Texas Sized Hog Trap - Round 3

[Dusty Britches]

Three years ago I built a food plot with the intention of using it to trap hogs in the off season. While I didn't get a whole lot of positive encouragement - mostly "that won't work", I stuck with it and adjusted it as I met with success and failure. You can read about it here:

Texas Sized Hog Trap
Texas Sized Hog Trap Round 2

Summary - this is a 1.5 acre food plot with 32" high tensile hog field fencing from StayTite. T posts are 6 feet apart. The gate is 10' wide. The whole thing cost about $600, but I had the Tposts from old fences that we ripped up. The hunt area is 80 acres, but my neighbors have 110 acres.

Year one I trapped maybe 4-6 hogs but really didn't put a lot of effort into it. The first hog I trapped was a 300 pounder so I knew the set up worked.

Last year, I trapped 120 hogs and the numbers climbed quickly when I added utility 2x4 fence on the inside to keep the strippers from going through the big squares.

Key points on this trap - the size of it keeps the hogs from realizing they can't get out. They run the line, hit the cross fence, run it, hit the next corner, etc. I added cattle panels to round out the corners to keep them from piling up in a corner. The gate is 10' wide so the hogs feel comfortable with the space. The trigger is 75' in to allow as many hogs get in as possible. The food plot has brush and plum tree groves to allow the pigs to bed down and feel safe and to get out of the sun.

One final note - there is no way to load out live pigs. My goal is to kill every single one of them. No hogs leave alive. And my neighbors take nearly every hog. One is an 82 year old retired preacher who processes them and lets people who are in need come get them from his freezer. However due to the ammo shortage, I may have to build a chute and ramp to load them out and haul them to a buying station. Or shoot them with my bow.

So now the bell has rung on round 3 and I've decided to go mainstream with this live thread by moving it out of the Do it Yourself and into the Campfire.

This year I set it literally the day after deer season ended. It always seems something goes wrong. I thought I'd move the trigger in more, but it was too far away for my cameras to pick up. Then the new rope stretched some but now it is fine. The feeder battery went bad. Then the timer went bad. And the deer were so aggressive at the corn under the tire they triggered the gate. One thing after another. And, since January 4, I've not seen any hogs any where near the trap.

I replaced the timer last night. I also had some corn meal in the garage that was attracting mice that I decided to dump out. I must remember that corn meal smells very sweet and is very strong. It was virtually a powder so the scent carried very well.

I left the scene at 4 pm. By 6 pm, the deer were in the plot. By 605, there were hogs all around the outside of the trap. Then, they went in. And out. And in. The feeder went off at 7 pm and the hogs scattered. But they quickly came back. And they found the corn under the tire. By the time they dropped the gate 1 pig left but I caught 5 last night. I'll shoot them this afternoon. We trapped 5 in the box trap last week, so we are at 10 hogs killed for 2021.



The buck is at the tire. This is the first pig to enter the trap.


I'm pretty sure one of these made it out before the gate dropped.


As you can see, there's more work to be done.


At midnight 30 they look pretty relaxed. They've been trapped for almost 5 hours at this point.


I'll post the LDP later. My best friend CamoQuest is coming over with her son to help me shoot them.

[Goldensammy]

Nice work.

[Dusty Britches]

Out of the 120 we killed last year, 110 found new homes. I think I might tell the church up the road to have members who want to process the hogs to provide me with phone numbers.

The most we trapped at any one time was 21. And I've trapped multiple days in a row.

[Preacher Man]

Loved your prior threads. Good on you for helping to feed people with the meat.

I'll be following along again. I hope you kill a ton of 'em.

[tigerscowboy]

Just wanted to say well done. Good luck.

[rtp]

Looking forward to following this.

[gingib]

Thats awesome! Fill us in more on the trigger method with pics

[Smart]

In to follow like the previous ones! Good luck!

[Dusty Britches]

Originally Posted by gingib

Thats awesome! Fill us in more on the trigger method with pics

Click Round 2 thread. It's the first post.

[Fishndude]

Get em girlfriend!!

[GarGuy]

Make em dead. Keep up the good work.

[Bowshark]

Greatness!!!!

[RebeccaCreekKid]

Last year, I trapped 120 hogs and the numbers climbed quickly when I added utility 2x4 fence on the inside to keep the strippers from going through the big squares.


If you need help with the strippers...

[Dusty Britches]

Ok, so I can't spell. Baby pigs!

