 Re: Dedicated to the new trapper
Ok, looks like we have some trappers here, thanks for the help guys.
We will talk about foot hold trapping of the coon. The most comon trap used today is the 1 1/2 coil spring trap. It is compact, easy to bed, and runs in a varity of price ranges. The best thing you can do is attend a trapping convention and physically pick up and check out each varity that your are interested in. There is a difference.
So now we have a couple traps what next? First thing you should do is set the trap and see that the pan sits level with the jaws or slightly below. Next check and see that the trap fires when the pan is depressed. Don't laugh some of them don't....Wash the traps in some dish soap and water to remove the grease and oil. Rinse with clear water untill all the soap and grease are gone.
Note: take them to the car wash it is easy and you don't make a mess around the house...
Get a plastic bucket and fill it with a mix of vinegar and water, 50/50 mix works well. Soak your traps in this solution for a few hours, take out and rinse with clear water and hang to dry. The traps will form a slight coat of rust by the next morning.
Once the trap is rusted you can dye them, using either a commercal logwood dye, or a natural method from black walnuts that are found throughout Nebraska. Place the traps in the dye of choice and heat until they are simmering. Let them sit in this solution for any where from a few hours to a couple days....Take the traps out of the dye and hang to dry.
I wax all my traps but at this point you can use your traps as they are. You are ready to start preparing for a trap line for coon.... The post by CK on the pocket set is a favorite among coon trappers. We will go into a few more sets next time.
Trappers, feel free to post here, we need to keep this going to help the new trappers into our sport. Tom |