Hello everyone, I’m sure everyone has their own opinion on this topic but I’ve been just recently trying to do some predator management on my hunting property to hopefully help out the deer, turkeys and quail. I set 6 mb 550’s and 7 dog proofs out. I ended up catching 2 huge coons in my mb550’s and had them walking right by the dog proofs. Therefore bringing to question whether I should get some #1.5’s or stick it out with the dog proofs. Thanks for any tips or advice!

If you're trapping defined trails, stick with the coils. I like dps more in areas like sand bars or spots where there's not a defined trail.

Try some better bait in your DP's, spill a little out around the trap, give them a sample, if they like it they'll go for the rest. Try mini marshmallows, sometimes they seem to want sweet vs savory baits, some times its the opposite. Switch it up. You can get some 1.5's too but DP's catch a lot of coons if they are used properly.

I'm just the opposite.....I put the DPs right on the trails and around deer feeders with good coon use. I don't intentionally set regular footholds for coon anymore. I do use cages occasionally.

I hate misses. DPs miss a ton. Plus if you can catch anything that walks down that trail. And you can blind set a foothold as fast, if not faster, a DP. Especially in sandy soil

Catching everything that walks down the trail isn't always good. Squirrel, rabbits, possums, other "non-targets". If you're getting a lot of misses in DP's IMO you need to change up something, probably the baits and/or baiting methods.

You can catch fur with either of course, and they both have there place. Sometimes a 1.5 is the better tool, sometimes the dp, and sometimes it doesn't matter. I think everyone targeting coons is better off with some of each. If you don't have any 1.5 coils I would definitely get a few. If you get coils specifically with coons in mind do yourself a favor and get a double jaw model. Sleepy creek made the best 1.5 double jaw coil in my opinion, the double jaw was much larger than what it is on most brands, almost like a webb jaw, but any double jaw is better than none.

Try a different bait. When I set DP’s near each other I have different baits in each. I do that everywhere. Whichever bait catches the first 2 gets picked and all DP’s are baited with that.
Apparently they liked what you had when catching them in the footholds. See if you can incorporate that in your DP’s as well.
Forgot to mention…along with different baits I use different attractors as well and figure out what they like the best with that.
I’ll go ahead and say each season is different and each property is as well.

gave up catering for coon when the bait costs more than a hide.

I had coon walking by my dog proof for several days. I went to a dirt hole set with a nobs 11/2 and caught a coon three days in a row. Could have been the hole attraction, a different bait, or a combination, but it produced.

This here is good advice.
I like the Duke 1.5 double jaws. They will serve you well.
It sounds like you are land trapping only, but if you've got water on the property set it up for those coons! Pocket sets with those 1.5s will out produce DPs.

Another coon in the mb550 tonight, I’ve tried several baits in the dog proofs but the coons seem very skittish to them. They are white so that could be part of the problem. In my foothold sets I’m using a smidge of cat collector in a walk through and the dp’s have sardines in one, marshmallow in one, marshmallow and syrup, twizzlers, cat food, and grape jelly. Seems like they’d go nuts over any of the above but they don’t want to stick their hand in that tube for some reason

I have not mastered a good method for consistantly having high catch rates with DPs either. If you do not have domestic animal issues as incidentals I would stick with the trapping methods that are working best for you. I would not get rid of the DPs as there are likely places where you will want to use them.
As to coon size foot holds I have caught more in in my 1 stoploss trapping rats and the next are 1.5 coils, when it comes to foothold traps. For me 160s in blind trail sets are my highest catch rates and they are dry and dispatched when I get there.

Bryce

when im looking to catch coons its either dps or 220s.

it makes me mad when i see a coon in one of my 550s. when i take the time to put in a 550 i sure dont want a coon or possum in it.

Burkeyoder07, the longer I keep using DPs the more I recognize they are just one tool in the bag and they are not the best choice for every situation either. I’ve ran a ton of DPs since 90s, lots of various models over the years. Egg, duffers, coon cuffs, Grizz, soup can DPs, and assortments of dukes and Zs. You name it I’ve probably got some pics of lots of models in action. I’ve been trapping SE Nebr. coon since 80s and as far as traps go, I have my likes and dislikes.
around here when I run only DPs I know I am missing lots of coon every check but they are super easy and fast to remake or rebait and keep rolling. When I started mixing in some other sets with other traps in same locations because I was getting tired of checking empty DPs, it was clear I was missing a lot of coon.
Blind sets with 1.5s or even 160s and 220s were solid evidence of this. Coon tracks right past a DP under their nose only to end up with a 220 necklace a few yards away on same trail. Over and over again I’ve seen that. The later in the season the more often too.
Water trapping here after December 1st when our coon are at their best quality is iffy roll of the dice with weather. And I’d rather skin dry fluffy coon than wet soaking coon or chopping ice to find sets.
I ran a lot of dirthole sets specifically for coon and yes they are work but rarely had misses or walk bays with dirthole sets. They were coon dirtholes though. Big holes, big dirt patterns, loaded with carp and a good coon lure. As many DPs as I’ve ran over the years, I have to admit they only account for about half my coon catch and maybe less in some situations too. Cages too have been solid for me but only another tooll.
I personally run a mix of coils/double longs and DPs today, with a good sprinkling in of blind sets with body grips too. Right tool for right situation. I ran snares a few years but couldn’t get around marked up hides so switched back to body grips for those set locations.
I’d never run just one trap model only these days on coon locations and if good sign they get gang set with variety. I’m checking traps and harvesting coon. I want to be hitting on all cylinders and not missing ANY at good locations. Coon can by finicky and sometimes coon can be stupid simple and easy too. Variety has served me best and that what I do these days.
Jim

Smear some cat collector on the rim of the DP.

I imagine it's the gland lure that has their interest. Keep your walk thru but make a catch all dirt hole with gland lure. Of course, that will take more time and more footholds. Don't know about gland lure in a dp, never tried it.

I’ve actually moved away from 1.5 coils and I run size two Bridger coils at my dirtholes now. Hold any coyote or cat perfectly that visits, but not too big for coon either. Few misses and never had a damage problem. Here are two coon at this location, both second week of December 2023 about a day or two after I set them.
This location I set one DP and one dirthole with a #2 Bridger coil dogless. Hole was loaded with carp and a good lure. DP is straight cat food with a little liquid smoke, one of best DP bait combos I’ve found.
These sets are only 10 feet apart.

Man right now corn is King in a DP. Fox gland, bobcat gland, moonshine, even a .00001 drop of skunk essence on the rims of the DP’s seem to attract them. Right now corn and smidgeon of bobcat gland lure is the top combo. Normally it’s dry catfood mixed with grape koolaide and a fox gland. If you have Greys, you can catch them in a DP. I’ve never had ANY luck with sardines in a DP and in our weather they rot in a few days.

i wish i could find something possums hate.....