#1 longsprings for coon

[garman]

This may have been in an earlier post, I do not remember reading it while going through all the archives though. Just wondering if any of you have had luck with #1 longsprings for coon and if you do how do you set up, midchain swivels and drowners. Just wondering have some strong #1s sitting idol thinking of making use.

[RdFx]

If the long springs dont have hole in trap base plate on opposite side of spring where jaws go in drill a 13/64 hole and place rivet and attach chain there. Depending on how long you make your chain; 6 inches add another swivel and if longer add one more then attach to what ever you are using , stake, earth anchor, drag. You can put a swivel at that point also if you like. the nbr one longspring set up this way will hold any coon as coons foot is pulled toward spring when struggling. Use a small stick or pebble right by trap dog so coon doesnt step on that when setting trap off. This set up will work fine and there are alot of other ways out there to set also which you will pick up as you progress. Happy Skinning.

[rk660]

IMHO, you will lose/miss as many as you catch, your catch % will overcome price difference in buying a real coon trap in a very short time, even if they where given to ya.

[trappnman]

cagree with rk- my first year starting out full time, I used a lot of #1` in water- some srock (as to chain) some reversed and some on side. Caught a lot of coon, but had too many snapped traps, missed coon.

[RdFx]

True BUT they can be used if you have nothing else! On land sets i dont even cover them BUT i heavyly put large sticks ect like a cat set enclosing trap saying step here. The nbr ones set up this way work great also for mink in tight places where a 1 1/2 coil wont fit ect.. If person only has these type traps then using them the right way he will catch and HOLD coons ect., and when he or she has more money from catching fur with the nbr one traps they can buy better versed traps

[trappnman]

and thats why I used them RdFx- and I did catch coon. but I don't care what type of #1 you use, due to the size of its jaws (and this goes back to the #11 also, but the double jaw does reduce it) losses due to one or two toe catches.

[rk660]

yep, you can catch some, and if helper spring installed, chain reversed, etc, you'll keep quite a few that get caught right across the pan, which requires the coon to step exactly in middle of pan with very small margin for error. Its the othe 75% that dont do that that will cost you money. I used to use a lot of them years ago, and stopped using them years ago too.

If i set a 100 no 1 L.S. for coon, my thoughts all night would not be how much money Im gonna MAKE, but how much money I'm gonna LOSE.

[RdFx]

This is true Rich BUT all things aside if this is what a starting out trapper has and no free money its a start! Then invest in proper traps, im sure all us card trappers have been there at one time in our early starting out years. At six years old this is what i started out with BUT didnt have info of reversing chain and swivels... we at least set the person going out and using these traps with a higher catch rate.

[trappnman]

actually, never found switching chains to be of any value- either a trap had a good catch, or it didn't.

[trappnman]

garmans not a beginner- but if a beginner wanted to use #1 on coon here in MN- I'd tell them to be prepared for a lot of snapped traps and "pullouts". Adding longer chain, perhaps reversing it or attaching from the side- might or might not help. For me, jury is still out.

MM idea of making pocket just size of trap, and placing trap into pocket, will give you more front feet, and therefore more coon with them.

But- as soon as you can, get yourself some 15 Dukes, best coon trap around IMHO.

[huntinglonewolf]

If the #1 longspring traps is all you got and can't afford any 1 1/2 coils then use them but be prepared for alot of empty traps. #1 longspring traps were made for rat and mink. His the same thing: If I used 1 1/2 coils to trap coyotes instead of #3s I would catch some but would lose alot but if I only had or could afford 1 1/2s I would use them till I was able to get better traps.

[garman]

The reason why I ask is I have seen several guys in the past using #1's by drowner rigging with extra swivels. Like I said I have seen some guys using of them, and they claim with some success, I was thinking of switching some over if it would be work. I believe it is that side of me that just hates to see these traps sit idol (it usually hurts me in the long run using them) but I thought I would see if anyone else had luck, like some other people claim they have.

[RdFx]

Set the traps up and use them this coming season and see what your results are. Only way to do it... good luck

[shagnasty]

you guys need to learn how to use the #1 and how to construct the set to put the odds in your favor. your heads would spin if you seen some catches that came from #1s. dont switch the chain, but have to be blake and lambs, pan post preferred. serious, not joking.

[garman]

shagnasty are you willing to share set construction methods and trap set up? just wondering, also the pan post type are the only kind B&L and northwoods I was thinking.

[shagnasty]

sent you a pm

[thebeav2]

Come on Shag this is a teaching learning forum.

But If you could see some of those southern coon you would see why a #1 would work, a big coon on the HOOF might go 12lbs maybe LOL

[walkercoonhunter(Aaron L.)]

ya gotta hate it when someone chimes in with some good info then hides it.........if its that big of a secret dont say anything at all.....

[jimdrummond]

The #1 B&L longspring is a great trap for coon. I use them all the time. Its not my first choice of trap for coon but I will never doubt the holding power of any B&L longspring trap.

[RdFx]

The B&L nbr one is a great trap. I remember where i was short of traps on mink line so i used one in a pocket set where i made it very narrow and deep. Came to check trap one morning and its gone. Figured a coon as i had four feet chain and railroad plate on for a drag. I looked up and down on side of creek and on bank side of creek trap was set, nadda, nothing , not even a tore up area. Puzzled and back at pocket hole where trap was i looked across stream ( about 50 feet wide) and there tangled up in alders was a 37 # female yote caught across two toes. Dont ask me why she didnt twist out someway but she had the alders chewed off and shredded. I remember this one well as it was a silver colored and silky like a red fox yote i ever caught in Wi, all others brown , brindly coarse hair.