Some Aussie Foothold Trapping

[Mitch 0]

Its good to see some more trapping pics getting up on here. Now i am new to this trapping so i thought i would post up some pictures of how i make my set. Mainly so Hornhunter can tell me what im doing wrong And so others can see the direction in which my trapping takes here in Australia. Steel Jawed traps are Illeagle for use in NSW that includes Laminated and Offset jaws like Hornhunter uses.

 

I like the point that hornhunter stated, That his Offset Laminated traps cause less harm than Rubber padded traps. If only someone with experience made our laws! Anyways, I use Victor Soft Catch, it is a trap with offset jaws covered with rubber pads. The foxes i have caught have had no damage to there feet and these traps seem to be ok. Its just the foxes will rip the pads to bits so i am continually changing pads.

 

Now to the pics,

 

 

 

I start off by punching a hole in the ground, This soil here is very shitty and keeps caving back in, so this hole didnt turn out as deep as i like it to be.

 

I then dig and bed my trap, offset to the right and back a little about 2 inches.

 

 

 

Mean while all the excess dirt is going into my sifter,

 

 

 

I then place on my pan cover, And sift dirt over the top.

 

After i have finished with my trap and its bedding, I remove the gloves and lure,

 

 

 

 

 

After i have put the lure down the hole i put a clod of grass in it. And thats the finished set, I am also experimenting with guides you can see a few rocks and sticks. Im still learning

 

Hope someone can give me a few tips

 

[Albert Ladd 0]

I'll get back to you Mitch. Just got out of work and waiting for daylight to go hunting. If i get back before dark may be I can set a trap and show how I do it just to compare.

[Coote 5]

Thats interesting thanks Mitch. What else do you try to trap beside foxes?

 

It is good to see some real soil in your pics. When I was living in Aussie (Albany, WA), what they called soil was actually sand. Some of it seemed to grow stuff alright, but it was very gritty.

[Albert Ladd 0]

Haven't forgot you Mitch, Just haven't got out to set any traps yet. Hang in there I'll take some pic's!

Edited November 26, 2006 by Hornhunter

[Albert Ladd 0]

Haven't forgot you Mitch, Just haven't got out to set any traps yet. Hang in there I'll take some pic's!

 

Mitch! Took a few pictures as I set. The ground here is froze down a few inches, but these traps are set where we had traps this fall. First pic is the trap positioned and wedged so it can’t wobble or move if the fox or coyote steps on the side like the lever area. The dirt is packed around the sides of the trap, Then I add the pan cover. In this case all I use is waxed paper. The cover is needed to keep an air space under the trap pan so it will drop when the critter steps on it. I noticed you pack your dirt inside and around the pan then add the screen. If this has been working for you then don’t change, but here we get so much rain than the dirt can wash under the pan and keep the pan from freely droping

 

 

 

This pic is just showing the pan cover added. It should all be in between the jaws.

 

 

 

Here is the finished set. Bait in the hole and a little lure on the back side of the hole. Dirt had been added and the edges packed fairly tight. Kind of bowl shaped. Higher on the sides. Then pack with your hands.Yellow handle is from my sledge hammer, Sometimes I hammer a hole in the frozen ground.

 

 

 

 

While making a set†Bottom rightâ€a cow and calf moose started walking up the trail.

Edited November 27, 2006 by Hornhunter

[Mitch 0]

Nice one Hornhunter. I really appreciate that, i like the look of those rocks, i will experiment with things like that myself. Rain has been very scarces latley. We are in bad drought so if i know its not going to rain i use pan covers like that, If it has been raining or looks like it may rain i use these Underalls,

 

Thanks again mate,

[woodga 170]

great pictures there horn hunter that trap is well set just waiting for the next target MITCH the S.F.E has been made into a lure paste and has proved effective so far iv had four foxes with it thanks again mate keep the pictures coming you two very interesting read

[Mitch 0]

Nice one woodga, it is some good stuff