Trap / pan covers

RUGER · Jan 17, 2016

Do you use them?
Do you need them?
Do you cover just the pan or the entire trap?

Can you use anything to do the same job other than the covers you buy?

diamond hunter · Jan 17, 2016

A piece of window screen is a traditional cover.I don't use covers myself but I put poly under the pan to keep debris out and works the same.

TN Song Dog · Jan 17, 2016

When using them, cover the pan and fit just inside jaws and not over jaws. I don't use them though.

I have been using polly fill pillow stuffing under the pan also. It has worked fine and I have been mostly happy with this.

A friend and I just started working together setting on a large hunting lease. For the first time yesterday, I used pre sifted peat moss to fill inside of jaws. You don't need pan covers or polly fill with the peat moss. I did like how easy it was to use, and also left me with plenty of dirt for sifting and blending the set. Also, the dirt is wet from all the rain, I was glad to be putting dry material inside jaws to maybe help keep traps from freezing with the coming cold weather. After jaws are filled with peat, sift a thin layer of the dirt back over everything. Then blend if needed for flat sets.

No catches this morning, but the only dirt hole we baited with bacon grease was dug. Remade with some better guiding and backing, and they will probably be back for more bacon!

Planking · Jan 17, 2016

I make sure the trap is bedded solid, no wiggle. I put the window screen over the pan and sift dirt over the entire trap. I haven't tried peat or poly but that sounds like a better way.

bigdoc · Jan 17, 2016

I use poly fill sometimes, but if it rains and then freezing temps come the poly will freeze also. Just watch for that. Makes it like a small piece of concrete. I mostly cut screen up to fit inside the jaws.

pass-thru · Jan 17, 2016

A pan cover should go over the pan and under the jaws. The purpose is to keep debris/dirt from compacting under the pan which would interfere with the the trap firing.

No I don't use them, because the are unecessary when bedding in peat, which is what I do. If I did use them, I would use a coffee filter and make sure there was 1/2" dirt covering the trap.