I have been running a few DPs this last week and have caught 12 coon so far, nothing today. So I have been thinking wouldn't It be better to have the trap a bit deeper below the trigger. My thought was If all the bait was below the trigger your odds would Increase.

The trigger and all the moving parts would stay in the same position just have the trap body a bit longer.
Do you think this change would make the DP more effective?

You're doing a lot better than me so I'd say the traps work fine as is. I see your point are you going to modify the traps or do you have a certain brand in mind like that? If you have concerns about catch ratio maybe go with a push pull trigger. Have you had a lot of traps emptied out with no catches?

I think that would depend on the kind of bait guys use and their current baiting practice. Guys using bitter baits that smell good to coon would probably benefit.

Smelly bait, just to the top of the trigger and put a cap on your DP with a little fish oil on the ground around your DP = COON.

All that would be accomplished is too use more bait the way I do it. I put bait up to the trigger. Not much could change if you don’t change the distance from the top of the tube to the trigger.

I put just enough in to cover the trigger. I ain’t wanting to fatten him up, just want him caught.

This

The Beav, I believe you are right. I only use a little EDIBLE bait at the most up to the bottom of the trigger.
Here in Ohio we caught 158 the first week using Diablos.

Well I like to fill my trap to the top. Mice squirrels and even birds will remove lots of bait. So I want some left for the coon. And all those critters are out during the daytime hours.


In rainy weather I run a lot of bacon grease on top of the dry food.

you tryin to fatten em up first?

Beav
I have used bait filled slam to the top and bait just to the trigger on the ground in front and not. cover over the trap and no cover. I haven't really noticed a difference in catch rates in the levels of bait but i do notice a big difference in covered and in covered DP's. Birds and mice do not mess with my traps that i place a golf ball on top of but a coon inspecting will knock it off right away. With the ball i don't have to worry about mice or other feeders so i fill just to the trigger and catch them. I have read a lot on here about dp's and there are a few different trains of thought on them. This way does seem to limit the cost of bait though a bit and anything helps. I am likely going to be doing some different stuff next year and keeping notes as i am working on some different bait ideas just for the fun of it.

I'm thinking of using fish eggs for bait.
Coons just love to dig up turtle eggs and feast On eggs from ground nesting birds so what about some type of egg bait? I've never heard anyone mention using eggs In some form.

Beav that is interesting? I have never worked with fish egg anything before. do they freeze solid? I like the idea. I use diablos just like Ohio above and mine have a bottom door i can open and clean out so that might be something to work with and try and easy enough to clean out.

Never tried them but they are pretty oily and I'm sure you could salt them to help to keep them from freezing.
What about a hard boiled egg withy out the shell shoved down In the DP?

I took a 1" hole saw to some of my Duke DPs cut a hole below the trigger then i cut some 11/2" segments of PVC and snapped them over the hole for my clean outs.

Beav,
Got u got a picture of your modification.

no matter what Bait / lure I am using in the trap, it never is above the trigger.

Only below the trigger for me. A squirt of squeeze grape jam with whatever other bait in there to keep it from rolling out.
If I am in an area with high population of bait robbing rodents, I scatter bird seed near the trap. They like that much better than my DP bait.