Blsum's 2015/2016 rookie season

[jasnt]

Good luck bud I'm rooting for ya

[Kit Carson]

Me too! ur gonna get one soon

[Blsum]

Swing and a miss. Always exciting to see one of your doors *censored*. Sucks when nothing is in the trap. Some of the ferns and such where moved a bit. Not sure I like these traps that I borrowed. They are 15x15x36 swing door traps. They rely on gravity to swing the door down and latch behind the lock. Looks like what ever got in the trap must of blocked the door a bit and made it so the door didn't latch when it went off. And when it got out of the trap the door was able to swing down and lock. Might have to see if the owner will let me do some modifications to keep that from happening again.

[Kit Carson]

Ouchfoss makes great traps 
Maybe he can help you out

[Blsum]

The problem isn't with my traps. It's with the traps I borrowed from a guy. Don't like how there is no springs to close the door or rings to keep it locked even if the door doesn't quite shut all the way.

[JakeLand]

The problem isn't with my traps. It's with the traps I borrowed from a guy. Don't like how there is no springs to close the door or rings to keep it locked even if the door doesn't quite shut all the way.

  If you can send me a couple pics of the door

[Blsum]

I will try to remember to take some pictures of the traps tomorrow when I check them. Can't seem to find any online. I did just have a though. It's possible that a civet had gotten in there and got out through spaces in the door. I could see where something chewed on the bait. And the ferns and branches I had on top of the trap were moved a bit. Which is why I thought it was something bigger then a civet. But there is still quite a bit of bait left it just looked like it was nibbled on not devoured.

[ouchfoss]

The problem isn't with my traps. It's with the traps I borrowed from a guy. Don't like how there is no springs to close the door or rings to keep it locked even if the door doesn't quite shut all the way.

I built several last year that didn't have a spring in the door and they worked but weren't ideal because if there was a small stick or bush in the way, the door wouldn't fully close. Had that happen a few times last year. May have missed a bobcat or a skunk. Don't know.
Also built a few with different ways of keeping the door locked. Had a few with a spring door and a hook that would hold the door once it was all the way closed, but had the same problem. If the door didn't slam down hard and fast enough, the hook wouldn't catch. Still worked though. Got one cat and several coon with it. The sliding rings is what I've been using on my new ones with the spring door and seems to be a really good setup with the "out to in" swinging door. Once the door swings about 45°, it cannot be opened back up without sliding the rings back upward.
You can also have no locks at all if you have an "in to out" swinging door and strong enough springs. Bruce's Cages are all built that way and work great.

[ouchfoss]

I will try to remember to take some pictures of the traps tomorrow when I check them. Can't seem to find any online. I did just have a though. It's possible that a civet had gotten in there and got out through spaces in the door. I could see where something chewed on the bait. And the ferns and branches I had on top of the trap were moved a bit. Which is why I thought it was something bigger then a civet. But there is still quite a bit of bait left it just looked like it was nibbled on not devoured.

You'd be surprised how small of a gap/slot/hole a civet can  squeeze thru. Thing is, they will keep coming back everyday until you get rid of them. All the cage doors on my traps have slots in them that way they can get out and I can deal with them later using a trap that can prevent sprays. That's why Bruce has the "skunk tubes".

[Blsum]

The doors are out swinging in. Not like you described. The traps I built that I have set on a beaver pond are based on bruce's design. Really like them so far. The only pictures I could find of the traps online are not that great. Like I said I will take more pictures when I can. I talked to the owner of the traps and asked about manufacturer and mods. He couldn't recall who made it. And asked me to make sure anything I do isn't permanent. This way if he desides to sell them down the road he can just take off what ever I have added to them. I found this picture of the exact same trap. Perhaps someone will recognize it.

[Humptulips]

That looks like a Bridger although I believe there is more then one manufacturer that uses that design.
I had two at one time. Had exactly the same trouble you describe.
I've watched civets in a cage. That can get through a 2"x 1 1/2" slot pretty easy.

[Blsum]

Did some more searching this morning and found this.  http://www.funketraptags.com/store/pc/FUNKE-S-OWN-Mullet-Live-Trap-p757.htm

Shows some better pics then I was able to find yesterday.

[Blsum]

Well the culprit has been figured out. When I got to the trap the civet cat was still in the trap. I slowly put a large garbage bag over the trap and cut the wire. I was in the process of moving it to the creek near by when it squeezed out and ran off. Put the trap back and left it closed. Looks like I'm gonna be pulling my mink trap and moving it to that sight to see if I can get him again.

[Blsum]

This civet cat is gonna drive me nuts. I put a 7x7x24 havaheart out with some beaver meat in the back. Well the damn thing must of pulled the bait out through the back of the cage. So I moved the bait a bit closer to the pan figuring he would have to go in. Well I guess he's smarter then I am cause he did it again. Assuming he crawled on top and did the same thing. This time it rebaited with a whole pile of large rocks covering the thing so he can't get to the bait at all. Now I'm gonna have to make some skunk  traps like bruce makes. I also understand why everyone gets so irritated with them. Think it might be about time to move these cat sets to some new area.

[Blsum]

Well I finally caught the civet that's been giving me issues.  Slowly moved the brush off the top of the cage  and boom got sprayed. That effing stinks to high heaven. Girlfriend was none to happy with me when I got home.