researching trapping on Utube.
Knowing your state and habitat would really help on giving advise.
Quote from: saverx on April 20, 2018, 07:32:19 PM
Any advice on trap brand/size for getting started? Coyotes are taking over my land and making the turkeys skittish as hell. Saw several this morning. I am wanting to go hard core on them this year as well as coons. Poor turkeys don't stand a chance. Any advice from experts would be great. I have been researching trapping on Utube.
I use montana #3 traps, the dog less design stays in tune better than dog-on traps. Bridger #2 or #3 are good traps too if you want a dog-on trap. Make sure to use good trap chain and 3 swivels per trap. Most important things for coyotes is be on location with your traps, bed them rock solid and use a good backing at the set so they can't work it from the back side where there is no trap. Ideally you want 2-3 pounds of pan tension and a level pan also. Coyotes are pretty smart and will humble you. Snares are a good tool also if you can use them.
For coons i like a #11 long spring trap or a dog proof. They are much easier to trap than coyotes. There is a lot more to trapping but thought this little bit of information would help. I'm no expert but have trapped for a while, feel free to pm me if you have more questions.
Quote from: saverx on April 20, 2018, 07:32:19 PM
Any advice on trap brand/size for getting started? Coyotes are taking over my land and making the turkeys skittish as hell. Saw several this morning. I am wanting to go hard core on them this year as well as coons. Poor turkeys don't stand a chance. Any advice from experts would be great. I have been researching trapping on Utube.
I'm no expert but any size 2 and above trap will work for fox, coyote, and cats. Bridger 1.65 is a good and economical trap that'll also work well. Just check your state laws regarding size restrictions and seasons. I prefer MB 550 and MB 450 traps.
You can click on the youtube link under my coyote avatar and it'll take you to my page which has a couple videos on how to make basic sets. Hoosier Trapper, Predator Control Group, and Management Advantage all have very informative youtube pages that will shorten the learning curve. Feel free to pm me with any questions, I'll help if i can.
Quote from: dublelung on April 21, 2018, 12:31:37 AM
Quote from: saverx on April 20, 2018, 07:32:19 PM
Any advice on trap brand/size for getting started? Coyotes are taking over my land and making the turkeys skittish as hell. Saw several this morning. I am wanting to go hard core on them this year as well as coons. Poor turkeys don't stand a chance. Any advice from experts would be great. I have been researching trapping on Utube.
I'm no expert but any size 2 and above trap will work for fox, coyote, and cats. Bridger 1.65 is a good and economical trap that'll also work well. Just check your state laws regarding size restrictions and seasons. I prefer MB 550 and MB 450 traps.
You can click on the youtube link under my coyote avatar and it'll take you to my page which has a couple videos on how to make basic sets. Hoosier Trapper, Predator Control Group, and Management Advantage all have very informative youtube pages that will shorten the learning curve. Feel free to pm me with any questions, I'll help if i can.
I'm no expert either. I'm fond of the MB 550s and have a few #3 Sleepy Creeks. I like to anchor mine with earth anchors on a chain. I'm trapping soft ground and they hold well but are easy enough to dig out after season. Generally use a feed sack to kneel on when making a set so I don't leave a lot of scent. I just use dirt hole sets but tried a post set last year and caught a cat. I've used a few cubby sets with a little rabbit fur, squirrel tail or bird wing. Those sets tend to catch more trash like skunks and opossums though.
Quote from: zelmo1 on April 20, 2018, 05:49:30 AM
One of the conditions of my biggest farm is to kill as many coyotes as possible. I try to thin them out 10-15 times a year plus targets of opportunity :OGturkeyhead:
I have read some studies that show that killing coyotes might not be as beneficial as we think...
Coyotes eat some turkeys (I have called them in enough turkey hunting to know this is true)... But coyotes primarily eat small mammals, including egg eaters such as raccoons, opossums. and to a small degree even skunks which are far more harmful to turkey and upland populations, as well as bobcats which target turkeys and upland game more so than yotes.
Plus the critters that coyotes eat (such as squirrels and rabbits) compete for the same food as do upland game (including turkeys).
Granted the studies were done on a small scale, and were directed towards upland game (not including turkeys)... But in the studies done, the areas with aggressive coyote control suffered a decline in the upland population as compared to the areas that were not controlled for coyotes...
So while I would not claim that coyote control is not beneficial, I would also be hesitant to claim that it is... Especially if you live in an area that has high populations of racoons or opossums...
Quote from: Marc on April 22, 2018, 01:14:05 AM
Quote from: zelmo1 on April 20, 2018, 05:49:30 AM
One of the conditions of my biggest farm is to kill as many coyotes as possible. I try to thin them out 10-15 times a year plus targets of opportunity :OGturkeyhead:
I have read some studies that show that killing coyotes might not be as beneficial as we think...
