FUR FACTS 101 



The following are the three prize winning methods in the Funsten 

 Trapping Contest. As all three of these men are extremely successful 

 trappers with a long number of years of experience, these methods 

 will be of value to those interested in the trapping of coon. 



Winner of the First Prize for Best Method of Trapping Raccoon 



"This is my method for trapping coon. First, get the best traps 

 made — ^Newhouse No. l}^ — then go to the lakes, swamps, or small 

 streams and find where the coons are running, which you can tell 

 by the tracks made along the banks. Set your trap out in the water 

 far enough for the water to cover the trap, then cut a brush and 

 lay it in the water beyond your trap, also one on the bank. Bring 

 the two near enough together to leave a space of about eight inches 

 where your trap is set, then lay a small stick across the opening 

 about six inches from your trap, so when the coon passes through 

 the opening he will step over the stick into the trap. 



If brush extends entirely across a shallow stream, make an open- 

 ing in the center of stream; and set your trap in this opening, 

 and you will get nearly every one that passes along that stream, 

 as the brush will force him to go over your trap. He will never go 

 through the brush, if he can find an opening. 



As to bait, I find Funsten's bait for coon the best. In using the 



bait I always make a small enclosure out of twigs, leaving an opening 



for the coon to go in; put a few drops of the bait on the leaves inside 



of the enclosure, then place trap in opening so he will have to pass 



over the trap to get the bait." 



R. L. Smith 



Winner of Second Prize 



"(1) Select a place for your trap near a creek or ditch that is the 



natural runway for your animal. No. Ii4 or No. 2 Newhouse trap 



is the size I use. I do not cover the trap, but place the bait about 



twelve to eighteen inches over the trap or under the pan. (2) Saw 



a place in a log over the creek just to fit the trap, bore a one-inch 



hole under the pan for bait; put trap in notch and secure the chain 



to a pole or anything. I araraaage for coon (or any animal) to fall into 



the water and drown. (S) Deadfalls are my surest way. I use 



"figure 4" triggers, with bait tied to the trigger. (4) Blocks sawed 



from anything; I use persimmon or hickory saplings, two by four, 



with one-inch hole through the block, and put spikes in one end, so 



that the coon can not ,pmll its foot out. Fasten with wire or chain to 



a ' 'swinging limb," or (t© 3^ 4T^g p»le. Set your block in or near the 



