RdFx I fix my mink and rat trap triggers just like you are doing there. I square the dogs and adjust when needed. I dont do much more to the notch but square up the inside top and outside end. They get rounded after a while from hard use, corrosion from rust in acidic water, firing repeatedly and have to be re done. I had a couple of old style B&L #1s cut my knuckles real bad one day when the triggers got too wore out after coon catches. Some of my older traps dont have much of the original notch left. I adjust the dog so there is just enough engagement for a short fast throw every time. My predator traps have the notches filed down shorter with a 2 LB tention on them. I have some 1 3/4 Northwoods RJ that I really like. I needed more cat traps a couple seasons back and put Taos kits on them. I decided to try using them in the water some this last season and was a little worried about too much tension on the triggers with the 4-coils on. After loosening the pan tension I was pleased to see that they threw even smoother and faster than before.
In past years I had a small group of trappers I knew here. They were a good crowd. One of them was a good old mountain trapper that had made moonshine in his early days. He had friends everywhere and had trapper get togethers that folks came to from all around including other states and set around listening to bluegrass and swapping stories. Clint Cummings showed up there one time. Nowadays all those older guys are gone and I have lone wolfed it kinda like Jeramiah Johnson for a while (th ol ladys a Cherokee too). I did get back in to the NCTA a while back. I had met some of them in the past and quite a few more lately. They are sure a great bunch of guys. I will be going for my lifetimers soon and Im looking hard into what I can do to not only support our local agenda but for all of us trappers. The USSA is one good place to start and I will be rejoining the NTA and join some other groups and state associations also. There are good trappers that want to keep to themselves, dont write for the magazines or join associations. I acnowledge them and respect their right to go their own way with it. I would like to see more trappers join their state association. If we care enough to keep trapping we should at least support the people who shoulder the load to protect our trapping. It does cost money to do the good work they are doing for us. It doesnt require hanging out with a bunch of people to send in annual dues and add the name of another trapper to the list that does care.
I believe there are always a number of part time and new trappers that feel a little bit intimidated or uncertain about talking to big name professional trappers. I always see some of that at conventions. I would like to point out that longliners enjoy their trapping too. They just decided to make a profession out of it. All the pros I have met have been really top notch people who were friendly and I have really enjoyed meeting them. There are many more that are very good trappers and just dont choose the longline way of life. In the past there wasnt as much exchange of knowledge. I believe, as many do that we do need to help new trappers get started and have more of them to keep it going. We do have to protect ourselves from a few bad apples that are still out there. I have one greedy guy that likes to steal traps and get people to make out unfounded complaints to cause trouble. I had 5 miles of water traps stolen a while back where I had plenty of permissions (some going back more than 2 decades) and navigable water to work on. The wildlife officers and nice lady DA backed me up in court and they dismissed the case. I got part of my traps back and a beaver job from the warden. I have seen where the same guy did that to another trapper back in 82. He pretends to be a big name longliner and had his name in T&PC but doesnt join the NCTA or do anything else I can see but cause problems. It will catch up with him. I have been and will be helping younger trappers or anyone interested in getting started trapping and/or joining the NCTA.
Trappnman, thanks for the tip on the coni holders. They sound like a real winner to me. Im sold on that idea.
Boggy, I have tried making a few colony traps and like the idea, but I havent had any luck in the few rat dens and runs I set up. I know they are good traps to use from everything I have read about them but so far all I caught was a rabbit where I left one sittin against the wall in the driveway. I had to turn it loose because of the good looking redhead I had here then when she looked at me sad eyed and said "you are going to turn it loose arent you?" I did see a picture of a colony trap with the door blown out by a big mink. Those big ones like you are catching are powerful for their size just like an otter is all muscle and a powerhouse to try to hold onto. I guess the doors need to be fortified with extra wire.
