Was just curious for conibears, specifically 330s is it ever not a good idea to put the dog on the bottom with the triggers coming trom the bottom? I have some sets out for otter and beaver all with 330s with triggers coming from the bottom. Its in sandy bottom and got me thinking if the sandy bottom could delay the trap firing at all. The bottom of the traps arent totally buried or anything but was just curious.

Way to go…if they say bottom I’m gonna have to go flip mine over!!

I like dog on bottom when half submerged. Less visual blockage, ideally just the tips of the trigger wires showing at most. Can't say it makes all the difference but it makes me feel better, lol. However in that position the triggers tend to snag trash if there's current but they do the other way as well. Because of this I tend to always set dog on bottom submerged or not.

Never really had an issue with the bottom preventing movement to fire but most of my bottoms are soft.
.I do have issues with 110s as I use those for squirrels and the traps are being set tight to roofs and soffit and I can't always get enough clearance. But it doesn't matter on them as long as the wires are over the hole and can swing.

It's my understanding that triggers on top will cause some type of fur damage on the back of the animal.

THIS.

Especially on larger/stronger animals like beaver

Never seen any damage on otters with top triggers. Dont really care about a small tuft of fur pulled from a hatter beaver's back. I never run em on the bottom, but must be EXTRA CAREFUL, if ya do.

Have always ran dogs on bottom, how I was taught a long time ago and never knew anyone did it different until a couple years ago

I always run em on bottom, less conspicious for sure! I just make sure I have safety gribber on when setting.

I just figured top would make them “duck” when going through rather than attempting over. But I really don’t know beaver or otter so I was just guessing, lol.

Leave that top space empty, and they'll go right through.

Almost always on bottom.Especially a swim thru.




Except a baited 330 under ice for beaver.Bait between the jaws on the bottom and shortened trigger wires on top.

IMO body grip trap triggers should almost always be on the bottom, ground level jaw, with the general exception being diving water sets. I don't think animals like ducking under something any more than I do, but will push through small twigs or grass. Also, when the trigger is placed on the upper jaw hanging down the dog and trigger wires, on single jaw traps, end up on the back of the animal where the best fur is and can possibly cause serious fur damage. When set on the bottom jaws the dog and wires are always falling away from the opposed closing jaw and thus the trigger wires cannot hang up on a jaw.

I've set both ways, whatever looks better to me at the location. I tend to set on top more, but would say if asked I prefer them on the bottom. If you are setting in rocky creeks don't put them on the bottom unless there is a a gap in the rocks for the dog to swing into. Same with marten boxes, always set on the top because the bottom jaws are pressed tight to box.

With spring slots 1/2" wide press your springs down instead of up against spring slots and the dog and bottom jaws are lifted up enough for the trap to fire!