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Post by trappnman on Oct 15, 2004 19:15:20 GMT -6
some real good posts- It's why I love this site too! Talking about diggers- I feel that a "real digger" is somewhat rare.... that is, a canine that comes up to the set and is prepared to, if you will, start digging immediately. I feel most digging IS isolated and based on the many reasons given here. I too find more digging in rain/wet weather, and beleive thisa comes from two things- at least for me 1) various odors coming through 2) since I use a lot of 1.75s, I cover lightly...and the rain I feel alters the trap area- sometimes even exposing a bit of the trap. One thing I am testing on the Montanas is that I can cover them deeper- this should, or at least I believe, cut down on both problems.
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Post by dj88ryr on Oct 15, 2004 19:17:19 GMT -6
How deep are you bedding the Montana's? What are you running for pan tension, and how would this relate to fox rather than coyotes?
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Post by trappnman on Oct 15, 2004 19:25:33 GMT -6
I'm putting a good inch over them- maybe a bit more since I'm not packing over the trap. Running about 3 lbs tension- basically out of the box. Are rough of coon, I'm very happy with them on coyotes, and got a red today in one and it was cut but other than that, ok.
Am also enjoying using disposibles...sure a lot easier.
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Post by dj88ryr on Oct 15, 2004 19:27:01 GMT -6
Am also enjoying using disposibles...sure a lot easier. The world really isn't flat LMAO ;D ;D
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Post by chessiepup on Oct 15, 2004 20:03:52 GMT -6
are you using screen covers on the montana's Steve? or polyfil under the pan ? I got a mouthful of dirt today trying to bed one with a screen cover I guess you can't pack inside the jaws with a screen cover
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Post by foxcatcher1 on Oct 16, 2004 2:48:17 GMT -6
Well Steve I too have found that with the 1.75s. I always suspected it but just didn't want to beleive it. I don't think I have had a "real digger" just lucky ones that see something out of place and decides to dig to investigate. NOW I also have another fear. Every once in a while if a set has been out for a week or longer without being recovered or "freshened up" I have see mice hole up under the pan of the trap. Has anyone else seen this before??? I thought to my self one time man thats one hell of a way to get a coyote or fox to dig. Just wondered if anybody else has had this.
Don
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Post by trappnman on Oct 16, 2004 8:04:11 GMT -6
I was told not to use anything under than pans on dogless traps- Honestly, I can't see why....but
Plus, having never used a scree before, I wanted to take advantage of a screens benefits.
ChrisM showed me how to use the screen correctly- and it is a snap. Place the screen over the trap between the closed jaws, and punch a hole in the screen with the pan thingy (my words, not Chris's LOL), then set the trap. Then place your finger under the pan, and bend the screen down slightly on 3 sides of the pan. Then set the trap- the screen lies flat and the trap beds very easily.
As an added note, cause I can see this is rearing its head again- here's my take on 1.75s. I started with them many years ago out of ignorance- having never talked to a coyote trapper, having never read about cooyte trapping, never seeinbg a modified trap.
Through perserverance, I learned how to make the stock 1.75 a decent coyote trap. Perfect? Not abit and only concern for domestics kept me from using a bigger, coyote more specific trap.
I have made this clear in any writings about such or in every demo. I often compare 1.75s to hunting deer with a slug .410. Not perfect- but in skilled hands- more than adequete
I don't necesarily believe I'll take more coyotes with the Montanas- but perhaps easier coyotes.
In the past few years, I have been adding a few tricked out Bridger #2, and I liked most things about them.
The Montana addresses most of those issues. in the unmodifed edition.
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Post by oso lento on Oct 16, 2004 9:19:03 GMT -6
Bob sorry for making u wait so long to answer. It's just a fat kid throwing a fit. It kind of reminded me of me when thing aren't going my way! It happens! ;D
Ok back to diggers-steves said he is puting an inch of dirt on to cover the montanas is this what everone else does?? I normal only put 1/4" to 1/2" to cover mine. I'm not trying to hijack this post......but this maybe the reason for diggers at my traps.
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on Oct 16, 2004 10:39:01 GMT -6
Oso, I would bet that is the exact reason your having digging problems. Do you have any wind in your country? 1/4" is scant at best and 1/2" isn't much better. If your using a wide jaw spread trap with decent power, I would recommend 1"+ of dirt covering. Also pack inside the jaws and outside, make that trap as firm as you can, the only "loose area" I want is over the pan, I use coffee filters for pan covers they"mold" well around the inside of the trap and I can pack tightly. I have alot of wind 30mph+ and could never get by with 1/4"-1/2" of covering. You don't want that coyote stepping on the trap and fee movement, that will bring up a digging response, unless your pattern is a big area of loose soil. You can get by in sandy areas much better than hard pan/gumbo areas, with loose soils as a covering. Try bedding deeper and more covering I think you will see an improvement with your digging at sets.
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Post by bobwendt on Oct 16, 2004 10:45:12 GMT -6
35, I do almost the exact opposite as you, less than 1/4, probably only 1/8th. My idea of bedding is the 2 second wiggle. I do this in ks., wyoming and indiana. No problems! All I can say is different strokes for different folks. I bet there are some peculiarities that neither you or I even realize between our setting techniques that accounrt for what does or doesn`t work for the 2 of us. Have you ever tried the very thin covering/sloppy bedding?
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Post by mostinterestingmanintheworld on Oct 16, 2004 10:49:24 GMT -6
I always preferred a deep bedded trap for coyotes.
Joel
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on Oct 16, 2004 11:17:19 GMT -6
Bob I have and it just don't cut it for me in my area, some have great results with fiber glass under there pans, I get mouse and rat digging up the wazoo! I have tried that light covering, but wind and rain just don't cut it with that lite of covering, I end up with exsposed traps and dug traps! My traps are setting out in the elements longer than yours, I check mine every 48-72 hrs, throw a 1- 2" rain on 1/8" covered trap and you have exsposed steel. Lighter soils and 1/8" to 1/4" on a high knob in this area with 35-40mph winds and you have exsposed steel. Again if you have the ability or law mandates your traps are checked every 12-24 hours it may work, I set my traps to stay operational thru high winds/and heavy rains. I know I won't get back to them for a few days. The last thing I want is a coyote to come by after a decent rain and not work the set due to exsposure, I use coal shale covering and works well in wet conditions, but the stuff won't stay at 1/8"-1/4" in high winds, I top dress with natural soils at 1/4-1/2" on top of the shale to blend things. Spray with glycol and the shale can take a decent freeze/thaw cycle. My setting technique, invloves the trap set, a trap bed hammered out, stake down/drag the preset trap, bed solid, coffee filter over pan, shale/dirt applied,packed well, no wobble/very little setteling, attraction made, be it flat,post or hole set. lure/baited done and gone. Natural guides used whenever possible. All of my sets are made so the pan is no more than 6-8" away from attractor, I feel the less room I leave between the pan and attractor the better off I am. The only time I move the pan back is at a post set natural or made and gland lure is used. If I use gland lure at a hole set or flat then I move the lure back a few inches and leave the trap at the 6-8" spacing. The thing about trapping we all do things different and have different reasons, but they all seem to work
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Post by trappnman on Oct 16, 2004 18:29:14 GMT -6
I used a tight packed trap bed with the 1.75s, but am doing no packing with the Montanas. so far, have had no problems with digging, misses with the no pack trap-
I concur on being tight to the attractor- my pan is always within 8 inches- more so on flat sets.
I treat all good lures the same insofar as types of sets made- I make the set- then lure with whatever I want.
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