FISHER and COMSTOCK CAGES
Perhaps the two most common methods of fisher trapping are running pole sets with body gripping traps and cubbies with either body grippers or foothold traps. A third method is cage trapping where the cage actually becomes it’s own pre made cubby.
Running pole sets are fairly easy to construct but do require some maintenance, brushing snow from the leaning poles. Traps can get buried. Animals can steal bait. Also, cubbies take time to construct. Cages go in a seconds and are the most reliable. In those states where conventional traps are not legal, cages only, trappers have learned the value in cage traps that keep on working with a very high success rate. Of the cage traps, none are faster, have more power in the doors to prevent back outs, a more reliable wire trigger or are more durable than a Comstock Cage.
Cubbies, set under green timber, hemlock, spruce and balsam offer a protected area where sets will keep on working when the snow flies. Perhaps the most important feature in any trapping is making sets that remain working, relatively free from standard maintenance of other sets, a good reason for sets made under cover.
Obviously fisher don’t suddenly drop out the sky before hitting a ground set, but are traveling on the ground before venturing up a running pole set. Fisher have as good or better chance of hitting a ground set, i.e. cubby set or cage trap, as they do a pole set, probably better.
The counterpart to a cubby would be a cage trap, in essence a completely self contained unit, the cage being both trap and cubby all in one, a ready made cubby unit all set to go. Simply drop it in and add a bit of cover. The single door Comstock Cages with rear bait door are built for fisher with the fold down bait door purposely hinged at the bottom for strength and also ease in baiting. When opened and dropped down, bait can be wired to the back of the cage door anywhere you like. Hinged at the bottom where animals tend to fight a cage trap most, there is absolutely nothing to break. Both the 9×11 and 12×12 single door traps with rear bait door in the 36 inch length are excellent for fisher, raccoon and will even take both bobcat and fox. Cages can be pre baited in the shop, bait wired to the door itself, loaded into the vehicle and then placed quickly on site. A long distance call lure in a tree above the cage with a covering over the trap to keep rain and snow off the bait and it’s a done deal as they say.
These Comstock Cage Traps are just as good for raccoon or just about any animal you can entice into the traps. The double door Comstock Cage Traps can be placed in trails and travel ways with or without baits.
