No Profanity *** No Flaming *** No Advertising *** No Anti Trappers ***NO POLITICS
No Non-Target Catches *** No Links to Anti-trapping Sites *** No Avoiding Profanity Filter


Home~Trap Talk~ADC Forum~Trap Shed~Wilderness Trapping~International Trappers~Fur Handling

Auction Forum~Trapper Tips~Links~Gallery~Basic Sets~Convention Calendar~Chat~ Trap Collecting Forum

Trapper's Humor~Strictly Trapping~Fur Buyers Directory~Mugshots~Fur Sale Directory~Wildcrafting~The Pen and Quill

Trapper's Tales~Words From The Past~Legends~Archives~Kids Forum~Lure Formulators Forum~ Fermenter's Forum


~~~ Dobbins' Products Catalog ~~~


Minnesota Trapline Products
Please support our sponsor for the Trappers Talk Page - Minnesota Trapline Products


Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
The ole Spring hole and Mafia set #6219490
04/16/18 10:19 PM
04/16/18 10:19 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,775
Amite county Mississippi
Wolfdog91 Offline OP
trapper
Wolfdog91  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,775
Amite county Mississippi
Found these on Facebook ,not mine.






Mafia set


Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219572
04/17/18 01:03 AM
04/17/18 01:03 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,493
Garden,Michigan
B
Buck (Zandra) Offline
trapper
Buck (Zandra)  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,493
Garden,Michigan
A lot of guys turn their nose up at these sets nowdays.I think their excellent change ups from the more run of the mill sets.How many fox come across a spring hole set nowdays?


Buck(formely known as Zandra)
Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219608
04/17/18 06:37 AM
04/17/18 06:37 AM
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,660
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Tweed Offline
trapper
Tweed  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,660
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Why is it called a mafia set?

Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219613
04/17/18 06:54 AM
04/17/18 06:54 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,751
williamsburg ks
D
danny clifton Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
danny clifton  Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,751
williamsburg ks
Tweed, call Craig O'Gorman. He started calling it the mafia set. O'Gorman is best known as a top trapper. his marketing skill is overlooked.

Buck, not many. You have to find a perfect spot and it takes a long time to make. Lots easier to catch that same fox on one side or the other. There are a lot of sets that work but are just not practical. Read Hawbakers trapping north American furbearers to se a compilation of time consuming sets.

I never saw a reason to tie up two traps for one critter. If your catch goes from 80% caught per visit to 90% by starting out with two traps you will catch more fur putting the second trap in its own location.

Anyways that's what I think.


Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: danny clifton] #6219640
04/17/18 08:03 AM
04/17/18 08:03 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,493
Garden,Michigan
B
Buck (Zandra) Offline
trapper
Buck (Zandra)  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,493
Garden,Michigan
Originally Posted By: danny clifton
Tweed, call Craig O'Gorman. He started calling it the mafia set. O'Gorman is best known as a top trapper. his marketing skill is overlooked.

Buck, not many. You have to find a perfect spot and it takes a long time to make. Lots easier to catch that same fox on one side or the other. There are a lot of sets that work but are just not practical. Read Hawbakers trapping north American furbearers to se a compilation of time consuming sets.

I never saw a reason to tie up two traps for one critter. If your catch goes from 80% caught per visit to 90% by starting out with two traps you will catch more fur putting the second trap in its own location.

Anyways that's what I think.
Agreed with needing the right location.I can think of a few places where I've trapped where using the water set would have added a few more pelts,areas up here that have more rock than top soil.Thing was when I saw the location I thought back to those old sets and knew I had a perfect location to make one,but thinking it took too much time and having never having made the set before didn't have the confidence.I'd do it now.I have used the trail sets successfully for just about everything.The problem we have here is the amount of deer we have running around,if their not using the trail before they will be after you make the set.Again,just a couple of old time sets to use as a change up where its feasible to use.


Buck(formely known as Zandra)
Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Buck (Zandra)] #6219736
04/17/18 09:54 AM
04/17/18 09:54 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,717
Maine
M
Mac Offline
trapper
Mac  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,717
Maine
A properly made spring hole set is a good set. I doubt over a handful of trappers make the set. There are certain strategies that are needed to really make it shine.
