I want to start trapping coons and don't want to make a mistake by not knowing the rules. Where can I find info on equipment requirements, seasons, limits, etc?

Also, does everyone here agree that it isn't worth the trouble of skinning for what the pelts bring now? Who buys them around here? Have any of you ever heard of a place that will take your pelts and make you a blanket out of them?

Go here and download the pdf. http://www.outdooralabama.com/trapping-regulations-and-enforcement

Thank you

So I just read through the regs.

Am I correct to summarize by saying:
1.buy $20 trapping permit
2. Only trap on land you have permission to trap on
3. Affix a metal tag with name and address to your traps
4. Check your land traps every day
5. Carry a choke pole with you and .22 or smaller if desired

A couple things I see people doing sometimes are using oversized traps and hanging bait. Trap limits on land are 5 inch conibear, 6 inch foothold, and 5.5 inch powered foot snare. No elevated or suspended bait but you can hang an attractant like feathers or foil or something to get their attention just not bait.

Thanks. Do most supplies (choke pole, scents, traps) need to be ordered online or do stores sell that kind of stuff?

Traps and supplies are much cheaper online. F & T supply has really great customer service.

Release poles can be made for next to nothing unless you just want one from a manufacturer.

Ok thanks. I noticed on the WMA permit the raccoon limit of 5. Does this apply to trapping? I'm not sure how it could since you don't know how many you will catch unless you only put out 5 traps

You are going to have to get permission from the area biologist to trap on the wma so they will fill you in on whatever rules they have. Otherwise there is no limit I am aware of.

I use a piece of electrical conduit with a rope through it for a catch pole. Works fine and had it laying around.

I have some of that and thought about making one but wasn't sure how long it needed to be. Any advice? Also what type rope? I don't want s mad coon getting ahold of me.

Cable is better than rope but I've used both. Really all you'll need it for is to release a dog if you catch one. Mine is a 3' long piece of 3/4" pipe with 1/4" cable ran through it.

This is not a very good pic of mine but it's about 3.5 feet and I used a stiff rope so the loop stays open, probably about 1/2 inch. This was just to let my son try it out, like north40 said, only real need around here is to release a dog. [img:center]http:// [/img]

A piece of pipe or conduit and A old lawn mower deck belt works great for a catch pole.

That's not a bad idea, I just changed the belt on mine a few weeks ago. I will throw it in the truck for a spare because I always have some pipe in there.

Freedom brand fb2 6 for $56.95 October special on f&t. Is that a good deal?

That's a good price. I bought some last year and didn't like them as much as my dukes. They were a little harder to set and to trip as well. Just didn't seem to line up right with the slot in the tube. I think I can work on them a little and get them working right but I just put them up without fooling with them because I had enough of the others.

I just read the info from the link provided. I am having trouble understanding which rules apply if you are not "commercial" trapping. If I just trap on my land for non commercial purposes do I have to do #1 and #3 above? Any other rules I am not subject to for non commercial trapping?

My understanding is if you are trapping your own land and not doing anything with the animals or fur, just trapping for predator control, or whatever, you do not need a license. By commercial they mean selling the fur, selling your services, or making any money or profit from what you trap. You still need to tag your traps because if they find them they will confiscate them if they have no tags. It would be best to just buy the license because you may catch something you want to skin out and keep and it will keep you legal and not have to worry about it. You can always call and ask dcnr.

No 5 - You have to a choke stick thats law. BUT a 22 rimfire is not required. You can dispatch them with an ax handle if you really wanted to. People always say = You must have 22 or smaller to trap = thats just not true.