On the 3rd and 5th pic are they bent straight back? I got four or my eleven coons in 160 boxes this year, my trigger placement was way different and with no snow here in MN for a long time I don't know about refusals. You've caught a ton more coons that me, thanks for the tips, I'm switching to your way.

One thing i noticed is that you put somthing on top and on the sides of the box to blend it in. just thought i would point that out. thanks for the post

Excellent!!! What size box would that be?
Thanks

Nice job mncoon, but i do like texa's idea about twisting the triggers together.

I agree with you TexA: placing the wires twisted together in the middle is great for coon. I tried it on a couple 160 bucket sets this year. In one of them was one of the largest coon of the season.

My biggest concern with setting like that is missing mink that are in the area. Most of my good coon areas are also good mink areas. I know these sets aren't intended for mink, and I do place other sets specifically for them, but I don't want to miss them if they come by. That's why I like several of the trigger setups shown above. Any other advice for this situation?

Josh

Mncoontrapper - I notice a lot of your boxes are made of "chip board".

Do you have problems with that swelling and coming apart?

I used that on some boxes and they didn't last long...maybe 2 years. But, I leave my boxes out year 'round.

I've found I have to stick with solid wood planks or plywood.

Texa i never said my methods were the best, they work the best for me so I will stick with them. Ive had no issues with using osb for my boxes, I plan to paint them this summer. I know I guy who catches over 300 coon a year just in the winter in these boxes, and he uses the same methods as me. Mnhunter thank you for pointing that out, i forgot to add that. I always camo my boxes as i feel it helps with the catch. It also helps with theft. I use muskrat carcasses for bait in all of my boxes with fish oil mixed with shellfish.

I bend them back along the top of the box so they hit them with the top of their head when they crawl in.

Mncoontrapper, do you just wire your traps to the box?

yep I use 11 gauge wire.

Nice pics MN COON TRAPPER

Cant wait till next season too try the ideas on coon. This was my first year trapping and I had coni boxes out and all I got was tripped and empty traps. I'm going to try bending the wires like MN coon trapper. THANKS FOR THE NICE POST!!

Nice pics. We have a lot of restrictions here in Wis on 220s so I use 160s. I use the same trigger configuratons you do with the preferred one the inverted L and one of the wires along the bottom. IMO it helps to catch the mink cause those little buggers will sneak in and out without setting off the trap if the trigger catch is on top. I caught a tiny female last year and she had made it in and was attempting to drag the bait out (1/2muskrat carcass)and was caught backing out the way it looked. I have also caught weasels if set on the first notch. Wow-a mink in a building. That don't happen very often. I caught one next to a pheasant pen in a weasel box once over two miles from the nearest water. They really wander when they are hungry.

Thas when i ususaly catch the mink in the boxes to todd, when they are attempting to drag the bait out of the box.