Coyotes eat some turkeys (I have called them in enough turkey hunting to know this is true)... But coyotes primarily eat small mammals, including egg eaters such as raccoons, opossums. and to a small degree even skunks which are far more harmful to turkey and upland populations, as well as bobcats which target turkeys and upland game more so than yotes.
Plus the critters that coyotes eat (such as squirrels and rabbits) compete for the same food as do upland game (including turkeys).
Granted the studies were done on a small scale, and were directed towards upland game (not including turkeys)... But in the studies done, the areas with aggressive coyote control suffered a decline in the upland population as compared to the areas that were not controlled for coyotes...
So while I would not claim that coyote control is not beneficial, I would also be hesitant to claim that it is... Especially if you live in an area that has high populations of racoons or opossums...
That's why you target them all and don't discriminate. Even if you save one nest, that could result in a few male poults that will eventually be the longbeards you hunt. You can't save them all but it's certainly beneficial to eliminate as many egg eaters as possible.
We trap raccoons and shoot yotes or bobcats when the opportunity arises.
Quote from: Spitten and drummen on April 20, 2018, 07:02:36 AM
I trap raccoons , possums and skunks. Also the guy I share the lease with takes care of the yotes , fox and bobcat. This is the first year we started this so can't comment if it's going to be productive.
just curious, did trapping coons and possums help with your turkey populations after a couple of years? i started trapping this year around april 15 and i am going to continue until i think all nests have hatched (in MS i'm guessing mid may?) Its kinda a pain to go check traps a couple of times a week but if it will improve my turkey hatches i will do it...
Quote from: MISSISSIPPI Double beard on April 22, 2018, 10:54:22 AM
We trap raccoons and shoot yotes or bobcats when the opportunity arises.
just curious, did trapping coons and possums help with your turkey populations after a couple of years? i started trapping this year around april 15 and i am going to continue until i think all nests have hatched (in MS i'm guessing mid may?) Its kinda a pain to go check traps a couple of times a week but if it will improve my turkey hatches i will do it...
Quote from: wchadw on May 03, 2018, 12:51:25 PM
Quote from: MISSISSIPPI Double beard on April 22, 2018, 10:54:22 AM
We trap raccoons and shoot yotes or bobcats when the opportunity arises.
just curious, did trapping coons and possums help with your turkey populations after a couple of years? i started trapping this year around april 15 and i am going to continue until i think all nests have hatched (in MS i'm guessing mid may?) Its kinda a pain to go check traps a couple of times a week but if it will improve my turkey hatches i will do it...
It helped mine tremendously, went from seeing a few poults at most and 0 some years to over 20 last year
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thanks... just wondering if it was worth the effort.
i have taken out quite a few so hopefully i will see a increase
Quote from: wchadw on May 03, 2018, 12:57:54 PM
thanks... just wondering if it was worth the effort.
i have taken out quite a few so hopefully i will see a increase
In TN we have to check them every 24 hours and i trap all of february while working 50 or so hours a week. Worth every minute to me.
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Quote from: Goodtimekiller on May 03, 2018, 12:53:13 PM
Quote from: wchadw on May 03, 2018, 12:51:25 PM
Quote from: MISSISSIPPI Double beard on April 22, 2018, 10:54:22 AM
We trap raccoons and shoot yotes or bobcats when the opportunity arises.
just curious, did trapping coons and possums help with your turkey populations after a couple of years? i started trapping this year around april 15 and i am going to continue until i think all nests have hatched (in MS i'm guessing mid may?) Its kinda a pain to go check traps a couple of times a week but if it will improve my turkey hatches i will do it...
It helped mine tremendously, went from seeing a few poults at most and 0 some years to over 20 last year
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How long did you trap before you noticed any difference?
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Quote from: wchadw on May 03, 2018, 05:48:48 PM
Quote from: Goodtimekiller on May 03, 2018, 12:53:13 PM
Quote from: wchadw on May 03, 2018, 12:51:25 PM
Quote from: MISSISSIPPI Double beard on April 22, 2018, 10:54:22 AM
We trap raccoons and shoot yotes or bobcats when the opportunity arises.
just curious, did trapping coons and possums help with your turkey populations after a couple of years? i started trapping this year around april 15 and i am going to continue until i think all nests have hatched (in MS i'm guessing mid may?) Its kinda a pain to go check traps a couple of times a week but if it will improve my turkey hatches i will do it...
It helped mine tremendously, went from seeing a few poults at most and 0 some years to over 20 last year
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How long did you trap before you noticed any difference?
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On roughly 500 acres I have trapped 6 possum and 4 coons in a little less than a month. Not sure what kind of impact that would have?
