trap pan cover screen material

what size/thickness/mesh opening do you use?

I use aluminum window screen, but regular window screen works too.

Ok total beginner question here but what is the purpose of the pan cover screen? I've seen it done on videos but never heard it explained.

It keeps dirt from getting under the trap pan.

www.kegcreekbaits-lures.com

In early Fall when ground is fairly dry a pan cover can be omitted. Rain, birds, and mice can cause dirt, trash, pebbles to get under pan and prevent trap firing. I use aluminum screen pan covers. Most trappers cut pan cover to fit just inside trap jaws. The aluminum screen is not stiff enough to hold much weight when cut that way. Relying on screen flexibility, I cut my pan covers large enough to cover trap jaws. Then whether I use dirt or just a few grass strands to cover or disguise trap, the covering is more durable. With an animal's foot on the pan that flexible screen will easily bend out of the way and is too short to be caught in the jaws.

I use coffee filters. Cheap and easy to carry

I'am going to try landscape fabric this year, last year I used fold top sandwich bags they worked ok, some times they can draw moisture under the trap

I use nylon screen I scrounged from a hardware store that does repairs. I don't like Aluminum because it's too stiff, and might jam the jaws if caught, nylon will give.

I run MB550s and KO K9 Extremes. Both of these traps have a pan that sits low. I cut my aluminum screen to go under the jaws. No worry of it getting caught between them. I use grass or peat moss to cover my traps, and the aluminum screen is my favorite.

I never thought of it that way, but that makes sense. I'm going to try that this year. Thanks!

You are welcome. I just let it go 1/16th to 1/18th inch past outside jaw edge. Last season I trapped coyote and cats with just a few blades of grass covering. That worked better than dirt covering in the freeze/thaw conditions I trapped in. I don't care to lug around dry or waxed dirt. Calcium chloride leaves a wet appearance that cats, and probably some coyote, shy away from.

Coffee filters or wax paper precut.

I like the aluminum screen idea has anybody ever used the pieces of foam that are put underneath the pan?

I have and I don't like it. To each his own.

Yep for jaw spread traps 6 and over dogless, Foe 5.5 I use aluminum screen. Works best when cut so the corners under the jaws to lock it in place. The keg creek screen works real well with dogless #3s

And Victor Monty 4s
Screen is made for a dogless trap, and works well with a dog on trap also.
Above is a premium product.

I suggest testing pan covers by firing a trap with a stick.

I use single ply unscented toilet paper. Cheap and multi purpose...lol

I've never tried screen (might this year), but I use and like poly fill. Cheap quick and easier than the pipe insulation (foam).

Ive always used waxed paper and just cut to size

New to the site so my two cents are probably worth less then one haha. At the start of the season before any deep freezes hit, i use grape vine leafs that I collect and cut into squares. I collect them just as they start to turn from green to brown. Fill up a zip lock bag throw em in the freezer by the time I get to the first set they are unthawed and ready to cover the entire kill area of my trap. Natural free and work very well I feel. Once it starts freezing up every night I switch to screen pan covers can get a entire roll of it at Lowe's for like 15$ and cut a 100 or more out of it.

X2

I use steel mesh covers from no-bs. Fits my extremes perfectly and I trim to fit my Jake's and KB's. Very sturdy for any covering material.

I have used precut fiberglass window screen, coffee filters, and wax paper. I prefer the screen.

Since this has not been mentioned. For waxed paper, get a new roll of waxed paper and cut in half or whatever width to fit traps. Use a woodworker saw - miter saw, bandsaw, table saw - whatever you are safe using. To use, tear off plenty, crumple into a ball, then open, that takes away the crinkle sound. Tear a split for the dog and apply.

Best wishes.

I normally use coffee filters, also use pipe insulation under the pan with good results. Might try screen again, tried briefly with mixed results. Also tried toilet paper once, absolutely worthless in this country. Try getting that on the pan in a 30mph wind, almost comical.

I use wax paper and precut a roll to one size that way it will cover all the traps I use. Also that way I would not also have to look for a pan cover after a catch. The wax paper will rot in time and not worry about it.Also the trap have no problem fire off. When the wax paper is over size ,I just put the left over under the lose jaw.

