New Trap Prep

[snake]

How do I prep new traps?  I am trapping pocket gophers using #0 Legholds.  Ive done this since I was a child, but haven't done it in 10 years.  I bought some new traps and they do not work correctly. I'm sure its because they are not rusty.  I never had to prep my traps on the farm growing up because we had a shed full of old traps which were probably prepped by my dad or Grandpa. 

[JakeLand]

Soft boil for about 30 minutes to get all oil off , let set to form a light rust then use a trap dye. But if they’re not firing correctly then it’s a pan adjustment problem

[snake]

The traps now have a coating of rust on them from weathering.  They do not shut when I trigger the pan.  they just stay open after the pan has been triggered. Will the dye fix this issue or are the traps defective?

[JakeLand]

Set them and bang on the ground to fire them off do them several times to get the roughness off where the spring touches the jaws maybe a little Vaseline on that spot

[snake]

ok I'll give it a try. I emailed Duke traps today so we'll see what they have to say.

[JakeLand]

ok I'll give it a try. I emailed Duke traps today so we'll see what they have to say.

Duke long springs always have trouble

[snake]

ok I'll give it a try. I emailed Duke traps today so we'll see what they have to say.

Duke long springs always have trouble

what brand do you recommend?and where do I get them at.

[Cylvertip]

Are you using these in Washington? If so, what part of the state? On your property? 

[JakeLand]

Trapline products makes a great gopher and mole trap OR use 110 conibear

[rasbo]

Trapline products makes a great gopher and mole trap OR use 110 conibear

x2 trapline products are great

[snake]

Are you using these in Washington? If so, what part of the state? On your property?

Haha, not in Washington. Dont they give you the death penalty for using them in Washington.  Im using them in Idaho and Montana.

[snake]

Trapline products makes a great gopher and mole trap OR use 110 conibear

Ive never tried the conibear for Gophers. I'll have to give it a try.  I have used what we used to call Death clutch traps for them though. I'll look up the trapline products. Thanks.

[Machias]

If you need to borrow some 110s, I have plenty of extras you can use.  What part of Idaho are you coming to?  If you come through CdA for just south of there I can meet you and loan you a half dozen traps.

[snake]

Thanks Machias, I am in Rathdrum and do go south frequently to check game cams and scouting on the Rez and up the Joe.  I might take you up on borrowing a few traps. 

I finally got around to messing with these traps again.  I put petroleum jelly on the parts that seemed to be sticking and now the traps are firing nicely.  I am not sure how long the petroleum jelly will last but at least they are working for now.  I also tried to contact Duke traps 2 times and am still waiting on their reply.  Gophers won't start working until spring so I have some time. I have a friend in Montana that has a major problem and I'll be hitting it hard for him come spring.