New Trapper Winging It

[bear hunter]

  check trap and it was triggered. Hmmmmm  no beaver. Chewed branch in trap side ways. Hmmmmmm fishy I don't think a beaver can get out of a Hancock with out help.  Well reset and sented. Will see tomorrow. If nothing might pull all traps and go for otters and beaver. Need more bobcat bait running out.

[Humptulips]

Is it a Hancock or is it one of those Koros that is missing some of the locks. I have heard Koro put out some like that and they allow beavers to get out.

[bear hunter]

Is it a Hancock or is it one of those Koros that is missing some of the locks. I have heard Koro put out some like that and they allow beavers to get out.

yea its the Koro with one lock. I was thinking of fabing a lock and moving the other one. Just like the older ones.

[UrbanTrapper]

The Koros don't have the locks because the springs were made stronger than the Hancocks and they don't need locks.  Beaver can't get out of them unless something breaks or something ends up between the jaws.  Do not 'dry fire' these traps or the springs will break much sooner than they would otherwise (like a hunting bow).  Close them down slowly, just like you set them only backwards.

[bear hunter]

The Koros don't have the locks because the springs were made stronger than the Hancocks and they don't need locks.  Beaver can't get out of them unless something breaks or something ends up between the jaws.  Do not 'dry fire' these traps or the springs will break much sooner than they would otherwise (like a hunting bow).  Close them down slowly, just like you set them only backwards.

Thanks.... good to know. I have dry fired it 5 or more times. Next time I will lower it down. Just can't see how he got out? There was a stick in trap but it was all the way across in the back. Maybe there was a big branch in the trap and when the beaver pust his way out it fell out to. Will see I could form up some hancock locks and install them just as a back up? What do you guys think?

[Humptulips]

The Koros don't have the locks because the springs were made stronger than the Hancocks and they don't need locks.  Beaver can't get out of them unless something breaks or something ends up between the jaws.  Do not 'dry fire' these traps or the springs will break much sooner than they would otherwise (like a hunting bow).  Close them down slowly, just like you set them only backwards.

I have heard reports to the contrary. People are having trouble with beaver getting out of these traps.

[UrbanTrapper]

Mike and I have caught well over 100 beaver in Koro/Hancocks over the last couple of years:

• Sometimes muskrat set them off and you find an empty trap.  We recently found a big muskrat drowned in a closed trap, caught by the hip in the chain link when he tried to escape
  
• Mike added cable to the trap frame corners to keep the chain link tight so smaller beaver can't squeeze out.  I'll ask him to bring one to the rendezvous
  
• Trap springs eventually break and the chain link eventually breaks. If a beaver escapes it will leave a lot of hair where it squeezed out
  
• The Hancock locks actually cause more problems for us because they can get in the way of the closing trap jaw and bounce it back. We have to shim twigs under them to keep them clear

[bear hunter]

Mike and I have caught well over 100 beaver in Koro/Hancocks over the last couple of years:

• Sometimes muskrat set them off and you find an empty trap.  We recently found a big muskrat drowned in a closed trap, caught by the hip in the chain link when he tried to escape
  
• Mike added cable to the trap frame corners to keep the chain link tight so smaller beaver can't squeeze out.  I'll ask him to bring one to the rendezvous
  
• Trap springs eventually break and the chain link eventually breaks. If a beaver escapes it will leave a lot of hair where it squeezed out
  
• The Hancock locks actually cause more problems for us because they can get in the way of the closing trap jaw and bounce it back. We have to shim twigs under them to keep them clear

Thanks for the info. I was thinking a muskrat might of set off the trap. I did have carrots in trap with apple sent.

[bear hunter]

The Koros don't have the locks because the springs were made stronger than the Hancocks and they don't need locks.  Beaver can't get out of them unless something breaks or something ends up between the jaws.  Do not 'dry fire' these traps or the springs will break much sooner than they would otherwise (like a hunting bow).  Close them down slowly, just like you set them only backwards.

I have heard reports to the contrary. People are having trouble with beaver getting out of these traps.

I will pull the trap and let the area rest. This gives me time to paint and fix lock spring. Going to place a trailcam and see what these beavers are doing when my trap is there. Might evern place a swim thru's all over the pond so I will get this guy. Lol

[bear hunter]

Pulling all my traps. Going to find a new area. 1 month and no cats, but did get my first possum,and spotted skunk. The area was ok. I will start catch muskrats and beaver to get more bait. Then start setting trapping again for cats. Next season I will have alot more swim thru's and bobcat traps. I am hooked

[bear hunter]

  It's not a skunk........ About time almost pulled my traps out of the area. Started trapping off this road about a month ago. Its been good in the 4 mile long road. 1 beaver, 2 spotted skunks, possum,and a big tom. Almost 25lbs...... This guy ripped the heck out of my china trap and if you look at the picture. It looks like something was digging under the trap. Hmmmmmm One tom big cat. I was thinking of mounting it whole or just tan the hide? Well here are the pictures. I might make the cat look small. I weigh 365 so it is hard to see the size. Lol

[jasnt]

  congrats bud worth the wait! 

[JakeLand]

Nice cat Danny!!! Little China trap took a beating 

[JakeLand]

Something else dug up around the cage maybe a coyote that's what it looks like and he's got a broken canine tooth something was harassing him in it

[ouchfoss]

Heck ya Danny! That is a nice size cat.