Parts of a Trap

[gasman]

What is the triangle wedge on the trap chain ring for? I have seen them on older foothold traps but have no idea what their purpose is. Have tried to research but I am coming up empty.

 

[Mennoniteman]

You're bringing back many good memories, I used those as a boy on the farm. Pound the wedge into a tree, stump, or log like a spike to secure trap instead of a stake in the ground. Just carry a carpenter's claw hammer if you plan on removing it. I've heard that out west in easier tracking conditions a three prong drag is popular to secure traps for coyotes.

 

[E_308]

Used to see those on old muskrat traps like #1 longsprings, probably worked alright for rats and mink that don't pull real hard. Seems like I had a few with spikes that had holes in them that you could use as drowning rigs too.

 

[Mennoniteman]

As an 8 year old boy I pounded my first ones in that a full grown bear probably couldn't have pulled out.

 

[gasman]

I have always wondered about them, trapped with my brother some when I was younger and recently got back into it. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

 

[Chainsaw]

You're bringing back many good memories, I used those as a boy on the farm. Pound the wedge into a tree, stump, or log like a spike to secure trap instead of a stake in the ground. Just carry a carpenter's claw hammer if you plan on removing it. I've heard that out west in easier tracking conditions a three prong drag is popular to secure traps for coyotes.

We used 3 to 5 LB. window weights for coon drags, it was ultra fast to make the sets and fun following the drag marks left by the window weight.

 

[catscratch]

Old tires make good drags for coon sets too, but they don't drag the anywhere they just crawl inside the tire and hide.

 

[Chainsaw]

Old tires make good drags for coon sets too, but they don't drag the anywhere they just crawl inside the tire and hide.

Never tried that but I'm sticking with the window weights. With window weights it is easy to have 140 traps ready to go in the back of the pickup; with tires used as drags it might take a tractor trailer to haul a 140 setups. And a strong guy to carry three at a time per stop. Still though I can see the utility of it on a single property. Also the window weights do not put pressure on the coons foot like a tire would. I'm not discounting the tire method never having tried it but will experiment with it cautiously.

 

[catscratch]

Never tried that but I'm sticking with the window weights. With window weights it is easy to have 140 traps ready to go in the back of the pickup; with tires used as drags it might take a tractor trailer to haul a 140 setups. And a strong guy to carry three at a time per stop. Still though I can see the utility of it on a single property. Also the window weights do not put pressure on the coons foot like a tire would. I'm not discounting the tire method never having tried it but will experiment with it cautiously.

Don't blame ya! Tires are great for 10 sets that you can keep on your property, not a 50 mile line. No pressure on the foot as they don't try to pull away. They just crawl inside and hide.

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[E_308]

With snow I have used tires on coyote traps as backing and the drag. Nothing pulls attention like a black tire on snow covered bean stubble. They are usually waded up in the nearest piece of cover. With coons I agree hardly ever move the tire.