xfactor

In my younger days i was avid trapper of racoons and possums,I used to tan thier coats and sell them at flea markets.They were way over populated in those days though

mike

just curious what people would pay for the coats. I would like to learn more about trapping like what types of traps and baits you would use.

epiphany

Usually when people trap raccoons they use a steel/metal box trap that opens at both ends with a little trigger in the center of the trap which when hit will shut the doors on the ends. The bait is usually sardines or other fish.

As for opossums, I would guess that they use the same method, although I don't think people really hunt or trap them here on purpose unless they are being a menace by getting in the trash cans and so forth. It isn't uncommon to see dead opossums on the road ways here because they are so over populated where I live.

porkchop

thanks to peta and the decline of the fur trade..trapping is no longer desired. metal traps are for folks that want to get rid of the critter without harming it. real traps are snares...wich chokes the animal to death when he sticks his head through it.or he gets his leg caught in it and chews it off to get out.or the steel trap which catches his head and breaks his neck or again gets a foot caught in it and chews it off.ive got nothing agaist a trapper but lets tell it like it is...theres nothing nice about it.its pain and suffering and death.unless you want to eat it please leave it alone.conventionly hunt it with a bow or rifle dont make it suffer. i love to hunt more than anyone out there but i want to give the animal a chance.

epiphany

I have to agree that if you don't plan to eat it then leave it be.

I can't understand why anyone would want to eat an opposum, or a raccoon. I had actually never knew of anyone eating either until some guy in high school brought a raccoon to school and cooked it in Home Economics, it smelled up the entire school it stunk so bad.

Creek Walker

I am certainly in agreement with the concept of leaving it be if you don't plan to eat it. It's for that very reason that I've nearly given up a type of hunting that I dearly love - squirrel hunting.

But there are exceptions. Horse owners, for example, will want to kill or trap any coons or possums that are in the vicinity of their barns because those critters get into the food box and eat and their scat can carry a disease that is fatal to horses. We also used to trap and kill all groundhogs around because they burrow holes in the fields that you might not notice until your horse has broke a leg in it.

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porkchop

coons and possums are greasy animals when you skin them. unless you really know how to prepare one to eat...i assure you that you probably wont like it.however a coon that has been skinned and prepared in the proper manner is quite tasty with a little "john boy and billys grilling sauce"