330 triggers

[sRc]

What mods should be done to stopo suitcasing otter?

[thebeav2]

I don't think you can eliminate suitcase catches completely but you can cut down on them by tuning your body grip.

The first thing you must do Is make sure the notch In the dog Is deep enough so that the trigger shoulder Is In contact with bottom edge of the dog. Then just file the Inside edge of the dog notch on a 45 deg angle. This allows the dog to release with very little trigger movement. Clear as mud right.

[sRc]

well, nearlyl that clear. i think i could take my rattail file and flat file and make that work

[thebeav2]

Do you go over to dobbins site at all? If you do they have a real neat diagram In the Basic sets archives that shows you exactly how to do it. I don't think I can transfer it over here. Even If i could I don't how to do It.

Look under basic sets and look for trigger adjustment or something like that.

You have a PM

[seldom]

[thebeav2]

there ya go
Thanks, Now this should be placed In the archives.

[sRc]

Excellent- thanks much

[rk660]

Question: do suitcased otter suffer more fur damage. I mean is it really that bad of deal to have? At least you still got em, in my thinking. Never caught otter one in my life, so if Im showing my ignorence, by all means dont be afraid to enlighten me!

[thebeav2]

No mater what yo do you are going to have suit cased otter. I haven't seen any excessive damage do to suit case catches.

Like Rich said as long as you have them caught Is the bottom line. But a behind the ears Is preferable.

[humptulips]

Suit cased or the neck or across the chest are all OK. IMHO What is bad is hip caught. Good strong traps will go along wat to eliminating that.
I think what happens with hip caught often it is caught across the chest. With a good strong trap otter is dead right there but with a weak trap the otter manages to pull it down to the hips. Not good!

[marbleyez2001]

From talking to those who have taken big numbers of otters, suitcasing is what they want. Their prefered catch is a neck and chest caught otter. I have seen this being the preferable catch with other mustalids (Mink and Marten).

In my limited experience with otters (we are allowed 4 a year) a belisle on the neck will put our otter down in their track almost all of the time. My belisle traps are set up for beaver, as I want a neck catch on beaver to avoid any coni mark further back on the pelt. Their recent trigger/dogs on the 330's need no tuning from my experience.

[thebeav2]

It's not the suit case situation thats so bad It's the hip caught live otter that's the problem. And that's do to to much trigger travel.
Tune your traps and you won't have any problems.