Coil Spring Trap Mistake

[GunGuy86]

First of all I want to say that I am new to trapping coyote. I was preparing a dirt hole set yesterday and everything was going fine. I believe I learned a lesson when setting the trap. I felt like I needed a third hand to get the trigger over to the dog. But instead the trap closed on my thumb. Needless to say I had to have help from my 9year old to get out of this thing and I now have a sore thumb today. I felt like I should probably stand on the trap to make this easier. Any suggestions?

 

[hammer33]

I set the night latch BEFORE I bed the trap. Flip the loose jaw to the "closed" position so you can have access to the pan safely. If it goes off, your fingers arent inbetween the jaws.
Still get a finger caught now and again, no big deal.

 

[Carlos Viagra]

A heavy duty pair of gloves would probably minimize any injuries.
I'm new to it as well, takes a bit to figure things out.

 

[6.5swede]

What kind of trap were you using

 

[6.5swede]

It happens I was screwing around the other day and caught my thumb in one.

 

[MickThompson]

Plant the heels of your palms on the hinges until you get the dog set. If the trap fires, it pushes your hands clear

 

[Carlos Viagra]

Plant the heels of your palms on the hinges until you get the dog set. If the trap fires, it pushes your hands clear

That's how I have done it in the past, figured it wasn't the professional way, but the only way I could figure out.

 

[rem270]

I set all mine by standing on them and setting them. I had one close on me Saturday while getting it tight in the dirt. It's one with a hair trigger on it and went off somehow. Caught my index finger but didn't hurt.

 

[backyardtndeer]

I set the night latch BEFORE I bed the trap. Flip the loose jaw to the "closed" position so you can have access to the pan safely. If it goes off, your fingers arent inbetween the jaws.

This is how I learned watching videos.

I wear fairly heavy leather gloves when I am setting traps, I'd guess that they would help some if I accidentally got a finger.

 

[Speedwell-Hunter]

First of all I want to say that I am new to trapping coyote. I was preparing a dirt hole set yesterday and everything was going fine. I believe I learned a lesson when setting the trap. I felt like I needed a third hand to get the trigger over to the dog. But instead the trap closed on my thumb. Needless to say I had to have help from my 9year old to get out of this thing and I now have a sore thumb today. I felt like I should probably stand on the trap to make this easier. Any suggestions?

trap setters, EASY and call it a day!

 

[6.5swede]

It's not necessarily hand strength, but some technique goes a long way. I use a no bs that's dogless. If you are using a trap with a dog like a mb550, when you push the levers you can do it above your knee or on the ground then you can grab the trap and jaw and hold it open when you flip the dog over the jaw. With a dogless I like to set them with the pan facing away so I can get my finger under the pan instead of my thumb to lift it up. You need to mess with them enough that you aren't afraid of the trap.

 

[readonly]

set the trap over your thigh in a standing position

 

[farmin68]

I set using my leg just above my knee as a bench with the heels of my hands pushing the coilspring levers down.

Been doing it this way since I was 12, and have never been pinched.