What is the advantage of screen over wax paper ? All I have ever used is wax paper and it seems to be fine to me. I wonder if it draws moisture out of the dirt but thats the only draw back i have seen.

Since wax paper is waxed it will not draw moisture. The advantage of wax paper from a precut roll is simplicity. There would need to be a significant advantage from screen covers to justify all the additional prep time cutting enough screens for every set, plus remakes.

I have used most things and settled on steel screen because it is a little stiffer than the aluminum, copper or bronze screen wire and it is cheaper than stainless steel. The steel screen wire helps to make a larger kill area but it still flexible enough that it does not get in the way.
As the sun comes up heats up your trap bed and and then goes down at night (assuming your set is in a good spot) the trap covering heats and expands and then contracts. Wire lets a little air and moisture move through whatever you are using for a covering so it dries out. Wax paper forms a seal and will trap water on the underside of the paper forming ice at night. In extreme cases it will make a shell that does not allow the trap to be tripped.
Screen is reusable about 75% of the time for me. I cut all of mine from larger rolls using a straight edge and utility knife. It's fast and easy. I use dogless traps too which makes the wire lay nice.
I have used waxed paper for years but once it is wet it does not dry out. If it is either below or above freezing it works but since we get a lot of freezing and thawing and wind and rain / snow and ice the only thing that keeps the set working is the steel screen wire. It's part of the system

There is one thing about wax paper is that after a catch. you do not need to look for or worry how the pan cover is.Just take a new one and reset.As for it get wet under the wax paper and freeze,I just flip the dirt on top off and just put new dirt over it. Also wax paper dose not cost as much as screen.

do you have any problem with the real fine dirt flowing threw the screen and building up under trap pan

I didn't have good results using screen! I checked traps set the previous day of the 24 set 10 had the screen laying on the ground close by. I suspect the screen slide on the pan! The screen had been boiled and hardwood died then put in ziplocs. I'm not opposed to trying it again! In theory it should be excellent

No issues with fine dirt getting through. Sometimes they get chewed up too bad to re-use.

I use the coated screen wire from O'Gorman's. I cut it to fit my traps and left it in a cardboard box in with my traps for the season. The wire has to lay good to is is not puffed up. It helps to cut and bend it so it fits the trap.

I should say that I have been using waxed dirt too. I put it under , around, and over my trap then blend everything in with a little top dressing. My dirt is heavy and sandy so it might make a difference.

I still use some waxed paper for small traps. The wire is tough to beat for big traps that might need to set a long time and still have to work. I had one set almost three weeks last winter before it connected. Still worked.

It's dang coons that dig the screen up, doesn't matter what material. Can't explain why...

fine hardware cloth,lays flat.cut to fit just inside the jaws,with a notch for the dog.

Black landscaping cloth works well also. Its made of poly, waterproof and breaths.

I’ve used Zaggers bedding method with and without the screen wire and had mixed results. I like the idea that it may increase the kill area but I’ve had issues with the screen blowing off. Other times I have feared the screen was laying on the pan vibrating or wobbling in the wind as I have seen this happen while getting the clippings in place. I’m not ruling out screen but still prefer the landscape fabric and waxed dirt. If I ever find a way to make the screen lay still on the pan of my 650’s I may give it another go. Thinking of waxing the screen !

I trap in a flat windy desert area 5,000 feet above sea level. Last season I used just a few grass strands on oversized flexible aluminum screen pan covers as I mentioned earlier in this thread. I did have to put a small amount of dirt on top of screen and grass to prevent blowing off, but not enough that dirt particles could freeze together. That worked for me.

Maybe use the wax to "Weld" the cover to the pan?

Just cut a flap for the jaw hold downs on each side fold the flap insert from top.

or get rid of those 650s

Not likely that I will ever get rid of any 650’s !

Red are you saying to bend a 90* on the outside of the frame ? Sorry I’m not sure I’m following what your saying.

Big Bob that is kind of what I was thinking, maybe use a little butane torch to stick it to the pan. But now it’s getting too time consuming.

I’ve seen guys use the rubber band method but I’ve never seen a rubber band that didn’t have a smell to it .

May just be best to use dirt to help hold things together out here on the prairie!

Hey Golf, Reds talking about cutting a notch for the hold down tabs on the jaws. Or use a bobby pin to hold them in place. With that big pan on 650s I just use polly under the pan.