Anyone who uses large pans on canine traps does it eliminate the need for pan covers? Any drawbacks to them?
Thanks

Imo not a good idea. Big pans = disappointment. What you want is a pan the right size to make sure the canines paw is within the kill area to make a full pad- paw catch. Big pans will lead to toe catches and or complete misses then you will have educated canines to deal with.

Big pans bad for k9s and beavers.

^^^^^^^

I agree that large pans mean toe catches and misses
But I like to tinker. I bought step down pit pans for #2 bridgers. That set up would not be my choice for normal k-9 trapping. But I'm not normal.
I put straight rod dogs on them and 4 coiled them. I was right at 5 pound pan tension.
So I searched and found heavier stainless screen than anyone sells for trapping.
Useing rpmartins screen jig idea I formed them, leaving a 1/4" hang down at each leaver, I cut edges down and a notch for the dog so it's over the screen
Doing this upped my pan tension to 8 pounds in the center of the pan and 10+ at the edges of the pan.
So when I'm setting for yotes, that's what I catch, and big coon.
I catch a fox in a trail set from time to time but not at d/holes or flat sets.
I like to tinker

My hat is off to you sir for trying something new and thinking outside of the box and most of all putting it all together and making it work for you on your line!

It would never happened without this site and your post rpmartin
Thank you Sir

Never actually tested the big pans did you?

As to whether you need a pan cover, if you're trapping in sand or using wax dirt/sand you might still want a pan cover. I don't bother with when using peat moss or grass over the trap.

Please explain your reply

Saying that toe catches and misses are a result of big pans...its a provably false statement. Especially when people trot out that part of the foot can be on the trap and fire the pan. Just not physically possible, and experiments with actual coyotes can prove it.

I used those same step down pit pans with the bent dog, just like you get them from suppliers
Was not happy at all after a few pull outs and a fox claw I pulled those traps.
I caught fur in them yes, but was not happy so I called Ed and he helped me and gave me some advice

But of course I forgot your one of those know it all's
So carry on

Tom Kraus would probably have a different opinion there Sniper. At least did in his book.

Take A couple photos of that dog over screen set up...if you have time.

When I can hobble to the shed. Lol. The step down pan has a square part where the dog meets that is higher than the rest of the pan. I cut that section out of the screen and the screen moves down to be flush with the pan Whice allows the rod dog just the right amount of space to hold the screen without undo force. My rod dogs are straight by the way

I know this thread is about large pans so the way I see it I'm not getting too far off topic bringing up screen pan covers.
One of the reasons the shaped screens work better to me anyway is because of the bend next to the jaws which gives it strength. You don't want that part mushy when the animal steps on the outside of the screen. They do the same thing in new vehicles these days, they put bends in the body metal in certain places for strength because the metal is so flimsy and can dent easily without a bend.
So again the bend adds strength where it is needed then decreases when the animal's foot gets closer to the pan and safely inside the kill area.

I've heard some trappers say they prefer the large pans to be sure of a catch.
Then there is the notion that a smaller pan makes certain the animal hits the center of the trap for a surer catch on the foot.

If your using stiff screen as a pan cover the entire inside jaw spread becomes a kill area,doesn't it?In effect,like an huge pan

I don't understand why with a big pan how a foot couldn't be partly on the jaw and still put 3 pounds of pressure on the pan to fire it. Seems perfectly physically possible. As far as testing it you would need a coyote foot that isn't stiff and would move and set flat on the ground like a live coyote. You would further have to bed trap like a real set as the dirt will spread out the pressure. I would like to here your explanation of physically how a toe catch does happen. I personally believe there is no way an unknowing animal can react fast enough to pull there foot back fast enough for a toe catch unless the trap is unbelievably slow or partially frozen in.