I'm contemplating making some 120 boxes and running them for raccoons in the state of Missouri this season. It's the largest conibear that we can legally have on land. I remember a few years ago an article in T&PC about using 120's and wondered if anyone had any luck using them. Any insight would be great.

i know 160s work. if its the biggest you can use might as well try it. i use 220s up here

thrstyunderwater, the 120 is a 4 1/2 inch trap. The maximum allowed in Missouri is 5 inches. Because of this, one of our illustrious T-Man members has started building 5 inch traps, just for you. They are built heftier than a 120, with stronger springs, and legal in Missouri. Our own Bill Crum makes em. They are for sale up yonder under the banner for Minnesota Trapline Products. Go to traps, and then to rbg's. They are listed with Bill's RBG's.

Looks like you learn something new every day.

I hear tell they are deadly on them Missouri coons. What I've heard from people who use them is that you have to make your box deep enough so they can't reach in, and set it up so it is 4 to 6 inches off the ground so it is easier for them to poke their heads in. Supposed to get a good catch right behind the ears every time.

I don't know, but I would say underwater is way up in northern MO. Cause southern Mo folks call them coons. See in the south you could be miss understood for say "rekon" if you held the "ooon" to long. Rekon or Rekoooon. So we just call them coons. LOL Underwater I didn't mean to cut in on your post, this is just a carry over from another post. All in fun.

Has anyone ever used these new 5x5 coninbears? If not has anyone on here ever used 120's for coons?

I've never used the new 5x5 conis but i read a article in TP&C about a trapper that used them very sucessfully.

My son has caught a few coon with 120's and 5 x 5's. Biggest problem is keeping them from reaching in with their hand. The ones he's caught over the head have not ever struggled. They make a nice catch right behind the ears. Both traps definately have the smack down power.

ive never used em but i would think bendin down the triggers or even cuttin em down may help prevent paw fires

I dont know if Im right or wrong but a 4.5 inch spread seems really small for coon. What happens if you end up getting a 30 pound coon with a 6 inch wide head.They would probobly be unwilling to jam thier head in that small of an opening.

I ain't never seen a coon with a 6 inch head, and I've caught some big ones.

Disclaimer: there are no coons in southeast Nebraska.

For those of you who have experience with using both 5x5s and 120s, how much difference does the extra .5 in. in the 5x5s? From what I've heard, the 5x5s can be pretty expensive (I don't know the exact prices), so would the financial benefits of the 120s outweigh the size and strength benefits of the 5x5s?

this is my problem here, although i realize that its a matter of leagal bull, i still dont think 120's are good for coons, in fact i was at gander mountain earlier tonight, and my dad, who hasnt trapped since he was my age handed me this thing and said "man theese 120's sure seem bigger than they used to" he handed me a duke 160, which we mutually decided wasnt worth the money, at $7, when in illinois 220's are good as gold and only a few dollars more than a 160, i was gunna give them a shot, but it just dosent seem like they would be anywere near as effective as a 220

Wcrose19, I think everyone agrees that a 160 or 220 is the preferred bodygrip trap for a coon, but the problem is that some states have laws that limit them to 5 inches if set on land. Missouri is one of those states. Nebraska limits you to 5 inches if set on dry land in a public area, but you can go up to a 220 if on private land, which most of it is.

So, Bill, and maybe some others I don't know about, started making these 5 inch bodygrips for those situations. I've never used one. But I've been told by people who have that they are made stouter than a normal 120, and the springs are a lot stronger. I've never held one, but I drew a 5"x5" square on a piece of paper and put a 110 on top of it. The extra 1/2 inch on each side makes a heck of a difference.

here is one the boxs i use it has a 5 inch CTM (RBG) in it





here is one with a 5 inch regular square type its a 126 or what they use to call a 126 (160 springs)

Ray, you wouldn't happen to have a pic of one of the square ones over a 110, would you?

i knew i was kinda strin the pot, i thought it was funny that my dad and i had a simalar conversation earlier... i understand that it isnt leagal and all that, but at a certain point wouldnt it be easier to use footholds and snares and cage traps on dry land? i like to use every possible thing i can, so i understand the want to catch coons in 120's, in a simalar situation i would probably find myself trying it too, but i think in that situation a different type of trap is a better option, just my opinoin

here is one compared to a 110

We can use 220's here and I still don't use many bucket type sets. IMO your not missing out on much but a bunch of possums and skunks.