I set 160s for coons in blind sets and at ghog holes and I always find the traps set off. I use 220s and never have a problem with them but I would like to know how to make the 160s work! I stabilize them good and I am trying a trigger configuration in the shape of an l upside down and I think it will help but I’ve used the square triggers that people recommended and the traps where just set off. I seriously don’t know what I’m doing wrong

Are you forcing them through it or are they climbing over and setting them off.

I don’t go for coon much, but my 160s are in square pails, trigger sometimes in a classic V, but usually way off to the side. The odd time it’ll hold em by the hand if in a V. I had pics of them reaching inside and getting wacked. Trigger way off to the side fixed that…….I’d think 160s too small for a blind set. My coons would never walk through there.
Maybe other critters fooling around there?

I am far from an expert when it comes to 160s and coon. But one change i made that really helped was to make sure the 160 is up off the ground. I like the bottom of the jaw to be 4 or 5 inches up. That way they don't have to dip thwir head to go through, or just climb over it.

Get your 160s 5-inches off the ground. Stick some folded grass under the trap leaving the opening thru the trap as the way to go. I use 160s all the time this way. Our coon are much bigger than yours so higher is actually better. But the 160s take them right behind the ears, 99% of the time doing it this way.

hopefully you arent running 160s in trails on dry ground in ohio, you can run them on ground hog holds for nuisance work and certain spots around buildings but not on regular trails.

My first thought, tune up your 160's. Your problem may be a simple tune up.










3 little pigs-


I like the Groundhog triggers spread wide-

I did tune up my traps, I am trying an L figure upside down for the trigger but I stabilize them and I have played around with the power and sensitivity setting a lot and I’ve caught baby ghogs in 160s but not big ones

Post a pic of your set-up.

I catch 100s of wood chucks each year In 160s. I place the trap right In the hole. I use 1/4" steel stakes to stabilize the trap. One stake goes through the jaws on each side. The stake goes through each corner then It angles down so It goes through the spring right where It hooks up to the trap. This set up keeps the trap from being tipped and It's really solid when done like this.
The trigger Is on top and In a V shape.
The stakes are T bar stakes so one goes through the chain so a live caught chuck Isn't running off with the trap.

Alright what I did this time is I dug out a little bit of the hole that goes under a shed and I set the trap so there’s only like a centimeter of space in between the jaws and the shed and then I took two sticks and hammered them into both sides of the coni angling into the jaws and it’s really stable and the trigger is in an L but smaller spaced so it will catch it quicker. I have so good of luck with 220s but with 160s I find the trap set off with no chuck

SniperBBB, I don’t know how to post a pic.
Just figured it out lol

make sure theres no obstructions with the jaws as well.

Bingo!
If you set too close to shed, trap jaw will hit shed and create problems.

i always make sure the trap cant hit anything. its not like i have to use 160s for chucks but if i can figure out what im doing wrong, its alot cheaper then 220s also i like the challenge

Those two statements don't agree

the trap is below the bottom of the shed so the top of the jaws is a centimeter away from touching the bottom of the shed

I run a lot of 160s for coon and always get some whoppers with them.
Find the tightest place in the coon trail and set there. Block it down well and blend it in. I have better luck in tall grass than some other spots. Raise the trap up a little off the ground with a support so their head goes in first. 160s are my preferred dryland coon trap.
Thick taller grass with a coon trail in it works well. Blend the trap in well with grass pulled over it or add brush and sticks. I get mink in these too.

160s get em right behind the ears and kills even big ones. Here is how mine are all set up. 160 cabled to the support stands. These are built by local shop here blue valley trapline.


Bigger coon would never fit well through a 160 sized opening. You have to make them think they can fit.


PM me if questions.
Jim

I got my first woodchuck of the year today on my property. A bit late this year for my first. That makes #47 since 2015 on my 1/4 acre. I use Duke 160s, they never let me down.

dang, must be nice lol i cant catch anything in them besides baby ghogs