How do you bed your traps?

[rem270]

I've always used my 3 in 1 hammer to dig my hole and seems I'd have to turn one trap one way or the other to get it to bed and always have the chain in the way while trying to do it.

I found this video the other day and thought I'd give it a try. I set 8 traps at my aunt's place today and this worked really well. I probably didn't go as deep as he did but I went deep enough where the chain is under the trap enough where it didn't get in the way. The cut out for the levers to sit in made for a solid bed on each one.

 

[jman 125]

I've always used my 3 in 1 hammer to dig my hole and seems I'd have to turn one trap one way or the other to get it to bed and always have the chain in the way while trying to do it.

I found this video the other day and thought I'd give it a try. I set 8 traps at my aunt's place today and this worked really well. I probably didn't go as deep as he did but I went deep enough where the chain is under the trap enough where it didn't get in the way. The cut out for the levers to sit in made for a solid bed on each one.

I started useing a trap cookie cutter this year and it actually worked great
Ithen dig a hole in the middle and when i set the trap in the bed it is super solid. The only draw back is it does ad a little weight if you ha e to pack your stuff but since i can get my atv to most my stuff its not a problem

 

[tellico4x4]

Very similar to a Pipe Dream Set with it "floating". I like the hole to put chain in as well. I made mistake last year by not cutting my grass small enough and it got caught in the jaws, allowing a couple of pull outs

 

[Speedwell-Hunter]

I've always used my 3 in 1 hammer to dig my hole and seems I'd have to turn one trap one way or the other to get it to bed and always have the chain in the way while trying to do it.

I found this video the other day and thought I'd give it a try. I set 8 traps at my aunt's place today and this worked really well. I probably didn't go as deep as he did but I went deep enough where the chain is under the trap enough where it didn't get in the way. The cut out for the levers to sit in made for a solid bed on each one.

thank you, i have had trouble with too much dirt getting down in there, I will use less wax dirt and more peat moss

 

[cbhunter]

I choose to avoid beds in trap houses personally, but you do you

 

[deerkiller300wsm]

I usually use hammer to cut grass roots or dirt about the same size as trap.
Then I dig down, I try and make the hole conical or like a funnel. Wider at top than bottoms.
Set trap in
Take trap out
Use claw and push to cut out for levers.
Did trench in bottom of set for chain and shock spring.
Trap back in
Tamp dirt outside levers if needed.
Dry peat between jaws and pan.
Wax sand around outer side of jaws and top of peat.
Sift and cover
Pack if needed. (not over pan).
Catch critter

 

[wildlifefarmer]

Like above but I don't use springs. I can bed trap easier with out the springs. To my knowledge I have never had any critters pull out.

 

[deerkiller300wsm]

Like above but I don't use springs. I can bed trap easier with out the springs. To my knowledge I have never had any critters pull out.

Springs are to help prevent foot damage. Not bc of pull outs. My pull out issues are usually toe catches judging by the trail camera pics

 

[readonly]

Springs are to help prevent foot damage. Not bc of pull outs. My pull out issues are usually toe catches judging by the trail camera pics

Springs definitely help with pullouts as well. I started putting springs on all my traps because they were required by law in one of the states I trapped. I kept putting them on because they significantly reduce other issues such as pullouts, stake pulling etc. They add 25# or so of flex to the anchor point to the ground and to the paw. They reduce shock to the shoulder as well if a critter lunges. But toe catches are held much better with shock springs. Toe catches normally indicate a pan tension issue, but when they do happen, shock springs keep the critter in the trap. I also had a coyote in muddy conditions pull a chained super-stake within a few inches of coming out of the ground...have no doubt without the shock spring he would be gone trap and all. I use yote shock springs on all my traps, I don't fool with the lightweight ones. JC Conner or Paws-I-trip.

 

[hammer33]

Im playing around with some new bedding methods.
1. Power bedding with gutter spikes. One set out as a test. No catches yet.
2. offset anchor bedding. Instead of setting the anchor directly under where I want the trap, I offset the anchor, dig a small trench to bury the chain, then dig my bed where I want the trap.
This seems to work better in our rocky gravel dirt than a conventional set. It is really hard to do a proper remake if the catch circle is extreme.