How to Set: Havahart® Large 1-Door Trap Model #1079 for Raccoons, Cats, Groundhogs and Opossums

Learn how to set the Havahart® Large 1-Door Trap Model #1079. This trap is best used for the trapping of raccoons, cats, groundhogs, opossums and other similar sized animals.

The Havahart® Large 1-Door Trap is designed for safety and quality. The trap is constructed out of rust-resistant wire mesh with steel reinforcements ensuring a long lifespan. Small mesh openings prevent stolen bait and potential escapes.

Video Tags:
★ How to set raccoon trap
★ Live trap raccoon
★ Catching raccoons in live traps

[martavanzandt]

I read the instructions over and over and thank goodness this video was on here. So simple to use when you see it online.

[kaedeecantwell]

Thank you!!! This was extremely simple compared to the instructions that came with it!!

[timothybarton]

HOW DO YOU OPEN THE TRAP AND LET THE PISSED OFF VARMENT LOOSE??

[swhmetta]

Thank you for this video. I learned how to work it instantly. Much easier than the directions.

[goobygoo]

About two hours ago using this trap caught the feral kitten living under my porch. I have limited funds right now, and thankfully the local Humane Society let me borrow it. I had limited instruction, but this video did the trick. I did a practice run last night to see if it would take the bait by using a zip tie (as suggested) to hold the door up. That worked and I cut the zip tie tonight and have the kitty in my house...somewhere🤷🏻‍♀😻

[davidmurphy]

Sounds great but the trigger plate doesn't want to move far enough to release the door. You should have made the trip rod from stainless steel (much smoother) instead of galvanized rod which will not slide on the cage very smoothly. All I am doing is feeding raccoons and possums.

[manybugs]

Thank you for these directions. I would have NEVER figured out the ones on the box.

[brad_neal]

I purchased this trap for rabbits. 3-nights in a row, I get up the next morning, bait is gone, door is closed, but no rabbit. Come to find out, the little tin hangy-down thing isn't strong enough to stop the latch mechanism once the trigger releases. The wire part that is supposed to lock the door in place, simply snaps through the tin stop, allowing the animal to push the door open with its nose. I had to cut a length of coat hanger wire to thread though the very top - just low enough that it will stop the frame and hold the door shut. Not really impressed for $60.

[swanofnutella]

The amount of modifications you will have to make to this trap, merely to make it even remotely functional, will astound you. Thing is, all these traps are pretty much the same, so go ahead and buy one knowing you'll need to do the following...

A) YOU will have to finish enclosing the back half of the trap with wire as there are openings all over the back wide enough for critters to steal bait from outside the trap.
B) You'll probably want to mount it to some plywood. So the area under and immediately around the trap doesn't get damaged. Also for weight, so a raccoon doesn't roll the thing all over your property and cause even more damage.
C) For your own safety, I suggest bolstering the "hand guard" around the top handle with additional plating. Some raccoons can entirely remove the existing plate.
D) Modifications to the latch that "locks" the pull bar in place will likely be required. As is, the pull bar just glides under the latch and a clever raccoon will just reach over and open the trap from inside. A bit of very light bending of the latch will help in conjunction with a zip-tie tied diagonally to the top of the trap. You'll need to find a "Goldie-locks zone" where the zip-tie is tight enough so that the pull bar can't slide under the latch when closed, but loose enough so that once triggered, the pull bar CAN slide ALL the way underneath with the force of the triggering into it's closed/locked position. I suggest ample testing before actually setting the trap.
E) If you are relocating and releasing, I suggest getting a 5-7' stretch of rope and two small hooks. Tie a hook to one end using several knots. Connect the hook to the bottom of the door, pull the door open and measure a length where you can tie the second hook roughly somewhere in the middle of the rope's length. This, so that you can pull open, then hook it to the back of the trap so that it stays open, while you remain safely away from the opening and even walk away entirely. Only attach the ropes once an animal is trapped. That's what the hooks are for; easy deployment and removal. Don't leave anything out for them to molest.

Additional suggestions:

1) Cover the trip plate with paper towel or something firm enough to stay in place but light enough to not trigger the trap itself. May not be an option in excessively windy areas.
2) Some people suggest putting bait "under" the trap. My suggestion is to encourage the animal to look upward and away from the trip plate. I've tried many things but landed on an option that gets animals to look at least a little up, have a little work to do to get the bait, doesn't make a huge mess and is easy to set and reset: Disposable Marshmallow skewers. Create some clothes wire "skewers" with a loop at one end small enough to fit through the cage wiring. Lube the skewer with water. Skewer a marshmallow or two, reach inside and place the skewer in the middle back of the trap. Wiggle it back and forth in place, and using the inner sides of the trap make sure the marshmallows will sit in a central location along the skewer. Using the skewer's loop, zip-tie in place. This will be difficult for them to damage from the outside, but easy to dmg from the INside, but by that point it doesn't matter. The idea is to provide enough of a struggle for them to spend time inside and with their eyes and attention up and away from the trip plate. Marshmallows are also great because they don't stink up your property with anything gross, cats don't care but raccoon REALLY care and if you don't have any luck, you can use the same marshmallows about 3 nights in a row for an easy re-set.
3) If relocating; Once you successfully trap an animal, minimize its stimulation. Cover the trap with a sacrificial towel and get out of there. Don't wake up the whole family and do a show and tell, don't ass-babble at the top of your lungs or play loud music. Make it as calm as possible and as ignorant to your presence as possible before release.

[ryvonbelcher]

Thank you very informative this help me andy family alot !

[madir]

I have a havahart large trap and it does not look quite like this one. I am still confused.

[madir]

I have a one door large trap that says Havahart on it, but it looks different than this one. I do not see the door lock or door lock frame. Still not sure what I'm doing.

[comegetthiscommentary]

I brought two. And even though one didn't work and the other one did I still recommended using these.
I caught 2 cats within 3 hours.

[BiggsBeeLang]

The pressure plate in mine does not stay up it stays flat therefore I cannot activate it or set it

[BUSTER.BRATAMUS]

why is there a catch set in reverse on other side on top..? Mine is set up that way and doesnt
' function because stepping on release pushes catch bar wrong way.

[gailpollock]

Cats simply push against the closed to and run out?

[Puddycat]

How do u keep the trap closed. The animal can easily push the door open.
IT DOENT LOCK

[MsScarlettKnight]

I did exactly what this video said, easy enough you would think but the hook and the little square it hooks into DOES NOT LINE UP!! TALK ABOUT FRUSTRATING!! I'm taking it back because I cannot set it!

[maureen]

I don't know what I'd do without my have a heart. My pain in the ass constant escapee is meowing from underneath the house "I WANNA COME HOME" whilst I sit here fuming & praying at the same time with a glass of whiskey. 🤨🙏🐾🤦

[BettyHorrid]

How can I set up the trap to familiarize the cat to it without it setting off?