6 Best Live Rabbit Traps For Market Gardens Old Farmers Swear By

You walk out to the market garden at dawn only to find your prize lettuce rows decimated by a family of cottontails. For a hobby farmer, these "cute" visitors are a direct threat to your harvest and your bottom line. Choosing the right live trap means the difference between a successful relocation and a frustrated morning staring at a tripped, empty cage.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why the Havahart 1085 is the Farmer’s Top Choice

The Havahart 1085 is the gold standard for a reason: it balances sensitivity with raw durability. Old-timers swear by this model because the trigger mechanism is finely tuned enough to catch a light juvenile rabbit, yet the galvanized steel resists the rust that claims cheaper traps after one rainy season.

I’ve found that the internal smoothed edges are a critical feature often overlooked by beginners. A panicked rabbit will thrash, and lower-quality cages often leave the animal bloodied before you can relocate it. The 1085 keeps the animal calm and intact, which is essential for ethical homesteading.

The only real trade-off is the single-door design, which requires more strategic placement than double-door models. You have to think like a rabbit and place the opening directly in their established "run" along a fence or hedge. Once you master the placement, this trap rarely misses.

Tomahawk Model 108 Rigid Single Door Rabbit Cage

If you want a trap that your grandkids will likely inherit, the Tomahawk Model 108 is the professional’s pick. These are built with a rigid frame that doesn’t "rack" or twist when you’re carrying a heavy animal over uneven garden terrain.

The mesh is significantly tighter than what you’ll find at big-box hardware stores. This prevents the rabbit from reaching through the wire to grab nearby bait or injuring itself trying to squeeze out. It’s a "buy once, cry once" investment for the serious market gardener.

One thing to consider is the weight; it’s heavier than the collapsible versions. If you are managing a large acreage and need to move ten traps a day, you’ll feel it in your forearms. However, for a stationary setup near the cabbage patch, that extra weight provides the stability needed to prevent the trap from tipping during a catch.

Homesteaders Choice Double Door Live Animal Trap

Rabbits are naturally suspicious of "dead ends" and dark holes. The Homesteaders Choice Double Door trap solves this by allowing the animal to see straight through to the other side. This "clear path" illusion is often the only way to catch those older, trap-shy rabbits that have seen their cousins get hauled away.

You can set this trap with both doors open or just one, giving you a level of versatility that single-door models lack. I prefer setting both doors when placing the trap in the middle of a row of beans. The rabbit feels like it’s just hop-skipping through a tunnel until the plate drops.

The downside to double doors is the increased complexity of the linkage. There are more moving parts that can get gummed up with mud or garden debris. You’ll need to do a quick "test fire" every evening to ensure the doors are swinging freely.

Duke Traps Model 1112 Heavy Duty Cage Trap

The Duke 1112 is built like a tank, featuring a heavy-duty reinforced door frame that won’t budge. In a market garden, you often catch "non-target" species like raccoons or even a stray barn cat. This trap is strong enough to hold those larger, more aggressive animals without the cage warping.

The internal bait door is a game-changer for efficiency. Instead of reaching through the main door and risking a premature trip, you can drop your greens or apples through a dedicated access point. It saves time during the busy planting season when every minute counts.

• Pros: Extremely durable, easy to bait, handles larger pests.
• Cons: The trigger can be a bit stiff for very small bunnies.
• Best For: Gardens near wooded areas where multiple species roam.

OxGord Live Animal Trap for Garden Pest Control

For the hobby farmer on a strict budget, the OxGord offers a functional entry point into pest management. It’s a collapsible design, meaning you can fold it flat and tuck it away in the shed when the growing season ends.

While it lacks the heavy-gauge wire of the Tomahawk, it’s perfectly adequate for the average cottontail. The trigger plate is large, which is helpful if you aren’t exactly sure where the rabbit will step. It’s a practical choice for the weekend gardener who only deals with a few "visitors" a year.

Be aware that the lightweight nature of this trap means it can be tossed around by a larger predator trying to get to the rabbit inside. If you have coyotes or neighborhood dogs, you’ll want to stake this trap into the ground using tent pegs. It’s a simple fix that prevents a "trap roll" from letting your catch escape.

Little Giant Single Door Live Animal Cage Trap

The Little Giant is known for its spring-loaded door that snaps shut with surprising speed. In the world of trapping, a slow door is a failed catch. This model ensures that even the twitchiest rabbit doesn’t have time to back out once the plate is touched.

The handle features a large hand guard, which is a subtle but vital safety feature. When you’re picking up a trapped animal, they will often try to scratch through the top of the cage. That metal plate protects your knuckles from some nasty encounters during the walk to the release site.

It’s a straightforward, no-frills tool that performs consistently. I’ve found the galvanized finish holds up well against morning dew and irrigation overspray. It’s the kind of trap you can set and forget, knowing it will do its job when the sun goes down.

Trapper Ron Rabbit Lure for Maximum Attraction

A trap is only as good as the bait inside, and sometimes fresh carrots just don’t cut it. Trapper Ron’s Rabbit Lure uses a concentrated blend of sweet oils and plant extracts that pull rabbits in from the garden perimeter.

During the height of summer when the garden is full of delicious greens, a rabbit might ignore a pile of clover inside a cage. A high-quality lure provides a scent profile that is different and more intense than the surrounding crops. It triggers a curiosity response that leads them right onto the trigger plate.

• Application: Apply a few drops to a cotton ball and place it behind the trigger.
• Timing: Refresh the scent every 48 hours, especially after rain.
• Strategy: Use it sparingly; a little goes a long way in a small space.

Rapicca Animal Handling Gloves for Safe Release

Release day is when most injuries happen to the hobby farmer. Even the smallest rabbit has powerful hind legs and sharp claws that can easily slice through skin. Rapicca’s leather handling gloves are reinforced with Kevlar, providing the protection you need to handle the cage and the animal safely.

These gloves extend up the forearm, which is crucial. When you open the trap door, the rabbit might bolt in an unexpected direction or scramble against your arm. These "gauntlet-style" gloves ensure that a panicked animal doesn’t turn a successful catch into a trip for a tetanus shot.

Beyond just protection, these gloves give you the confidence to handle the situation calmly. If you’re flinching or nervous, you’re more likely to drop the trap or fumbled the latch. Good gear makes you a more effective and humane steward of your land.

Successful rabbit management in a market garden is a marathon, not a sprint. By choosing durable traps and using the right lures, you can protect your livelihood while maintaining a balanced ecosystem on your hobby farm.