How to Make a Wooden Hog Trap

Some southern states, like Texas, have problems with feral hogs running wild in uncontrolled populations. If you have a hog problem, or would simply like to try your hand at hunting them, consider building a wooden hog trap. A permanent wooden trap is something you only need to build once; you can reset it to catch as many hogs as you want. Not only are wooden hog traps effective, but they do not require many materials. Some wooden posts and lumber is just about all you need to build one.

Things You'll Need

  • Four 12-foot lengths of 2-by-6 inch lumber
  • Three 12-foot lengths of 2-by-4 inch lumber
  • Nail gun
  • Sheet of untreated 1/2-inch plywood
  • 8-foot length of 2-by-2 inch lumber
  • Three fence staples
  • 20-foot length of sturdy rope or clothesline
  • Eight 4-foot fence posts
  • Scrap fence boards or extra 2-by-4 inch lumber
  • Four 12-inch bolts
  • Small stick
  • Corn
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut four 99-inch lengths of 2-by-6 inch lumber and two 95-inch lengths of 2-by-4 inch lumber. Cut one 42-inch length of 2-by-4 inch lumber and two 42-inch lengths of 2-by-6 inch lumber.

    • 2

      Sandwich the two 95-inch lengths of 2-by-4 inch lumber in between two 99-inch lengths of 2-by-6 inch lumber, aligning the top and outside edges. Nail the boards together using a nail gun.

    • 3

      Insert the 42-inch piece of 2-by-4 inch lumber between the boards you just nailed together, sliding it into the space between the 2-by-6 inch boards. Nail the board in place.

    • 4

      Cut a 32-inch piece of 2-by-6 inch lumber and nail it to to the outside of the 42-inch piece of lumber you just installed to act as a lip for the door to rest on.

    • 5

      Nail one of the 42-inch lengths of 2-by-6 inch lumber across the top of the door frame. Nail the second 42-inch piece of lumber across the frame 30 inches below the first board.

    • 6

      Cut an untreated sheet of 1/2-inch plywood to 4 feet by 35 1/2 inches for the trap door. Nail a 12-inch length of 2-by-4 inch lumber to the top center of the plywood sheet. Slide the door into the groove between the 2-by-6 inch pieces of lumber.

    • 7

      Slide the trap door closed and nail a 42-inch length of 2-by-2 inch lumber horizontally across the frame just below the 12-inch board affixed at the top of the door. Nail the 2-by-2 inch board in place as a support for the trigger rods.

    • 8

      Cut two 22 1/2-inch lengths of 2-by-2 inch lumber to serve as your trigger rod and attach a fence staple near the upper end of one of the pieces. Tie a 20-foot length of sturdy rope or clothesline to the fence staple.

    • 9

      Sink four 8-foot fence posts 3-feet deep in the ground, one at each of the four corners of the trap. Sink another fence post an equal distance between three pairs of adjacent corners and, on the fourth side, place the final fence post about 42 inches away from one of the corner posts.

    • 10

      Enclose the walls of your wooden hog trap by nailing scrap fence boards or pieces of 2-by-4-inch lumber between the fence posts. You may make the walls of your trap completely solid or leave a 2-inch gap between the boards.

    • 11

      Position the door frame between the two designated fence posts and secure it with two 12-inch bolts on each side. Raise the door and stack the trigger rods between the 2-by-2 inch support and the board at the top of the door.

    • 12

      Lay a piece of 2-by-4 inch lumber across the top the trap near the back and secure it with a nail through each end. Attach a fence staple to the center of the board and string the cord running from the trigger rods through it.

    • 13

      Attach another fence staple to a scrap piece of 2-by-6 inch lumber and set it directly below the board running across the top of the trap. Raise the end of the 2-by-6 inch board with a small stick and tie the cord to the fence staple. Trim away the excess.

    • 14

      Sprinkle corn around the trap to attract hogs to the area, concentrating it around the trap door and just inside. Sprinkle some corn around and on top of the raised board inside the trap. When the hogs step on the board it will drop, pulling the cord and releasing the trigger rods. This will cause the trap door to fall, trapping the hogs inside.