I’ve always wanted to try a DP with a tubing covered trigger but have had a heck of a time putting tubing sections on the trigger. How do you do it so they stay on?

What does it do ? I stick a cherry or two mini marshmellows on the trigger. Gets 'em on the first grab.

Heat Shrink tubing like they sell for electrical connections works, buy a size about same diameter as your triggers, slip it on, then hit it with one of those long pencil lighters.
Jim

I've done this and have done the bait under the trigger thing. I've still had best results with cat food and a few additives filling the DP within an inch of the top.

If i may qualify my efforts, I had a pretty good run on plantations with deer feeders year round. I would basically protect the deer feed. I'd pick up 200 coons the first week alone. To me, they honestly don't care if theres something on that trigger or not. If they're wanting more of that cat food under the trigger, they're grabbing.

But I'll add this. It will not hurt. I personally don't think it will help...but it definitely won't hurt.

If you do slip a piece of surgical tubing over the trigger, make sure it's not so long that it hangs up on the inside of the barrel. I use em on the Duke DP.

Other types of tubing will work also. I do not remember the specifics but I used some automotive tubing that was a larger diameter than surgical tubing. It was stiff enough that I could push it on and it fit tight enough that it would stay in place. The idea is to make it feel more natural than a cold metal blade. Not sure it is necessary but as John said, it sure does not hurt anything as long as it fits tight so it does not slip and bind.

It comes in different sizes, get the 1/4 OD. I just cut 1" lengths and 95% of the time if it does come off it's under a coons paw in the trap, a few spare pieces don't take up much room in your pocket. I run all Dukes.

How would those scent loaded plastic/rubber fishing baits work on the trigger?
They make all kinds of shapes and sizes and colors and odors.

I had a bunch of those rubber, salt impregnated fishing tubes that I used on a few of my DP's and have to admit I did well on them. I still used bait but I really think it could make a difference. I'm sure they feel like something edible to a coon.

A buddy of mine had coon eating every bit of cat food down to the trigger and leaving. This was on some of the first little grizz traps when they came out. I put a plastic bait over the trigger and he started catching coon. I don’t think it had anything to do with the little minnow as much as covering the cold steel of the trigger.

I just push the tubing on & carry extra if it comes off. Get it started with needle nose pliers then push with the tip of your finger. It does stay on better after it's been dipped.
I haven't saw the K.O. DP yet but it comes with rubber already on it.

install a coon dagger 2-way ring trigger and it will stop the problem and you don't have to feed them in order to catch them. just enough bait in the bottom of the trap to cover the bottom and that's it. in actual testing against the straight 2-way trigger traps and pull only triggers it was a 12 to 1 ratio. 24 coon in the 2-way ring trigger vs 2 in the straight trigger traps. this was only a 2 check average. I can pm you the guys name if you want.

Here's how I set my Duke dp's up. If they reach in they are waiting on me. I can't speak to 2 way triggers or untuned traps cause I never used either. Before I ever set my first dp I talked to the late Carroll Black of Blackies Blend fame and he told me to put the surgical tubing on the trigger cause coons eat soft stuff(minnows, frogs, etc) , they will grab and pull it. Keep the bait below the trigger, we ain't here to feed em, we're here to catch em. Set the trigger half way, that's the only thing I have changed, I file the trigger end so the dog sits half way, kinda a night latch for a dp. I use cat food with a little fish oil mixed in or Blackies Blend fatal attraction (just a teaspoon) if it's gonna be cold, it don't freeze. Wd-40 keeps all the pivot points pivoting and coons seem to like the smell of it as much as I do.

Catfood just below the trigger, cherry or two mini marshmallows on trigger. Either I have a coon waiting or the trap has not been touched. They can see, smell, and feel the cherry and grab it willingly.

I have trapped hundreds of raccoons with DPs and I cannot recall ever finding bait left in the trap which had a coon in it.
I have had many walk up to the DP and walk away without touching it, but when they are hungry or want some desert, they will rob the trap of all of the bait, but go back in just one more time to pull on that lever. That lever will be gooey with the grape jam which I squirt on to keep the dry cat food or diced apples from rolling out.

No tubing used here. My best catch has been 612 coon. 52 in 1 day has been my best. Combination of dps and 1 1/2s. With a dp no bait higher than the trigger. Pull trigger. My trick is I use a piece of white styrofoam on top of bait but under the trigger. I use WD 40 like Harley to keep dp lubed. My lure is circled around dp not inside. I only want my bait with sight appeal down the dp. Not every coon will work a dp. But if interested they will. It is amazing a coons dexterity with there front paws. I also set dps on a hair trigger. I want that paw down in the tube as far as the coon can reach. Especially the big ones.

I've got some Duke DPs and would like to adjust the trigger. If I understand what you guys are saying, you file the end of the dog down so the trigger doesn't have to move much to go off. Is that right?

No need to file just don't set the dog so deep In the trigger notch.

X2 Beav