Here are some pics of the way I place my triggers for coon and mink in 160 conibear boxes, Im not saying this is the best way but this is the way I do it and It works for me. I thought it would be good for beginning trappers to see proper trigger placement for coon and mink.



This is how I place my triggers earlier in the winter, coon around here dont got into boxes well until january. Alot of times earlier in the winter you will have alot of reach ins, where the con will try and reach in the box to grab the bait. Youi want to try and avoid this so i present a biggest opening as possible, it works well for me.

You cant tell much a difference from this first pic here, but the bottom trigger is bent down more at an angle then in the first pic. When raccoons start hitting boxes better, this is the trigger placement i go with, this is also a better trigger placement for catching skunks and grinners.



This is kind of a bad pic but is another good trigger placement for coon. Back to the idea of having the most wide opening to the bait as possible, I use this trigger placement alot.


This is the same as the second pic but the box is just turned over, if you have mink in the area and they are robbing your bait place your triggers like this. With the horizontal trigger on the bottom your more likely to catch the mink when hes dragging the bait out of the box. Another good tip for mink is to wad up some grass on the bottom of the box, in front of the box to try and hide the triggers so the mink dosent see them and wont jump over them.




Heres the last trigger placement, this one is also good for mink, use the wadded grass in front here also.

I hope this helps you new trappers with trigger placement, I only set coni boxes in the winter due to not having to deal with hunters and hunting dogs. When setting conibears remember to be responsible and dont set anywhere you suspect there could ever be dogs. As trappers we all the responsibility, for responsible taking of furbearers. Moderaters if you feel this post fits the bill please place it in the archives, thanks.

Here are a few catch pics from my boxes

Dude: Don't tell all these old guy's all of our secret's. I know they are looking! Good job on photo's. couldn't explain it better myself.

Nice stripped kitty!

Hey Nice catchs
This is the only way we can use conies on state land in michigan on the ground . I make mine out of pine wood where I use 120,s for the trap and catch everything in them from mink , coon, weasels or erman, and as big as BOB cat. the other way is if ther four foot off the ground so the Boxs work best so not to big of a secret lol . J/K if you don't use them give em a try you might catch something . best of luck . Kevin

Another thing I got to add, make sure to check your state regs to see what sizes on conibears are aloud on dry land, each state verys.

Very Nice Post!! It must have been quite a suprise to find that mink in the abandoned house.

Do you live near Rochester?

Those few pictures of the coons by the big Cottonwoods look like a picture that belongs in Red O'hearn's coon book.

thanks cedar, I couldnt believe i caugth that big ole buck in that abandoned house!! Im about 4 hours west of roch.

thats cool, I can't belive you caught that big coon with small coni.



Thanks,
Foxman12

Very nice post, I think this one should be put in the archives as it shows that you do not need a 220 conibear style trap to catch coon. Made a believer out of me. Thanks for posting. Tom

nice setup good pics. too.

is that coon in the pic under the skunk caught by the legs or is it just me?

no its not caught by the legs, he made it in the box a little farther then usual. the jaws held him around the neck but his legs were in the trap also.

oh i c it now looks like he went to pray and got wacked lol

lol zeak.

Nice, this helps me alot as I want to start using 160's. You partial to any brand, I bought some Belisle's to start. Can only use them within a creek. Have you ever used wooden pans with the trigger on the bottom? I see some boxes are made from partical board, how does this hold up, have you ever painted them to protect them somewhat?

what are you useing for bait