Just a few tips on using DPs.

First of all, I built a holder for the DPs. I screwed 2 2X4s together and then drilled 5/8ths holes in the 2X4s. Then I took some 1X2s and screwed them across the bottom of the holder. This keeps the holder from tipping over. Now you can preset and pre bait.

The other thing I do is I mix my oils into my bait. I first mix my oils with propylene glycol this keeps my kibble freeze proff.
Nex year I'm going to paint all my traps a blaze orange.

I made a trap clean out device. I took a kitchen fork and cut off the 2 outside tines. Then I bent the 2 remining tines at a slight angle.


I placed my oiled bait In 2 quart orange juice containers that makes It easy to fill the Traps.

When re baiting I place my bait in 1 quart zip lock bags now I can just put a bag of bait in my pocket or put it in my fanny pack along with my setter.

Hope this helps when using DPs.

More to carry. Does it improve the catch? One thing I do is use them like a pre made pocket set along water. Cable to a tree Push into the bank. Move on
Get a giant fish oil capsules bottle (everyone should be taking fish oil) carry cat food or any mixture in it . Nice and clean easy to store

I painted all mine to blaze orange too

i got a bunch of cans of light blue for 88 cents a can
painted a bunch of them light blue they stand out against the grass from 20 yards but not as much as blaze
I will probably go blaze when I run out of blue , that will probably be a while
think UN helmet blue

Arizona tea jugs , gallons have a good handle and wide mouth , make good DP bait jugs , bait pours from a jug so easy I don't pre-bait or carry it any other way keeps the hands clean


28oz estwing framing hammer with a notch opened up in the claw to pull stakes
jug of bait
DPs
Stakes
depending on location and weather a stack of cups to cover traps
that is my entire load out everything I need with nothing extra

More to carry???

The trap holders are on the tail gate of the truck. Your just carrying the baited trap and your hammer and the stake.
Every trap I set is about 5' from the truck. Can't get much eaiser than that.

All I use to pull stakes is a vise grips.

The Beav keeps that in the fanny pack.

Since most of mine are set in the ROW, I paint them tan to blend in with the grass. No matter the color, a couple catches will remove most of the paint anyway, which is a good thing!
If a location is good enough for one DP, its usually good enough for 2 or 3, maybe even more. I like to put a different type of bait in each one when gang setting.

Living adjacent to a golf course helps my DP trapping. Since coons easily get trap shy, I set a golf ball on top of the trap. Helps shed rain, and keeps mice out. I drill a shallow hole in the ball also, to put a little fish oil in, if desired. I’ve learned their favorite color, and just about learned their favorite brand.

Question for everyone

Running 5 dozen DP how long will a 40lb bag of cat food last?

Depends on how much you use per trap! With hose G=Bals, drill the hole all the way thru, and puta piece of rope thru it to keep it from getting stolen by Coons/Fox etc. The rope will hold any scent you use.

My tip is don't push the stabilizer in the ground more than it takes to get to stand up straight on it's own. If you stabilize it too well or it freezes in, coons with damage themselves sometimes, and sometimes to the point of being able to escape the trap. The lack of swiveling is the reason. Also a higher trap is harder for mice to enter, especially if you knock down the grasses around it. And I never put anything over the trap, I don't want anything between the coon and the bait. The right bait won't become ineffective if it gets rained on.

For me it wouldn't last long. Besides what you put in the trap, I'd be pretty generous with scattering some on the ground around the trap too. I don't think just plain cat food is a great attractor on its own so I'd use a bunch of it.

My son mixed some vanilla extract and anise extract in it. Reason I was asking is he will be running those 5dz DP plus a bunch of other traps. The local feed store has some floating duck goose food on clearance. I thought with it being floating it might be good for the DP and last in the elements better. It is small little pellets too

44 pound bag is right around 10ish gallons. If you fill to the top with a few pieces falling to the ground, you will go through roughly 2 1/2 gallons on set day. Your catch rate will determine how fast you go through the rest. I would think 200 or so catches/moves and you will be needing another bag. Your mileage may vary based on rodents and your level of bait maintained in the traps, also number of location changes as I old bait and refill with fresh at the new location.
Good luck

I fought mice and pack rats last year getting into my DPs often before the coins could get to them. And they ate a lot of my bait. I think I heard about this trick here but can’t remember for sure. An inch and a half piece of 3/4” PVC with a cap. The trap is essentially pre set with the PVC in there. Takes just a second to fully set. I’ll drizzle some trailing scent on the cap and of course bait the trap.

The other tip. Paint your setters orange.

Don’t need to buy a setter if you got a piece of PVC. Push it against a tree, stick in PVC to hold spring open, and set the trigger.

We don't have trees. lol

So the coons dig and live in a burrow, like a badger?

Are you painting the dps blaze orange so you can see them easier?
Do you figure the color is a major draw for the coon?