How to Build a Guillotine Hog Trap

Wild hogs wander through the woods rooting up plants, sod and small trees. The population explosion of feral hogs has resulted in these critters finding themselves on farmland and backyards. Millions of dollars in damage to crops, fences and property has led to an industry of trapping hogs that previously was done only for sport, now being done out of necessity to prevent damages. Though 90 percent of all hog traps look the same, the difference is in the door mechanism which gives it its' name. The guillotine hog trap uses a sliding door that falls from above to keep the hogs trapped.

Things You'll Need

  • Hog trap door
  • 5 - 4-foot sections 4 gauge steel bar
  • 6 - 8-foot sections 4 gauge steel bar
  • 8 - 1-foot sections 4 gauge steel bar
  • 2 - 3- foot sections 4 gauge steel bar
  • 6 - 6-foot sections 4 gauge steel bar
  • Welding equipment
  • 1 roll 200 square feet goat wire
  • Wire cutters
  • Tape measure
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Instructions

  1. Building the Cage

    • 1

      Lay out two of the 4-foot sections of steel bars and two of the 8-foot sections. The 4-foot sections will serve as the width edges and the 8-foot sections as the depth edges. It should resemble a rectangle frame. Weld the corners together to form the rectangle shape. The 4-foot sections will be the front and back of the trap and the 8-foot sections will be the left and right sides.

    • 2

      Measure 12 inches inward from the left and right sides of the frame and place another 8-foot section on each side. Measure 3.5 feet from the front of the frame and place a 12 inch section of bar in between the two 8-foot sections on the left side of the trap. Measure 3.5 feet from the back of the frame and place another 12 inch section here. Weld these pieces onto the frame. Repeat these steps with the right side of the trap.

    • 3

      Place one of the 3-foot sections 12 inches from the front of the trap to connect the two inner 8-foot sections. Weld the 3-foot section here in between the two inner 8-foot sections. Repeat with the other 3-foot section in the back of the trap. This will be the bottom part of the guillotine trap. The inner bars prevent the hogs from rooting or digging their way out of the trap or from moving the trap to make escape possible.

    • 4

      Weld a vertical 6-foot section of bar at each of the corners of the frame. Measure 4 feet in from the corner on the left side of the frame and weld another vertical 6-foot section. Repeat for the right side of the frame.

    • 5

      Connect the top of all three vertical sections on the left side with an 8-foot section welded across the top of them all. Repeat for the right side of the trap with another 8-foot section.

    • 6

      Weld a 4-foot section across the front of the trap to join the two top corners. Repeat for the two top corners in the rear of the trap and for the center of the trap where two of the vertical bars have been welded to the 8-foot sections on the top. The trap should now resemble a six-sided rectangle frame.

    Building the Walls

    • 7

      Leave the "front" of the trap open, this is where the door will go.

    • 8

      Cut a panel of goat wire to fit on the left side of the trap. Weld each bar on the goat wire to the top and bottom of the trap frame. Use additional welding lead to make sure each wire is firmly attached to the trap. A hog will find one weak spot in the design and crash into it until the rest of the trap gives way. Weld the goat wire to the center support 6-foot vertical bar as well. Repeat for the right side of the trap.

    • 9

      Cut a panel of goat wire to fit the rear of the trap and weld each wire to the frame on the top, bottom and sides.

    • 10

      Cut another panel of goat wire to fit across the top of the trap minus 12 inches of space you will need at the front of the trap for the door. Weld each wire to the rear support and the two top bars. Wild hogs in traps are incredibly smart and have been known to pile on top of each other in a corner to allow some of them to climb out of the trap. If you leave the top off, it will ensure at least some of the hogs escape.

    Attaching the Guillotine Door

    • 11

      Place the guillotine door frame in the center of the front of the trap with the pin holes facing into the trap.

    • 12

      Weld the guillotine door frame to the front of the trap. The door to the trap is the most important piece of the trap. One millimeter off on a weld or measurement can mean a malfunctioning door that will not snap shut or will be a weak spot the hogs can exploit. Many companies make standalone doors that can be attached to a trap you have built yourself and this is the recommended method of getting the most hogs in your trap. Make sure the door frame is welded firmly and that there is no "play" in the door that could be perceived as a weak spot.

    • 13

      Place the door into the door frame and allow it to slide down into place a few times to gauge the speed with which the door closes.

    • 14

      Lift the door and place the pin into one of the pin holes. Most guillotine door frames will have multiple pin holes to vary the space under the door to exclude larger hogs by placing the door lower or to include them by placing the door at the maximum height.

    • 15

      Hook the guy cable into the pin and stand inside the trap. Pull the guy cable firmly to see if the pin will release the door. If it does, your trap is complete.