fenn trap tips and tricks

[NextGenerationTrapper 1]

hi there Trappers! i bought my first MRK 6 Springer trap today i have buried it in the garden for a few days to get rid of the shine and smell of the new metal but I'm looking to use this for just rabbits and i would love for the more experienced trappers for some tips and tricks like stopping soil from going under the trigger plate when you set it in a burrow. pictures would also be great Cheers and ill keep you informed if i catch anything pictures included hopefully

[paulus 26]

never did any good with full grown rabbits in these, had no problems for mink and rat. had my hand in one once, that made me go oooouch :laugh: but full grown rabbits, all i ever found in them was fur, did catch half grown and smaller. i had more sucess with magnum bodygrips

[NextGenerationTrapper 1]

oh i may have to try one of them if this fails but would still appreciate some more tips and tricks on the fenn cheers pal

[nod 285]

why bury it in the garden wont catch there, stick it straight in the rabbit hole, bed it down so its level with the tunnel and lightly cover it so it cant be seen, peg it down...

[NextGenerationTrapper 1]

i buried it in the garden to get rid of the shine of the metal and the smell so the rabbits can't see or smell it ....hopefully then after about a week I'm going to dig up and then try it out on some rabbit holes itjsut gives me time to scout the files for their bolt holes or their actual home.

[moley 115]

make sure you set it in a hole of the correct size or you will catch only fur like paulus,

 

the hole wants to be only just bigger than the sprung trap, it wants to be as far into the hole as possibly or just inside the entrance,

 

lightly cover with soil of grass, yes grass, and bingo you should get your rabbit,

[NextGenerationTrapper 1]

why grass may i ask ? wouldn't it just be an obvious change in the rabbits burrow ?

any other tips on what to look for when choosing the hole in which to put the trap in?

[moley 115]

grass , leaves , whatevers to hand really, rabbits ain,t that clever,they don,t know or probably care that the stuff underfoot has changed, i have only used these if i run out of sieved soil and cannot be arsed to sieve anymore or its raining, try it

[NextGenerationTrapper 1]

oh right thank you if possible could you please put up some pictures of how you set your fenns in the burrow ? would be really handy cheers

[NextGenerationTrapper 1]

another thing is I've seen some blokes with a specially cut hazel stick for their traps I'm wondering how they use it and how they make it also ?

[Rolfe 2]

another thing is I've seen some blokes with a specially cut hazel stick for their traps I'm wondering how they use it and how they make it also ?

 

I think you are talking about a "Setting Stick" used during the trap setting procedure. It's simply a length of straight hazel about half-inch thick and 9-10 inches long that has a taper at one end that is inserted lightly under the trap pan to hold it in position whilst sieved earth is used to cover the trap. They are useful for speading the earth evenly over the pan and also for carefully disengaging the safety catch to leave the trap in the set position (it removes the risk of getting fingers trapped in the final setting process should the trap accidently fire)

[NextGenerationTrapper 1]

thank you just made myself one after seeing the picture any other useful things that you can make or use for a trap ?

[NextGenerationTrapper 1]

file://localhost/Users/macbook/Pictures/DSC02138.JPG

 

just testing if thats how you put a picture up

[NextGenerationTrapper 1]

how do you put a picture up ?

[AndrewEdwardDennis 9]

why grass may i ask ? wouldn't it just be an obvious change in the rabbits burrow ?

any other tips on what to look for when choosing the hole in which to put the trap in?

looking for an active warren would be a start. look for fresh dropping/scratchings around the entrance. The mk6 isn't really suitable for the larger rabbit, just like I think the mk4 isnt suitable for big rats, as when triggered I have had to put may rats/rabbits out there misery because it isnt large enough to do what it is intended for - cervical dislocation/snapping of the spine for instant death in some cases not all. However these traps are effective killers I use them everyday. Another bit of advice is, not all rabbit warrens are occupied by rabbits...