[RebeccaCreekKid]

Originally Posted by Dusty Britches

Ok, so I can't spell. Baby pigs!

I know what you meant, but it was too good to pass up!

Been following, keep up the good work and way to go!

[Dale Moser]

In! These threads deliver.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AntlerCollector]

This is such a great concept. The fact that you’re able to feed people is a very rewarding bonus.

[Gunswayne]

Outstanding!

[westtexducks]

Tagged. Just went back and read through the first 2 threads. Those were fun reads. Sounds like yall are getting it perfected slowly but surely. I have to ask though what have yall been using to kill them? I thought a .22 to the dome or maybe a 17hmr but if they are running crazy may not be enough.

[fish4food]

Awesome start already!

[Dusty Britches]

Other people's ammo. . Mostly 223. We tried 22 but most of the shots are 120 yards.

There were 6 in the trap. I know it doesn't look like 6 but there was. A small on on the bottom. I think they were all sows, too

[Texas Grown]

Don't stop! Keep trap-n-em!


Looking forward to the adventure Ma'am.

[gmj]

Hope you beat last years number.

[dustoffer]

Originally Posted by RebeccaCreekKid

Last year, I trapped 120 hogs and the numbers climbed quickly when I added utility 2x4 fence on the inside to keep the strippers from going through the big squares.


If you need help with the strippers...

I used some chain-link fencing in my trap, buried about 6-8" deep and wired to the panels with the top 12-15" loose so if they try to climb, the top sags inward and they fall. Has worked great for me so far.

[Biggs]

Now that’s a real trap

[Dusty Britches]

Originally Posted by gmj

Hope you beat last years number.

Me too! I'm hoping for 200.

So are my neighbors! One gives me corn left over from his silo clean out.

[Stan R]

Dusty I will donate some steel case 223 55 gr FMJ

You would have to meet me in Bryan or College Station.

[Dusty Britches]

Can you believe it? I have not seen any pigs since we shot these 6 in January. The deer are cleaning me out on corn.

A few weeks ago, 5 little tiny pigs showed up and they would come in about 6 pm eat a bunch of corn and run out. They were not big enough to push the tire. Then the next night, a sounder with much bigger pigs came by but never would enter the trap. This would happen 3 or 4 nights in a row then they would all disappear for a week. I was getting frustrated. My preacher friend kept calling asking if I had any pigs for him yet. Nope.

I happen to be very patient and that is a good thing. About once a week, I would go refresh the corn holes and make sure everything was in good order.

I haven't seen anything except deer in the last 5 days. Then ... last night THE 5 baby pigs came in at 6:20.

The moment they dropped the gate:


The next minute, they are all calm.


Over night 1 did mange to escape, but we did shoot the other 4.


So Boys, Meat is back on the menu! I don't think I'm going to get my 200 this year, though. Even my neighbors said they haven't seen any.

[SaltwaterSlick]

I don't know how in the world I've missed these thread unless they were all three in the DIY forum... I don't venture over there... Maybe I should!!
What an awesome trap!! I'm going to go read the other threads now and learn the details on the trap... got some in Webb County that need to be dedd!

[hog_down]

keep after it! great design on the trap, and nothing but positive things to say.

[Aggiebow88]

in!

[Gunfish]

Putting this on my list!

[wdtorque]

Awesome! Way to persevere! Don't waste ammo, could probably save a catch dog from death at the pound and stab em? I'm be happy to mail you some slightly used surplus arrows too.

[SaltwaterSlick]

Oh WOW Tracey, I went back and read the other two threads!! How I missed these up to now is beyond me!... well except I never go to the DIY forum... THANK YOU for putting this one main stream!! These rival the Boaris threads!! ... Well except for maybe Ethan being the star over there with Boaris...



If you built a swing gate, you could trap all the time, even after it is sprung... We had a pen like this when I was a kid in the woods in East Texas and there's no tellin' how many hogs we caught out of it... My dad built a deer stand that overlooked it too... Killed some good bucks there too. These threads brought all sorts of good memories rushing back!
Thanks for taking the time to post all of this! I'll be in and watching for Round 4!

[Pistol]

The best part is, except for the cameras, there are no electronics involved. Just a huge self-trapper.

[Charles]

I read all 3 parts and thoroughly enjoyed all of them.

[Dusty Britches]

I think the key was as Kenner said on here- stay flexible, try everything, and adjust as we go. That's what the pigs are doing.

All of my neighbors said the 138 we trapped and shot last year made a big difference this year. I wish and hope the pigs know they are always welcome to check-in! But they'll never check out.

