The fun times I have now!

[foxman]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7zD03OWLqg&feature=player_embedded
video of a coon working a duke dp...

[foxman]

second video, took four minutes of working the trap and walkin away and coming back before he got caught.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnnzG91jM6s&feature=player_embedded

[coyotewhisperer]

I saw that on trapperman. wouldnt have believed it if i hadn't seen it. Im almost to 200 coon this year in the dukes.

I did try some of that blacklabel in areas where i had caught alot of coon and had some walking past the pellet bait i make. the black label is working on those coon but im not so sure any changeup wouldn't have done the same.

[trappincoyotes39]

CW the black label is all one needs for a bait IMO, I use trailing lure but total different purpose as I'm sure your aware of.

My felling is the coon uses the side of the tube to get out what they want as there is room between the Duke trigger and the side to work them No doubt in my mind. The Dagger and it's trigger you don't get that free grab at the bait and add in the push part of the trigger and alot less bait stealing for ME!

[coyotewhisperer]

I trap around alot of farms and the black label = barn cats. Why i went to the pellet bait. I have no doubt the black label will catch as many coons as the pellet bait. I have seen on my line after the first big catch wave that the remaining coons will walk by until you give them a changeup.

I cant use blacklabel on the majority of my line because of barn cats and your dagger doesnt solve that problem. would probably make it worse.

Its kind of like when i was running 2 dozen coyote snares 10 years ago and thought i was really getting after it and RK asked me how many deer i was killing. I told him none. well i run a 100 snares minimum when it gets cold now and i average a deer a year even running all breakaway's.

[trappincoyotes39]

Its kind of like when i was running 2 dozen coyote snares 10 years ago and thought i was really getting after it and RK asked me how many deer i was killing. I told him none. well i run a 100 snares minimum when it gets cold now and i average a deer a year even running all breakaway's.

What? Deer and barn cats what is the point? The more equipment one runs the more non targets?

I don't have to worry too much about barn cats.

Feral cats are a menace to wildlife.

[coyotewhisperer]

im saying when you run more than a couple dozen dps for more than a few years youll change some of what you think now.

[trappincoyotes39]

I run more than a couple dozen and while it has been just a few years I have seen the advantages of the Daggers over others, it isn't close in my book and the video clearly shows what I have referanced as to why. I have caught "enough" coons with 2 different DP's to make a educated conclusion which is the best for ME in my area.

You state of issues with Black label mice and cats that isn't my deal at all, the Daggers perform better that is a fact I have seen over the past few seasons with the amount of coons and DP's I run. I dont need a 1,000 DP's to figure it out the laws of average can be seen with less , I have more than 2 dozen of them and have caught more than 2 dozen coons. LOL.

I guess I'm a quick study

[trappincoyotes39]

Here is mys etup very fast and efficant. Pogos pre rigged and I can either pull them if easy, clip and go or open the s hook if it is a year to year spot. Pound and go. These hold very well in my area and the pulled ones get a power washing inside and out and a new paint job before the season ready to roll a gain. Replace any cables I clipped. Pogo's very economical. The only differeance on my predator traps is 6 links of welded chain.

As long as the weather holds I still have 4 more farms to set and we will keep havin fun and catching coons.

[toddh]

TC39- if you don't mind me asking, is this "Black Label" coon bait the stuff that is put out by Kyle Kaatz? If so how much are you going through in a season at $8/pint?

Just curious as I run around 300 Lil Grizz with large mellows. I buy the mellows from our local grocery by the case for $5/case of 12 bags and can bait ALOT of DP's for little to nothing.

Also filing a night latch in the dog system on the Grizz stops the coon from burying the trigger when he reaches in the trap as well as gives you a hair trigger. By spearing a large mellow on the trigger I can't say that I've had any misses but have noticed some mellows being chewed by mice. After applying the night latch system to my Grizz I even catch those occasional bait stealing mice.

Staking system is basically the same as yours only Berkshires over pogos.

[trappincoyotes39]

You can get a gallon for 49.00 a bigger savings that way pt price is then 6.12 . 5 gallon for 224.00 5.60 per pt. I also use fish pellets I get them for 18.00 per 25lbs and they go along ways for chum! Fish oil the same. If on a trail no need for nothing but the black label and a squirt of fish oil.

I have used about 3/4 of a gallon so far.

My contrast is the poly fill cheap stuff.

I can set the daggers on a light trigger on the down stroke as well.

