opinions on the DP caps?

[~ADC~]

Golf balls or others, what do you think of them thus far? I'm finding most all them knocked off and laying beside the trap unless there is a coon in the trap of course. I think its mice knocking them off. What do you all think?

~ADC~

[LLLTrapper]

I have seen some of the same but will have to say it cuts down on the problem. I caught a rat the other day and would say he would have been able to push it off. If it saves a few sets from being eaten by mice and catches a coon I would say it is a good purchase. LLL

[chadt]

I had some freeze to the tops of my Dp's opening weekend after it rained.

[justwannano]

I can't trap this year so I just have to wonder but if there was an extention that fit inside the trap so the coon had to take the ball off instead of it being knocked off ...

just

[arcman]

I've been using plastic cups over my duke dp's. Keeps the bait dry, but the mice are still able to knock off the cup and get to the bait.

[x-demoman]

Yup the mice are a real pain. I have some locations if they get caught they should be big enough to pass for a muskrat.

[6hpmarty]

I am a HUGE believer in caps and or golf balls , eggs or what ever. I went from 100% clean out of the bait in ever trap to nearly 100% bait retention. Also it is nice to be able to see a golf ball on top of the trap so I know defiantly that there is nothing in the trap and that my bait is still there, all without getting out of my truck. I check 50-70 sets everyday in the dark 2 hours before work, and can't afford the time to stop if nothing in the trap. just my opinion. Marty

[~ADC~]

If they worked that way for me Marty I'd agree with you in a heartbeat.

LLL- I just wish they worked better, I agree any help is good but I'm guessing 80-90% of them are knocked off and laying beside the trap.

Just, you may be on to something....

~ADC~

[6hpmarty]

I have toyed with drilling a hole on the golf ball and glue a short piece of dowel or maybe a short piece of conduit??? Give the ball a lower center of gravity, and set a little deeper in the trap that just a ball sitting on top of the trap. I have 5-10 knock offs per week, and cant explain why the balls weer knocked off?? Marty.

[bd64]

These work pretty good



but they only fit Ztraps, dukes and griz traps not my homemade traps. I did lose some in catch circles and had something carry one off without working the trap. Since then I have tied them to the chain with carpenters line and have not had any losses but I can't find any coon either. They do fit my new kid friendly trap that I'm currently testing.

[bch]

I have had seval knocked off and some carried off, but the bait was still in the trap. I believe some the coon that knock them off are just not that hungury to work the trap but check it out, it is really nice out there and they are being lazy.

[hooter]

same thing im thinking bch. Math question. If a 200# man was in the same position as that mouse how much would that golf ball weigh?

[4fur]

Nov 18, 2012 21:18:39 GMT -6 6hpmarty said:

I am a HUGE believer in caps and or golf balls , eggs or what ever. Marty

For the record, 6hpmarty was the first who told me about the golf balls and I mentioned the idea to Larry. Was the idea original, Marty?

ADC, have you never caught fish on a bare hook? ;D I use 8 oz. Styrofoam cups and they work for me. I'll take some pictures and explain what I believe is happening happening with cups and golf balls when I get back from running the second half of my line.

[6hpmarty]

bd64 is that a new zcap?? I checked all my traps Sat. am. went back Sat pm to re-bait and give these dozen the once over. All the golf balls were on Sat morn when i checked them but 2 were off later that pm. The wind had to have been the culprit, and the wind was howling here Sat.

[ringtail]

I have also had golfballs carried off. For the guys fastening the golfball to the chain with cable(ect.) Have you had problems with this setup fouling the swivels.

[trappinia]

I like marshmallows better than golf balls but in wet weather golfballs are the way to go. imo

[littlehawk]

I have used both cups and golf balls. Work bout the same. I have had the golf balls carried off bout 20 feet from the set. Thought bout fastening them to the trap but decided not to cause it taking a chance of the trap being pulled over by a bandit.
I have noticed once the trap is on its side the animal interest is lost.

[4fur]

Coon will cart stuff off to eat/investigate. Possum just eat it where they find it. Unlured golf balls are a favorite coon cage trap bait in urban areas for one good ADC trapper on here. No lure should be placed on the cover, be it a cup or golf ball, but it is nearly impossible unless you do like you do when you handle bait/lure at a K-9 dirt hole.

