new trap adjustments

[wild bill]

after seeing some of the recent questions about trap adjustments i just thought i would share how i do mine. the pics are not the clearest but i think you will get the point.

here is a new duke 1.5 coilspring after it has been powerwashed.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3043/new_trap.jpg

after i have put in a mid chain swivel and add my trap tag i close up the dog eye slightly so there is no back/forth movement.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3043/dog_close.jpg

next i take the end of the dog and file off the little ridge left from the stamping. heres the ridge before.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3043/dog_before.jpg

and the dog after. notice the dog is flat out to the end.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3043/dog_filed.jpg

next i take a flat file and file in a "nitelatch". i nitelatch all my coil spring traps.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3043/nitelatch.jpg

i then adjust the pan tension to my like and adjust the pan level.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3043/pan_level.jpg

if the pan is sitting high adjust the dog base towards the trap. if its low adjust away from the trap.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3043/dog_adjust.jpg

now you will have a trap ready to start the dye/wax or dip methond before it goes in the ground.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3043/duke_finished.jpg

[uptracker]

Good Work on those pics. They''ll help a lot of guys....now we'll just have to remember to reference that post to others in the future.:D

[Joe R.]

Bill,

Nice pics and explanation. You're learning buddy. :D
I will also add that these are same modifications that I do to my land traps as well.

Joe

[FREEPOP]

Thanks Bill, this confirmed what I thought I should do :)

[oziedon]

Why nightlatch and what is it?

[Buckshot34]

ok im sure this is a very stupid question but what is the dye and wax part of getting a new trap ready?

[FREEPOP]

This place will get you all the basics

http://www.traps4kids.com/home.html

[tmrschessie]

Excellent post and I am glad you used a duke to show how you make your adjustments, I get a lot of questions along this line. Do you mind if I post this on our forum? I will give full credit to the poster and this site. Tom

[David G Duncan]

Tom,

I am sure that all our trappers are pleased to share their posting with all other trappers. Or they would not have made their posting in the first place.

We would like to thank you for all your efforts toward educating the trapping and non-trapping community on what it takes to be effective and ethical trapper.

[tmrschessie]

Dave, Thank You, I will stop requesting permission from each of you trappers unless I hear otherwise. I have already sent a few folks your way. But knowing human nature it is more likely they will use the information if I can provide it locally. Thanks again to all of you trappers, You have a great site here. Tom

[Nealbopper]

Hi guys, No traps yet, but lets say I have adjusted / modified my traps, (if needed) and have dyed and waxed them. How do i go about touching up the dogs and nitelatches without contaminating the trap with human scent?

[FREEPOP]

Some people use their knife or a propane torch. I just set the trap with my feet (yes cause I'm a whimp Griff ;)) and after it's set I let some tension off and move the dog and pan back and forth to get the majority of the wax off. Then bed it and go. Bedding a trap properly is 80% of the job.

Waxing is important, dyeing is not as important especially on new traps. The priority on new traps is gettting all the oil off, which I believe to be a difficult job. Best get your traps soon so you can wash and soak and wash and soak..........

[wild bill]

i have a small jewelry file i use to file the wax off of the notch and dog.

[David G Duncan]

Neil,

I wear clean cotton gloves whenever I am handling my clean traps.

The file on my leatherman works just fine to remove the wax from the pan notch and off the tip of the trap dog.

In fact, I like to make the tip of the dog a little rough where it engages the notch. I accomplish this by using the very edge of the file drawn over the tip of the dog. This seems to help prevent some misfires, where a trap might fire all by itself after being bedded.

I don't use a night latch setup.

[Nealbopper]

Dave,
Would you recommend filing a gun notch, (a small "V" in the pan notch and one just about to the end of the dog) I read this tip on another site and it seemed to me that if you got it wrong you will have ruined the function but if you got it right you can get the 2lb trip that you are looking for. Neal

[David G Duncan]

Neal,

As you are finding out, a great part of the fun in trapping is all the planning and equipment preparation that goes into pursuing this great outdoor activity called "Trapping"!

It can get a little overwhelming, especially to a new trapper. So my advice to a beginner is to keep it simple, especially when you are starting out.

Stay with the standard dog and notch setup that comes with the original trap. Trying to fine tune your traps too much could end up being a disaster and could take a lot of the fun out of your first experience toward catching your coyote.

I have been trapping for over fifty years and have never found the need to use any night latch setup on any of my traps.

As far as trying to get just the right pan compress in terms of "pounds", don't worry too much about it. Just tight the pan lock nut, so you have enough tension to keep the pan in a horizontal position, when the trap is unset. This will give you just about the right tripping pressure for an animal that you might be targeting. In my book it is better be catching a few skunks and opossums, just so you know that your traps are going be firing fast on the paw of any fox or coyote. With a little experience you develop by feel the correct amount of tension you want on your canine traps.

Before you go out to actually set for your coyote, it would be best to make a lot of practice sets in your back yard, so you can get the hang of it. Then, you will have most of the bugs worked out and will be able to more quickly make you actual sets and minimize the amount of scent that you leave at the set.

[Nealbopper]

Thanks Dave,

I thought about practicing in my yard also. I just about got everything on hand now except my cable anchors and traps. I plan to get those in Eveart at the August trapping convention. Will you be there? I would like to shake your hand, (among others) and thank you for your help. Neal

[David G Duncan]

Neal,

I will be at the convention in Evart and am looking forward to meeting you.

I am sure you will enjoy the convention and come away with many new friends and a lot of good advice on how to go about catching your first coyote.

See you there!