I might figure up time, gas and ingridients and make up some of my own, but the black label packs a punch and the coons sure do like it.


Hey use what you want. I just hope coons stay decent been hearing better news on the coon market and I am getting a nice collection of upland coons, going to sell 1/2 or better next sunday so we shall see how it goes.

I can tell you gas is more my concern than bait cost.

Can't put a price on the kids faces though, there having a ball. My youngest who is 8 is really getting into the trapping and that is worth alot to me. He can't go on every check because of school and me checking before work and after he gets to check the ones closer to the house except for the weekends Then he goes to all our farms.

[maule]

So, decided to get after the coon with the dp traps this year, partly motived by this thread. Have been using little grizz and duke traps and experimenting with different baits and following much of the advice on this thread.

I have had bait thefts, traps cleaned out constantly, etc., using both the grizz traps and the dukes. This with a paste bait and also separately a marshmellow and fish pellet combo.

Visibly seen where coon worked the set and didn't get caught.

However, went to polyfill on the traps with black label and am catching more animals, although mice and rats are stealing bait and polyfil from some.

Bought a dozen z traps (which are new and are similar to duke and the little grizz), but with the two way trigger.

Had several catches, almost immediatelty and with no apparent misses, think maybe this is the better solution. Have you guys had a chance to check this trap out and if so what do you think?

thanks, Maule

[trappincoyotes39]

Maule I have NO doubts the Z trap is better than the duke for the very reason it is a 2 way trigger. I hav eyet to buy any Z traps as frankly I have been so imressed with the Dagger I have been kickin dirt wonderin why I would need to try something else?

I will buy a few to try and I like the stabalizer and powder coating but I still see a hold advantage to a sq tube versus a circle tube. Pull out's have been very rare with the dagger even in some cover for the coon to grab.

The 2 way trigger to me is key and really does make a differance, but a great edible bait (black label) and the feel and contrast of the poly fill is good as well.

[maule]

Thanks TC39, your opinion reinforces what I have been seeing. Have only made 21 coon catches with these type of traps so far and am in the learning process.

I like that there is no foot damage to the coons and that i can trap where dogs are present.

We have the z trap available locally and the dealer doesn't carry the dagger so that is what I bought.

Definately, I appreciate this thread and all the contributors as I am in the learning process and am grateful for all information offered.

Maule

[marcus]

Maule, I have been using all z-traps this year and have caught alot of coon with this trap. The z-trap is my choice of trap with the two way trigger and I really like the staking system compared to all the other dps. Also they have very strong springs and I have not had 1 pull out this season yet! Good luck

[maule]

I noticed that the z trap springs were definitely stronger than the duke, very hard to set without a tool. Black coating on the springs wore off on first coon catch. Will see how long the powder coat lasts on the trap body.

Doesn't look to hard to change the Duke and Grizz trigger system to the push pull style either, think I will work on a few when it is too cold to trap many coon.

Some off these traps are set in a gravel type medium by hay barns so I have been using a small secondary stake driven next to the trap and flush with the top and then using a light Gage wire around the trap to help keep the trap from being pulled up by coon.

Marsh mellows are working part of the time with a large one speared on the trigger, but the black label is out producing the marsh mellows now. Probably due to the cold?

Maule

[trappincoyotes39]

Maule The black label should always out produce mellow's. I tried mellows but not enough attraction for ME give me the black label each and every time! I don't have cats to worry about so a No brainor as far as bait goes.

[maule]

TC39 thanks for the info. I just shared my observations to this point and am not intending to slight any of the traps and have nothing to sell or promote.

One thing mentioned that I have not done was night latching/filing a new notch in the dog and realized that maybe some of the coon were "burying the dog" deeper in the notch upon reaching into the duke and grizz traps.

I like the black label but it does goe really fast when the rodents empty it.

Maule

[trappincoyotes39]

Hey Maule good luck and I get nothing in return either, wish I did though LOL.

I just give an honest opinion when I find GOOD products. Nothin more or less.

THe DP market has been a boon in answering many questions when it comes to trapping coons and coon welfare. Who would have thought 15-20 years ago we would be where we are as trappers today with the great equipment being made my some?

Snaring, coyote and coon traps all have seen advancements and improvments in equipment over the years.

[trappnman]

one question that needs to be addressed-

DPs came onto the market because of 2 things- they were, for all practical purposes dog proof, and they were pretty much coon specific traps.

When you add a push pull trigger- neither of things things is still valid

so, IMNSHO, push pull trigger traps, should not be called "dps"