Hello All,

If you look at NY's regulations for dry land Body Grips you'll notice 2 basic options.

Set 1) We can run a box/bucket cubby (10"x10") with a 6" opening (10" wide x 6" high) yet must recess our trap (up to 220's) back 4" from the entrance.

Set 2) We can run a full 10" entrance opening (again up to 220's) yet must recess our trap back 18" from the entrance.


So it's either a small entrance with the trap close (4") to the the entrance.
Or, a large entrance but the trap has to be way back in at least 18"


How would you set up given these options in order to reduce refusals.?

I don't know, and have not tried as of yet, but I want to refine the cubby set using 160's/220's.
My "guess" is that they will feel more welcomed with the larger 10" entrance, and "if" they are going to commit then they will go the extra mile and encounter the trigger even though it's 18" deep.

I don't like "guessing" and want to get building some cubbys, so I'd be grateful to hear from those of you who have some experience in this situation.

Thank you.
Scott

I'm kinda confused how you're gonna fit a 7"x7" 220 in a 6"x6" box.

Sounds like #1 is for 160s, and #2 is for 220s.

Must be a typo, in set 1 "(up to 220)" the reason I say this is you can't fit a 220 in a six inch opening. A 155 probably won't go either with the bumps on the corners. But close. If given the choice, between a trap that filled the opening of a six x six with a four inch setback and A seven x seven inch (220) trap set eighteen inches back in a ten inch cubby I would definitely choose the 6x6 set back four inches. But it's late and I don't even know why I opened the thread. New York state, it seems to me, tries to regulate TO THE ABSURD, EVERY ASPECT OF IT'S CITIZENS LIVES. Whether it is the laws concerning firearm ownership (the second amendment is clear and CONCISE and doesn't require twenty eight pages of BS regulations) to the dimensions of a stupid box to catch a stupid coon. For what it's worth the only coon I've caught in a cubby with a body grip trap, was in a 120 with a pan trigger, about three inches
back in a wooden box cubby built to fit the trap. That's a four inch by four inch trap that was set to catch a marten.
I have also caught a YOY red fox in the same set up. Good luck with the regs, to much paperwork for me. Sorry for the rant.

The box can be pretty much any size, say 10x10. But the opening entrance into the 10x10 box has to be 6" if you want to set the trap more near the front. Heck, you could use a 55 gallon barrel, but the entry must conform to the 6" rule in order to set near the front. Still, you can only come within 4" of that opening.
Likewise, if you want to keep it 10x10 (largest legal opening) and not reduce the entry to 6", you then have to place the trap 18" back from that opening.

Another way of looking at it is; If you run a 10x10 box you must set your trap 18" deep into it.
But another option is there if one wanted to set closer to the opening. However, If you choose this option and want to set closer than the 18", than you must reduce the size of the entrance (still an internal of 10x10) to 6" That can be achieved by running a board or stick across the box (above or below the spring slots) so that is now a 10" wide x 6" high entrance.

So, using a 10x10 box and a 220 is fine but you must recess your trap 18"deep. Now if you want to move your trap forward (up to within 4" of the entry) you must block off the front (top or bottom) to a dimention of 10"x6"

Hope that does a better job of explaining things. (Wish I could draw a pic on here).

I’ve used square cat litter pails with a six inch opening . A 6 inch plate as a template located on the lid with the opening positioned as low as you can. Caught many that way. Just a observation, using the 10x10 opening ,trap 18 “ back pretty much the same dimension as a cage trap . Treadle - bg just about in same location. When the dog proofs went from coon cuffs to what we have now I never looked back!

I have trapped in NNY for 37 yrs and used all the legal cubby designs. Conclusion: for coon use footholds and dp’s. Save the cubby’s for up in the trees for fisher!

I know the scoop about other sets and traps working...even better than cubbys. And I understand about putting up numbers, a little anyway.

This then is not about what trap, bait, or set will take more coon.


But what I am seeking here specifically has to do with 2 basic set designs and finding out which of those 2 has more, or less, Refusals.

All are asked to offer ther knowledge here, not just NY Trappers, as many states has a similar regulation.

So, let us talk just cubbys and what is working best given the parameters.
The 2 options are: 1) 10 h x 10 w entrance, trap 18" back.
2) 10 h x 6 w entrance, trap 4" back.

Many thanks to all who have shared, and to those who will.

Square buckets are cool.

I have noticed though, that a 220 RBG fits about perfect in a 10" dia. irrigation pipe. And the 160 RBG does the same in the 8" pipe. Both, snug and stable. And the pipe, being thin wall pvc is much lighter than a wooden box...and will never rot, and easy to clean.

I run NY legal cubby boxes for fisher. I have 2 sizes 9x9 inside for 220s and 7 1/4 x 7 1/4 for 160s. Im sure I get some refusals from coon on the 160 boxes but I still catch plenty of them in sets intended for fisher.

Use bucket with lids. Cut hole in lid. Reduces reach in under the coni.

Sawmill,

Many thanks for the response.!

Wondering if you could elaborate some more, please.

Are you setting deep, 18" or are you closer to the front.?

Thanks again.

10-4 Charlie.!

Obvious guess here, but I'd wager you are settin near the front. Yes.?

Others.?
Is Lt Grey nolonger with us.? It's been awhe since I've been on here


You guys don't have to spill your secrets now, I'm just looking for some friendly knowledge.

Thanks

FYI
So everyone know what he is talking about, This is from the new York manual.
for the record I only use the cubbys for fisher (and possum when the cubby is on the ground.....never fails ....right)

If I was gonna do that 10x10 cubby with the trap back 18" I think I'd definitely want a screened back as opposed to a solid one so it appears they can keep on going right through.

WoodL,

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I didn't know how to post pics and such, so this is appreciated.

Yes. My plan also.

I also thought of using an extended cubby of sorts and keeping both ends open, and running 2 traps...still pondering that though.

Don't you guys think the 10/18 would be more inviting to the coon than the 6" opening.?

Also

If I was going to use a bucket, I would run the 7 gallon over the 5 gallon. The 7 gal is just shy of 20" long and that just might be enougb to prevent the issue of "reaching." 20-4=16, that's a long reach.

Might could come up with a collapsible wire cubby long enough and light enough to work with 2 traps 18" back.

Obviously this one isn't long enough, but something like that.

A friend of mine is actually in the southern tier of the state as far as the regs go. He said he tried mostly with 160's this year and had way more commitments from the coons with the smaller opening in his cubbies. Apparently he was getting more "refusals" from coons because he assumes that they are reaching in with their hands to get at the bait and hitting the trigger when the opening is bigger. As opposed to the smaller traps and smaller opening the animal is more apt to "peek" in and in doing so sticks his head in where it should be. For some reason he also said that every coon he caught this year in those smaller cubbies were huge.