I have to add - the biologist finally checked it out and he was very impressed. My neighbor saw it today and said he was going to build one. He said he just couldn't afford that drop trap system and thinks this is just as effective at catching whole sounders.

[Luis Ramirez]

Like it

[Gladesgator]

Congratulations on a great idea, kill em all.

[Dusty Britches]

The problem with a swing gate, Charlie for me is first, the gate needs to be at least 8 feet wide. This was one of the best trap design ideas or component that I researched. Big hogs are intimidated by smaller gates and it takes a lot more coaxing to get them in. I went with 10 feet so I could drive my tractor with disc and shredder into the food plot.

The other problem I see with a swing gate is once they get this big, there's not a whole lot of hogs that can push it open. I've tried the "9" design and only the bigger hogs would go in.

The trap trigger is 75 feet into the trap and needs a 20+ pound pig to push the tire. That means with them eating the corn it gives time for the bigger pigs to make their way past the gate. The more pigs eating corn, the more attractive it becomes. And if they come and go, that's fine. They are just getting comfortable. They will eventually come and stay.

My next design upgrade will be to build a load out chute and an ATV access. My problem is finding the strong backs and weak minds to help.

[jason86]

Awesome! Loved last years thread!

[TP3]

Nice work. Love the simplicity.

I built a load out chute and it has made loading the pigs the easiest part.

http://youtu.be/WJ-VH8oCbb0

[SaltwaterSlick]

Originally Posted by Dusty Britches

The problem with a swing gate, Charlie for me is first, the gate needs to be at least 8 feet wide. This was one of the best trap design ideas or component that I researched. Big hogs are intimidated by smaller gates and it takes a lot more coaxing to get them in. I went with 10 feet so I could drive my tractor with disc and shredder into the food plot.

The other problem I see with a swing gate is once they get this big, there's not a whole lot of hogs that can push it open. I've tried the "9" design and only the bigger hogs would go in.

The trap trigger is 75 feet into the trap and needs a 20+ pound pig to push the tire. That means with them eating the corn it gives time for the bigger pigs to make their way past the gate. The more pigs eating corn, the more attractive it becomes. And if they come and go, that's fine. They are just getting comfortable. They will eventually come and stay.

My next design upgrade will be to build a load out chute and an ATV access. My problem is finding the strong backs and weak minds to help.

That's good sound reasoning! I concur! However, if there's a particular area where the hogs show up on the back side or down another side of the fenced off area, it might still be a good idea to add a swing gate and just leave it free... more than one way to get in now...

[Dusty Britches]

Could it be? Maybe?



I think so... maybe.... Sometimes they go in but don't hit the tire, but looking at the time stamps, I think they checked in.




Dad gum fog this morning blocked my cameras!



Yup. Definitely checked in. But how many?? Auuggghhh! This is killing me!


I guess you all are going to be in suspense with me until I can get out there to kill them this afternoon.

[SaltwaterSlick]

So you caught 'em and they're in the pen somewhere?

[Pistol]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterSlick

So you caught 'em and they're in the pen somewhere?

yes. There are two small plum thickets that they rest under. This makes it easy to shoot them at her convenience

[Dusty Britches]

My neighbor came over at lunch and we went to shoot them. There were 8 - one big white and black sow and 7 x 50 pounders. The sow took advantage of an armadillo hole and my neighbor just watched them scoot under it. I couldn't see what was going on from where I was.

He should have shot into them to get them off the hole. The sow and 5 others made it out. The last 2 fell to bullets to the head. We'll get them again sometime soon. I've got to get that guy to shoot faster.

And then I totally forgot to get pictures!

I fixed the hole and staked it with a 3/4" rod. They won't get out there again.

Maybe next time!

[SaltwaterSlick]

Anybody else but you Ma'am and I'd apply the "rule", but guess we can take YOUR word for it...

[Muskles]

I've come to hate armadillos more than the pigs. Hopefully you will get a second chance.

[Dusty Britches]

Originally Posted by TP3

Nice work. Love the simplicity.

I built a load out chute and it has made loading the pigs the easiest part.

http://youtu.be/WJ-VH8oCbb0

I went back and watched this. It was really hard to see it. Can you post pictures or a different video of it? It doesn't need pigs in it to show how it works next to the trailer. My trailer sits up about twice as high as normal stock trailers, too, so I'm sure the easiest thing to do for loading would be to build a ramp.