How to reduce toe catches and misses

[huntinglonewolf]

Here is what I have found out over several years of trapping is that having proper trap placement and proper pan tension greatly reduces toe catches and misses. 6 years ago when I really begin to trap coyotes heavy I read a writing by J.C. Conner where he did a study on trap placement at dirthole sets. He set the trap back on off to the left and right and set it dead center with the doged jaw right at the lip of the dirthole set. His findings were 67% of the coyotes were caught with the trap dead center up tight to the hole. If you really think about it with it back and off to the right or left you have to really block it and then you have alot of misses as coyotes don't like a blocking, If you don't block and have it set back and to the left and a coyote comes in on the right you have a miss. Proper pan tension is a real key to avoid toe catches and misses. I have all my traps night latched with no pan drop and pan tension at 3# for coyotes. I have most all my coyotes deep caught and this is what you want. Over the years I have seen tons of videos of coyotes comming to sets and 98% of the time one or both front feet are right at the center of the hole. Over the last 6 years I have caught around 50 coyotes by both front feet.

[Machias]

Great info, thanks for sharing.  I was taught, jaw tight to the hole, but offset a bit to the right or left.  I've had a few misses and toe catches on yotes.  Thanks.  I also like to file my dog a bit so the traps fire nice and crisp, whatever you set the pan tension at.

[huntinglonewolf]

I night latch mine for the simple reason as when setting in the dark or remaking there is a click when the trap pan is pulled down and ready.

[Humptulips]

Agree with you on trap placement. I really think though that trap placememt recommendations have been over emphasized over the years. A good lure in the hole will keep a coyote there moving its feet around until caught.IMO I do subscribe to pan tension as being very important. I think though that different brands of traps take a little experimentation to find the best tension.
I've a bunch of MB650s and had to go to more like 5 pounds tension as compared to my old longsprings that I tried for 3. 5 sounds like a lot but it works for me.
In the end though the 650s are going. Seemed good for a while but I decided I didn't like the PIT pans that came on them. Right now I'm going to the 1 3/4 padded jaws. If I could just get a chance to experiment a bit more with them. Damn laws in this state!