DP traps based off the Grizz Trap design..... roughly 24 and counting.

Gary

Need to post pics from my android phone. Anyone have a easy way to do this? Would much appreciated it!

Technology is great....some days, not all.

Gary

Great post Gertrz, take your time. Reminds me of reading the Lew and Charlie stories bit at a time in FF&G
Always learning and evolving through trapping stories, times and experience from others and myself.
Thank you

Thank you!

I remember reading the Lew and Charlie series in FFG years ago. Seemed like a eternity waiting for the next issue of FFG!

For all those who have been following along....thank you!

Much more to come....just trying to figure out the post pic thingy.

Gary

Gary, my android works just like my laptop for posting pictures. The icon with the up blue arrow allows me to select the photo I want to post from my Google Photos. If you do not use Google Photos, you would need to navigate to your photo directory on your phone.

I will try that. Thank you!

Gary

In 1998, the Missouri Trappers Association hosted the NTA National convention in Columbia, MO. I took off work for 3 days to attend the event. What I was interested primarily was the classroom discussions on the topic of the ongoing raccoon BMP test studies. Our own Missouri wildlife biologist, David Hamilton, was discussing what the AFWA was looking for in regards to the coon BMP. At that time, the traps that were tested were not meeting their criteria. I knew what they were looking for....the holy grail of coon traps. That trap wasn't invented....yet. I attended the discussions and took notes....

The next 3 months I kept tinkering with my new dog proof design. Time was running out...

The Missouri trapping season was almost upon me. Time to buckle down to finish the trap and to get ready for testing....

More to come ...

Gary

…. The never ending story lol

Its like waiting for the next Lew and Charlie adventure to come in the Fur-Fish-Game magazine.

Speaking of BMP (Best Management Practices), I note that the Lil Grizz trap is referenced in both US and Canadian BMP literature......described as an enclosed foot hold. The Canadian version goes one step further and describes how they are to be set in the ground, and that is at an angle of about 30 degrees up from horizontal, spring side down. They don't way why, but presumably the idea is when working the trap, coon will be caught with trap bail over the top of the foot, vs under or to the side. Canadian BMP is the only place I've ever seen that reference, so either rest of world has never heard of it, or it does not matter. But would be curious to hear what Gary has to say about it.

Also note that on some days, I can see the steam plume from Callaway plant at Reform, so that means Bonnets Mill is in my backyard so to speak. Also note that as crow flies, not far from southern Warren County where Carliss Stevens was. Would be curios to know if there was any history between Gary and Carliss.........and the Coon Dagger. If bad......no need to elaborate.
And about 10 years or so ago, there was a fabrication place in Washington, MO making and selling a DP. Never bought any and can't find them now, but am wondering if Gary knows anything about those? The fun part being that made about 3 different companies making and selling DP's, all within a 30 mile or so radius. Something in the water around there?

The BMP literature should have described it as a "encapsulated" foothold trap. The Canadian version on setting procedure probably came from the instructions I sent to them. Your correct on your assumption on how the coon works the trap in regards to foot placement and position of the restraint bar, (bail), and tube body. Really doesn't matter how the coon's paw is held as long as there is enough spring pressure to keep the paw from pulling out.

I will answer your other questions later....

Gary

No history between Carlis Stephans and myself in regards to designing anything together.

With the exception of the Lil' Grizz series of DP traps, the only other DP traps that were made within 70 or so miles of Bonnots Mill, MO area was the Coon Dagger, Coon Collector and the Coon Shackle. I do know that the Coon Dagger square tube body was made in Washington, MO.

Gary

The #1 Lil' Grizz Get'rz prototype. Notice no stabilizer....yet?

More pics to come ....

Thanks to those who gave me photo tutorial tips!

Gary

This pic shows how the PVC tube is riveted to the bottom plate of the Grizz prototype.

Gary

Thanks for the info. I believe the one I found info on some years back was the Coon Shackle............

http://trapsusa.com/

Website still working, but appears traps are long gone. Also had never heard of Coon Collector, but appears those are still available on some trap supply websites.

Sorry for interruption. Please carry on with history lesson. Very interesting.

Found my BMI trap lever/spring combo prototype. This prototype is only 3 inches tall and is a push trigger design. The restraint bar is wire cable instead of steel rod.

These pics show how an idea starts and what changes need to done to continue progress.

The story continues....

Gary

The development of the Grizz "Twistloc Anchor" stabilizer....

With the exception of the Egg Trap, all of the other DP traps that came before the Grizz Trap had a similar feature.....had to buried in the ground with just the "hole" visible to be effective. Nothing wrong with that concept. The Grizz Trap could not be buried as it would compromise the spring, trigger and dog rendering the trap ineffective if dirt was packed tightly around the trap itself. I decided to go in a different direction.....above ground. The idea of the Grizz Trap was conceived on the water line. I wanted a coon trap that was easy, efficient, effective and fast! Digging a hole was out of the question in regards to stabilizing a new DP concept for good reasons....rain, water fluctuations, sand, silt, muck, gravel, rock outcroppings and heavy clay. I took #1 Grizz prototype to the creek and tried different ideas in different terrain. The "V" shaped stabilizer was a compromise. This anchor allowed the chain to self center and to used in different anchoring situations.

The Missouri trapping season had already began. I took my 2 week vacation from work. I had enough material to build 7 more Grizz prototypes with the new improvised anchor system welded on. Finally got the traps done on December 2nd, 1998. The next day, Dec 3rd, 1998, the testing phase begins.....

More to come....

Gary

Looking forward