Need to up the game on skunk and opossum this year. 2023 was first year using the easy button DP trapping. Did not put 2+2 together (the snow) that I was missing the opossum all season. Years past I would catch 1 possum for every 2 racoon. Found some 150 traps I purchased 25 years ago. Do you feel 150 is big enough to get clean catch on racoon for incidentals?

If a coon would stick It's head in the trap It would kill It. But your going to get lots of refusals with that small trap.
If you can use 160s that's the way to go.

Mo 5" max. In the other state opossum would be 1/2 way through trap before stetting off using 220s. Must have been moving 60MPH when hitting my cubby.

You'll have plenty of refusals. But most coon never even move after the trap fires. The ones that do are hip caught kit coon. Scott Adams tactical 5x5 video is a good one on how to get better commitment with them..

Get the trap about 4" off the ground that way you have the trap opening right In the coons face. Less chance of the coon crawling over the trap. Then close up the area under the trap so the coon will keep It's head up.
If your using boxes set the box so the end with the trap Is up at a 45 deg angle. That way the coon doesn't have to get down on It;s belly to get in the box. Just make It easy for the coon to stick It's head in the trap.

And keep the trigger wires off to one side and out of the coons face.

PA's law is you have to have trap recessed 7 inches. This is a plus if using smaller traps. Animal is already committed and almost always goes for it

What 150's do you have? And how do you plan to add a 2nd spring?

Some 150's are no more than 110's, except an inch larger. I have a Bridger 150 that in many ways is unimpressive. It has a miserable trigger. I have one from Wildlife Control that is built like a 220. Springs and all. Dog is under so much tension it's hard for an animal to set it off. Have a video of a coon that crawled all the way into a box and then backed out and never set it off.

A tuned Duke 155 might work for young coon, possum and skunks.

Wasn't there was a thread on Tman a month or so back about a guy that put a pair of 220 springs on 110 traps and was hammering coon with those.

But how many coon refuse to crawl In the box?

Dont know what brand but have strong springs. With springs in safety mode you almost bend traps trying to set the rest of the way. Im thinking I will need to wax slide area before use.

If the traps are 25 years old, they could be BMI. Most makers stamp their name on the dog, but all mine have BMI stamped faintly on the clip. You have to look hard to see it. If BMI, those would be worth a shot at trying a few. Same with Victors........those have that unique clip with split on top to tune it.

But how many coon refuse to crawl In the box?


We're allowed to have a 7"x7" opening.
No problems with coon or fisher getting caught

I caught a large raccoon in a 110 in my wifes garden trying to get rid of chipmunks. Stone dead but from the looks of it, it wasn't an instant kill.

All I use for coons are 110 conibear and 150 double spring the 110 I add an old 220 spring to one side. You have to bend trigger straight back then bend down the last 1 inch or little more at a 45. I’ve caught huge coons in these and it kills them flat dead. They stick their head in and hit the down turned trigger end and get hit right behind skull. A big coon can fit his head in a 110 easy. My sets look like a hole you can’t see my wire cubby. I don’t care what anybody says it works great and it’s dog safe. Coons stick their heads in holes all the time and if a good bait is in there nothing will stop him.

Can you post a picture of your 110 setup......with the spring and trigger wire setup?

And 150's done the same?

I don’t know how to post pictures but it’s pretty simple and yes 150’s same except the Bridget’s are strong enough with the factory 2 springs. The trigger gets bent inwards straight back following the roof of cubby then bend down the trigger ends 1” or little more. I make my wire cubbies just deep enough so bait is far enough in so the don’t reach in with foot but even if they do they won’t touch trigger. They have to stick their head in and the forehead comes in contact with bent down trigger ends and game over On the 150 I bend the ends of trigger a little more. The 150 wasn’t around when I started doing this with 110’s the 150 is a better trap.

OK, that raises next question. Most guys normally place the trigger clip at front of a bucket or box, and dog in back. For this setup, is that reversed? Photo above shows trigger clip and wires at back. Coon has fully entered the trap at that point.

Decided to check out Oakey's trap setup with a Duke 155. This is what I found..........

From top left.....clockwise.......Duke 110, Duke 155, Duke 160 and Duke 220.



The 155 is a 5 inch trap and is built of same materials and appears to be exact same spring as used on the 160. Only difference is size of opening. It is a nasty little trap. Could be the spring arms are a bit long as the spring loop ends want to slide past the corners to the rivets......and don't want to go back. But doable with trap setters.

I imagine this is the trigger setup Oakey described. As shown, trigger clip and wires bent away from trap. Trigger wires are pointing in direction of travel so head will be perfect position for a neck strike. Oakey mentioned triggers wires bent "inward" and straight back.......so it could be he has it reversed from what I show. Trigger clip on first jaw coon encounters. Dog in back. The difference means about 2 inches of travel for coon's head before trap fires so it could matter.......a lot. Clarification would be helpful.






In this condition, triggers were good right out of the box. Trap stays set, but moment trigger wires start to move, the trap fires. As to 5 x 5 size, I once surprised a coon out by the chicken house and watched it slither thru a woven wire livestock fence like it was water. On the main trail they use to get to my barn, they go thru a livestock panel. The hole they use is no bigger than this 5 x 5 trap. Have no doubt if there is something they want on the other side, they will poke their head in there.

And being a 5 x 5, they should be legal for land use in MO. Cubbies and trail sets.

Yes