8 oz Styrofoam cups, when pressed down as far as they will go without tearing the cup, are impossible for all but the strongest winds or biggest mice to knock off, IMO. So I believe the majority of missing caps are possum, skunk or coon which were not hungry enough to work the trap that night. But they will be back, and if the mice haven't stole your bait, you will catch them.

I still like a big dry marshmallow on my trigger of pull type DPs , and a half of one under the trigger of push/pulls.

The first year I used DPs I filled them completely full of dry pet food and caught a lot of coon...in fact, went 81 for 91 opening night with nearly 100% DPs.

Cups are a bust for 2 legged theft though. You can try this...









Don't worry, a coon will find your trap under the grass...






Investigate knocked off cups. See any teeth marks?







I carry back torn cups to the truck so I'm not a litterbug. I put them in a box with flaps so they won't blow out...








Maybe you can catch fish on a bare hook, but I know you cant catch a coon in an empty DP.

[bd64]

Not much of a test but I guess I would recommend carpenters line to prevent Zcap losses.

[trapperjdb]

I started to use golf balls this year and I think they work great. I think they add eye appeal. But I also noticed alot of golf balls being knocked off, but I do not believe it is mice because the bait is still there. I think the coons are not interested in the bait sometimes, but they would rather play with the ball.

[braveheart]

I ran 250 Dp's the first 2 week.I had Zero problems with the mice.When I had the coon thinned down I started to have a mouse get to the bait.I moved the trap and never had a problem again.The mice how I use and set the Dp's never seem to be a big problem I will always run mine Naked .

[TRAPPERTOM]

this is what i came up with, it was not a cap, or anything blocking the hole, i wanted something that the coon would have to remove from the trap, to get to the trigger, preventing mice from getting to the bait, i am trying a piece of 1/2 inch pvc, and long enough to stick out the top, there is not enough room on the side for a mouse to fit in the trap to steal bait, i will let you know how it works out, just an idea

[6hpmarty]

I don't have any traps with triggers like that. Mine are all 2 way triggers and that pipe would push trigger down and set it off if a coon were to work my trap. I have 41 traps out now and had 2 golf balls knocked off today, none yesterday. Not sure if an animal walked by it or a mouse ? The bait was still in the trap, along with the bait on the ground I use to chum in coon.

[TRAPPERTOM]

you are absolutely right, this will only work on a pull trigger

[justwannano]

Glue a gball on top and cut the pvc so it doesn't touch the trigger.
just

[6hpmarty]

I think its easier to just buy the right traps!!! Ztraps, n Zcaps

[dspree]

I drill a hole through golf balls and run a short piece of 1/8" cable through them and attach to my trap. I haven't lost one yet. The only thing is sometimes a coon will knock the ball off and play with it and not be interested in my bait. The golf ball makes it easier to check. I can see them from a distance and if i's still on my trap I just move on to the next set.

[LLLTrapper]

Nov 21, 2012 7:15:38 GMT -6 TRAPPERTOM said:

this is what i came up with, it was not a cap, or anything blocking the hole, i wanted something that the coon would have to remove from the trap, to get to the trigger, preventing mice from getting to the bait, i am trying a piece of 1/2 inch pvc, and long enough to stick out the top, there is not enough room on the side for a mouse to fit in the trap to steal bait, i will let you know how it works out, just an idea

I like your idea. LLL

[6hpmarty]

For the record, 6hpmarty was the first who told me about the golf balls and I mentioned the idea to Larry. Was the idea original, Marty?

Thank you Wayne but I cannot take the credit as I was told by The Ztrap staff about the golf balls and eggs. Now they have the Zcaps, and I use them but still have a lot of golf balls to get rid of. If anyone has doubts about the Zcaps look up the videos at the web site www.ztraps.com There is a couple of very informative videos as well as int ructions for proper use of the Ztrap and the Zcaps.

[x-demoman]

I do not want to bash any particular trap but I have not forund any improvement using a 2 way trigger after using them for 3 years. They just do not fit my system. In those 3 years well over1500 coon were caught using pull only triggers. Sorry to burst anyones bubble but that is the way it has tested out on my line. I do own well over 300 DPs mostly home made.

Gene