About this time last year I had a good run on pigs, and have noticed a sounder of large pigs on game cam for the last few weeks, so between haying and fishing we set up our big catch pen/trap next to the feeder to see what happens. I guess it is the weather conditions that are conducive to trapping for the summertime luck I've had in the past. The ground is so hard they can hardly root, worms are down deep, and mast is still on the trees, so they are coming into the feeders regularly.
I've never actually popped the cherry on this trap before, we made it late last year and have only used it as our catch pen so far, but Friday she got broke in and I found this guy in the trap.
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Checked it on my way to work and he was the only one in there, so I took a quick pic and went on in to work and was going to have one of the hands dispose of him. Hand called me about noon and said the trap was empty. Went back and looked at the game cam and originally there were two pigs in there to begin with, one escaped, then the last one escaped from the time I took the picture, till when the hand went to check it. Both were seen climbing out the top. Trap is 5' tall made out of 4"x4" panels. They got in the corners and was able to brace themselves on each side and make it over the top. This has been a concern of mine ever since we built the pen, but we've had 20 or so in there and nothing had ever escaped. We can't put a permanent top on the pen, because we intentionally built it in sections, for easy portability, and also because the trip mechanisms extend beyond the top. So we wired in some 2x4's that come about 10 inches inside the trap, so if something climbs up the side, they can't make it to the top to support all their weight and pull themselves out, instead their body weight will make them fall back in the trap. Sounds good in theory anyway. Rebaited the trap and left.
Came back this morning and had these three sows locked in. I'd put them about 100-125 each. Nice and fat, would make some good eaters. Trap isn't in the best position, as it gets sun till about noon, so I'm going to leave them in there for bait for one night, then dispose of them tomorrow. There are boars in this sounder that are 200+, so I'm hoping they will draw them into the other side of the trap.
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I've never actually popped the cherry on this trap before, we made it late last year and have only used it as our catch pen so far, but Friday she got broke in and I found this guy in the trap.
[Broken External Image]
Checked it on my way to work and he was the only one in there, so I took a quick pic and went on in to work and was going to have one of the hands dispose of him. Hand called me about noon and said the trap was empty. Went back and looked at the game cam and originally there were two pigs in there to begin with, one escaped, then the last one escaped from the time I took the picture, till when the hand went to check it. Both were seen climbing out the top. Trap is 5' tall made out of 4"x4" panels. They got in the corners and was able to brace themselves on each side and make it over the top. This has been a concern of mine ever since we built the pen, but we've had 20 or so in there and nothing had ever escaped. We can't put a permanent top on the pen, because we intentionally built it in sections, for easy portability, and also because the trip mechanisms extend beyond the top. So we wired in some 2x4's that come about 10 inches inside the trap, so if something climbs up the side, they can't make it to the top to support all their weight and pull themselves out, instead their body weight will make them fall back in the trap. Sounds good in theory anyway. Rebaited the trap and left.
Came back this morning and had these three sows locked in. I'd put them about 100-125 each. Nice and fat, would make some good eaters. Trap isn't in the best position, as it gets sun till about noon, so I'm going to leave them in there for bait for one night, then dispose of them tomorrow. There are boars in this sounder that are 200+, so I'm hoping they will draw them into the other side of the trap.
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We will see. I do have guests coming ya know.