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Saw a coyote at noon today, right by my farm . I couldn't pull over fast enough. Coyotes don't eat as many egg eaters as they do hens on nests. I whack em all :z-twocents:
I called in two red foxes last sunday afternoon. One was at 40 the other at 25 yards, since they're not in season, they get a pass. In the fall I'm under strict orders from the neighbors, who's land I hunt, to shoot every coon & yote I see. Shot 3 coons & 2 yotes last fall's turkey season.
The more predators killed the better imo. Was talking to a friend and member on here. We were talking bout avian predators. I'd never thought of this nor had I seen predation on turkeys by birds.
I'm shooting my bow one day and I notice some hens w poults. Dang hawks came swooping in trying to grab em.
The hens ran the poults into a hedgerow and actually took flight after hawks. I was amazed.
At the refuge we mentor at we had a turkey biologist doing a seminar. Normally I'm busy working but on this day I had a moment to speak to the biologist. I asked about avian predators and they're impact.
He mentioned one study group they did where almost 100 hens were collared. They were keeping tight tabs on em. It was a drought he said and many animals were nearer the water. The hen nests were too.
That year he said out of all those poults only a couple survived. Shoulda been a couple hundred. Many were observed taken by birds of prey, in fact moreso than any other predator.
Being these birds are protected we can't touch them but it shows what predators can do.
Kill every legal predator you can
Quote from: Bowguy on May 04, 2018, 12:11:52 PM
The more predators killed the better imo. Was talking to a friend and member on here. We were talking bout avian predators. I'd never thought of this nor had I seen predation on turkeys by birds.
I'm shooting my bow one day and I notice some hens w poults. Dang hawks came swooping in trying to grab em.
The hens ran the poults into a hedgerow and actually took flight after hawks. I was amazed.
At the refuge we mentor at we had a turkey biologist doing a seminar. Normally I'm busy working but on this day I had a moment to speak to the biologist. I asked about avian predators and they're impact.
He mentioned one study group they did where almost 100 hens were collared. They were keeping tight tabs on em. It was a drought he said and many animals were nearer the water. The hen nests were too.
That year he said out of all those poults only a couple survived. Shoulda been a couple hundred. Many were observed taken by birds of prey, in fact moreso than any other predator.
Being these birds are protected we can't touch them but it shows what predators can do.
Kill every legal predator you can
I have seen hawks take many a poult and now we have bald eagles as well.
Quote from: Happy on May 04, 2018, 02:08:13 PM
Quote from: Bowguy on May 04, 2018, 12:11:52 PM
The more predators killed the better imo. Was talking to a friend and member on here. We were talking bout avian predators. I'd never thought of this nor had I seen predation on turkeys by birds.
I'm shooting my bow one day and I notice some hens w poults. Dang hawks came swooping in trying to grab em.
The hens ran the poults into a hedgerow and actually took flight after hawks. I was amazed.
At the refuge we mentor at we had a turkey biologist doing a seminar. Normally I'm busy working but on this day I had a moment to speak to the biologist. I asked about avian predators and they're impact.
He mentioned one study group they did where almost 100 hens were collared. They were keeping tight tabs on em. It was a drought he said and many animals were nearer the water. The hen nests were too.
That year he said out of all those poults only a couple survived. Shoulda been a couple hundred. Many were observed taken by birds of prey, in fact moreso than any other predator.
Being these birds are protected we can't touch them but it shows what predators can do.
Kill every legal predator you can
I have seen hawks take many a poult and now we have bald eagles as well.
Shoot em all!!!!
Just kidding of course.My buddy has noticed an increase in turkey population since he started hammering the nest raiders a season or two ago.
I have called in several coyotes, but I've never been a big game Hunter, and I don't shoot things with legs.Only birds, and carp.
Quote from: Happy on May 04, 2018, 02:08:13 PM
I have seen hawks take many a poult and now we have bald eagles as well.
I would guess that hawks and owls take far more poults than any other predator.
Having had owls nest in my duck shack, and seeing the young pheasants, ducks, and other small/young birds stacked up on my roof, I would guess that owls are far more devistating than we give them credit for.
Quote from: Marc on May 11, 2018, 01:25:04 PM
Quote from: Happy on May 04, 2018, 02:08:13 PM
I have seen hawks take many a poult and now we have bald eagles as well.
I would guess that hawks and owls take far more poults than any other predator.
Having had owls nest in my duck shack, and seeing the young pheasants, ducks, and other small/young birds stacked up on my roof, I would guess that owls are far more devistating than we give them credit for.
. That's a good point.Owles do kill a lot of birds, but I'm not going to shoot one. I only shoot what I can legally.