I am personally glad it has fallen out of fashion. Granted it is not a high speed production set. But you would be surprised how fast it can go in with the right circumstances. Would I trade the spring hole set for say a dirt hole set? No, but it is a good tool. Probably not worth a darn out West or in a desert.
Mac



Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219773
04/17/18 10:58 AM
04/17/18 10:58 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,228
wantage n.j.
E
eric space Offline
trapper
eric space  Offline
trapper
E

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,228
wantage n.j.
The key to a spring hole set is to make it at the spring, not just anywhere in the water. Biggest advantage is that springs do not freeze, even in sub zero weather. It's a great wintertime set, your set is always working, no matter how cold or how much snow. In the mid to late 60's (I started snaring in 1970) my grandfather and I would trap fox in winter, almost all in springholes. Always fastened our traps to a notched rock, I still occasionally find a spring with a notched rock in it.
A few months ago I mentioned that Gramp used a Blake and Lamb underspring #2 with offset galvanized pans for watersets. In the May 2018 Fur-Fish-Game in the antique trap section Tom Parr has a picture of a B&L with notched pan spikes to hold on the sod. In the same picture, behind the featured trap is one of those galvanized pan B&L's with the upturned pan corners. Check it out, Eric

Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219791
04/17/18 11:26 AM
04/17/18 11:26 AM
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 139
Central Texas
C
Chainbreaka Offline
trapper
Chainbreaka  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: May 2015
Posts: 139
Central Texas
What exactly is a spring hole set? It's kinda hard to tell exactly what he's doing in the pics. Are you setting the trap directly over a spring? What is it that draws the animal to the trap?

Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219810
04/17/18 11:41 AM
04/17/18 11:41 AM
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 139
Central Texas
C
Chainbreaka Offline
trapper
Chainbreaka  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: May 2015
Posts: 139
Central Texas
Never mind, I just saw someone make it on youtube, and have a better understanding of the set. Pretty neat, I had never heard of it before.

Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219824
04/17/18 11:52 AM
04/17/18 11:52 AM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,691
Nevadafornia
L
Lazarus Offline
trapper
Lazarus  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,691
Nevadafornia
That's not a mafia set.

Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Lazarus] #6219852
04/17/18 12:28 PM
04/17/18 12:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,908
PA
E
elkaholic Offline
trapper
elkaholic  Offline
trapper
E

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,908
PA
Originally Posted By: Lazarus
That's not a mafia set.


Looks like a walk-thru with 2 traps.


Millions of trees die every year to print environmentalist publications
Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Lazarus] #6219863
04/17/18 12:50 PM
04/17/18 12:50 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
T
trappergbus Offline
trapper
trappergbus  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
Originally Posted By: Lazarus
That's not a mafia set.


That's correct, it is not a Mafia set. I for one only use 1 trap. That's OGs set to share.. Givem an offer they can't refuse! There's also more to the spring hole than a sod on the pan. With a little preseason work they are quick to set for winter. Like any other sets theirs a right way and a right time to be most effective.


Common sense catches alot of fur..
Pay homage to all you harvest..
Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: elkaholic] #6219867
04/17/18 12:53 PM
04/17/18 12:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,691
Nevadafornia
L
Lazarus Offline
trapper
Lazarus  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,691
Nevadafornia
Originally Posted By: elkaholic
Originally Posted By: Lazarus
That's not a mafia set.


Looks like a walk-thru with 2 traps.


Not being critical of the set that is pictured . . . its just not a mafia set.
A blind or flat set used as a back up to another set is frequently referred to as a mafia set. IT IS NOT.
As I learned it, a mafia set is a very specific set with specific components (a coyote trail, a dropping, good camouflage, etc).

Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219869
04/17/18 12:54 PM
04/17/18 12:54 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,101
Northern Michigan
J
J.Morse Offline
trapper
J.Morse  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,101
Northern Michigan
What Eric said. That set (springhole) was used because it was an all-weather set, within reason of course. In a part of the country where sub-zero weather is sporadic, not having to fuss with crusty snow, melting/re-freezing, etc. made that set attractive, at least in theory!


Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219893
04/17/18 01:39 PM
04/17/18 01:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,836
Pa
W
Wright Brothers Offline
trapper
Wright Brothers  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,836
Pa
There's an Old Pro trapper around here that knows the spring set.
Hope he sees this topic.

Far as I can tell, the other set is pay per view only though I could be wrong, again.





Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219906
04/17/18 02:09 PM
04/17/18 02:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,424
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
R
Riverotter2 Offline
trapper
Riverotter2  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,424
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
That last set is nothing more then a walk through, last cat I got this year was in one. Gland in one grass and urine in the other.

Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219968
04/17/18 03:39 PM
04/17/18 03:39 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,775
Amite county Mississippi
Wolfdog91 Offline OP
trapper
Wolfdog91  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,775
Amite county Mississippi
So a lil info about the Mafia set.

For those who do they know the Mafia set is a SPECIALITY SET meaning that its not ment for use at every set. Basically what it is is two traps ( commonly coil springs set in a trail with the levers touching,blended in with a turd on top of the area where the two levers meet. Normally the turd would be the one and only attractant but sometimes a SMALL about of goand lure or urine would be added.

The name Mafia Set was given to it because as with dealing with the Mafia the animal just can't say no. Again this set was mainly used for trickier coyotes like live stock killers who either had bad experience with bait or lure or just didn't have any interest in bait lure or regular sets. The alure of another coyotes turd and noting elese is SUPPOSED cause a natural reaction to stop and mark. The two traps in such close proximity ensure that if they stop to mark that turd from which ever direction your gonna have 8 chances ( 4paws x2 traps).

Cool fact is you can trace this set in print as far back as the turn of the century ( like 1912 to be exact I think ) in A.R Harding's Wolf and coyote trapping book. In that book he described and drew basically a Mafia set . The only difference being that it would be two to a trail ( of course the trap of choice was a #3-#4 dbls still set in the same fashion, the traps being place spring to spring to spring with the dogs faceing to the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock with the animal running over them from the 9oclock to the 3 o'clock or vice versa.) How ever instead of a turd he described sprinkling some kind of bait up and down the set ,such as small chuncks of meat or "scent".

Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219969
04/17/18 03:42 PM
04/17/18 03:42 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,775
Amite county Mississippi
Wolfdog91 Offline OP
trapper
Wolfdog91  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,775
Amite county Mississippi
So with all that being said , the bottom set is TECHNICALLY a Mafia set ,just not finished and kinda sloppy.

Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6219990
04/17/18 04:00 PM
04/17/18 04:00 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
T
trappergbus Offline
trapper
trappergbus  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
Okay if ya say so..


Common sense catches alot of fur..
Pay homage to all you harvest..
Re: The ole Spring hole and Mafia set [Re: Wolfdog91] #6220096
04/17/18 06:06 PM
04/17/18 06:06 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 213
Pennsylvania
O
OldCoon Offline
trapper
OldCoon  Offline
trapper
O

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 213
Pennsylvania
Over the years I've taken a lot of foxes in the 'springhole set' or 'water set,' as us old Dutchmen call it. It is not for high rolling or Phil Brown style of fox trapping, but as some have observed, made in the right place and made correctly it can be a real good fur producer.

I am now 71 and not in the best of health so my trapping days are over, but I dare say springs I fixed up years ago would be ready to go with just a bit of a cleaning out. I always fixed my springs in early September so there was plenty of time for Mother Nature to hide my work. When I was ready to trap everything looked nice and natural.

A springhole or water set will work anytime of year but the best time is after deer season is over and most of the hunters are out of the woods and woodlots. The best trap I ever used in these sets was the old Victor #2 square jaw coils with 8 feet of extension chain and a two pronged grapple attached. I also tightened up the pan tension so there was no creep when the fox initially stepped on it.

The water set works best for the trapper with a static trapline, meaning he traps the same 3-4 farms year after year.

There used to be a trapper up in Barryville, NY, Lew Eckert who was also postmaster. Lew was a great believer in the water set. He trapper larger creeks, not just small springs. If I remember correctly, Lew once caught over 300 foxes in a single season in water sets. He had the bounty affidavits to back his claim. Fox fur was worthless back then, in the 50s, and it only paid to trap them for bounty.


I trap mink because I don't know any better.
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread