Setting DP in a hole?

I just heard a podcast where a trapper did this. Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks

If the hole isn't big enough, you run the risk of it not firing all the way. Besides, Coons are not too fussy. No real need to stick it in the ground. If you want, give them a shot of paint and pull some grass or weeds up around it. So long as it smells really good, Coons are game.

sure it can be done, and has been done, but why make more unnecessary work and take more time?

If the coon are there, they will find it, especially when a trailing scent/trail is used.

Ever had a coon walk by a dog proof trap? It happens more than most probably realize. Sometimes you have to change the presentation a bit to take the finicky ones.

Don't remember the name of them but one of the first DPs were the type you could bury. And I think they were more successful then the exposed DPs we have today. It was more about the curiosity factor.
Of course they had some draw backs do to the fact that you could bury them.

I think it took a tool to take apart and get your coon out.

Ron Jones did an article in the Trapper’s Post about 3-4 years ago on this very subject. As a successful ADC and fur trapper, his article and podcasts gave us another option for coon that won’t work a DP.

Mark Steck used what I think was called a coon cuff that was buried, in his long line coon video and book. He did say he was going to move over to the z-trap style DP most of us use today, in the future. I think in his subsequent coon videos, he used Duke or Griz or Z-traps or something similar.

If you used a egg trap you had to take the trap apart and then there was a tool to reset the trap.Then there was another trap that was built like a rectangular box and you needed a tool to release the coon and reset the trap.
I don't think you needed tool for the coon cuff.

A local fur buyer/trapper here built the coon cuff his name is Dennis Vicars. I remember him speaking in depth with me about them when I was much younger. They had to be buried and then you’d slick up the dirt around them to look like a natural pocket. They’d grab the coon like many of the popular dps today but didn’t sit on top of the soil. I believe they are still carried at some of the scheels stores he sells to. It was ahead of its time as far as how the trap was designed but I stopped using them when the modern dps came out due to the fact you didn’t have to bury them.

The old Yancy trap, was a trap you could bury, had a stopper you would put in the hole to keep the dirt out, then remove and it had a tool that looked like a gun frame that you used to remove the coon, and reset the trap. I think there still be made today by his son. End caps were always getting lost.

the guy I was listening to used a regular modern DP trap and put it in a dirt hole?

By chance was the guy you were listening to Ron Jones from New Jersey? He isn't allowed footholds in his home state and he's constantly thinking outside the box to better utilize the tools he is allowed. Ron is a member here and hopefully he chimes in. His knowledge of coon and how to catch them is pretty impressive.

I have one of those Yancy traps. I know I have the wood plug and the setter but I'm not sure about the end plates.

By chance was the guy you were listening to Ron Jones from New Jersey? He isn't allowed footholds in his home state and he's constantly thinking outside the box to better utilize the tools he is allowed. Ron is a member here and hopefully he chimes in. His knowledge of coon and how to catch them is pretty impressive. [/quote]

I don't remember his name, but he was from the northern part of U.S.

Learn about dirt holes and Dp's at South Jersey Trapping and Snaring School

Here in my area, the DP traps in the pocket sets, dirt holes, and mound sets along with water sets will out produce the standard DP set in the long run, plus it will pick up some greys and small reds. a push-pull system is better for catching the greys. Then again if you don't need to do anything other than stick it in the ground why change. in that other DP in the ground post from 2018 I said a lot LOL Of course, We will be covering it in detail at the school in a couple of weeks.

They don't call them dog proof for nothing. The push-pull trigger totally defeats the idea. I'm not a fan. If you are using push-pull, you might as well just use a leg hold. I help out neighbors with Coon/Chicken probs and the family pooch running around the place. It wouldn't take long to lose favor with them.

In my state, we can't use foot traps, can't even possess them. Newt, Morgan, and I have to tell the folks coming to the school, do not bring foot traps into the state, leave them home. The main reason we lost the foot trap back in 84 was raccoons. The antis didn't use the fox or muskrat as the banner child it was the coon. The DP trap for the most part now can not be viewed and used negatively by the anti's as they did back then because the positive features are the foot is encapsulated and the coon can not get to the numb paw parts. Also here in my state, we can not use the push-pull system we can only use pull. But I do also wish we could use the push-pull. Each tool has its place, positive and negative features. It is up to me to use the correct tool in the right spot for the right results.

Some coon will not pull up on the trigger. I know, I hear it all the time, they ALL will pull it. LOL I have coon that says otherwise. I have spent hours watching coon work cages, DP traps, and cable both in person and on my camera videos. When GOD wants to humble me because my head is getting too big he uses a coon, skunk, or squirrel to do it LOL (3/4 of my livelihood comes from these 3 so there is no such thing as I hope I can catch them I have to catch them) I have seen too many coon that for many reasons will not pull the trigger or even work a standard stuck in the mud Set. Two things help. Presentation is the first, just like you blend in the foot trap. (Presentation) Presenting the set in a different way can make the coon work it. 2, The just don't give it to them mindset can make them go nuts. I have seen where I have two DP traps next to each other, one advanced set one standard set baited and lured the same way and products. The coon will only look and smell the standard (stuck in the mud) set, yet work the advanced set. And most of the time the coon that is acting this way is the 20% part of the 80/20 concept. meaning they are the bigger older coon we are looking for.

Going back to Gary's post above.

I agree with what he said for the most part. The push-pull will catch a grey fox so it could catch a very small dog, but most house dogs (not all but most) paws are too big or will not work the DP trap hard if the baits are sweet or not attractive to dogs but the trapper must be thinking ahead.. Last and I think most important, it is up to the trapper or ADC man/ women to use their head and think ahead and not only use the tool they want, but use the tool that fits the situation and needs, and are not going to cause a problem at that spot or situation.

I use a modified hoe to dig a trench for the dp thinking the fresh dirt is an attractor hard to say if this helps because our coon population is low and the last 2 years have had high mast crops But it does make me feel clever

Jonesie, I find that hard to believe. I have had 4 pet coons over the years and they grab Everything they touch. In the shop, they are grabbing nuts, bolts, tools. In the yard they are grabbing everything from sticks to dog turds. A pull only DP is a magnet for them

I welded the end caps on with hinges and welded on a stabilizer for ease of use. Truth be told the Yancy's DP's catch and hold coons better than any other DP I have ever used. If it were not for the setter, they would be the only ones I'd use.

Here's the video I made on them about 12 years ago...

Dig a hole big enough so the DP will spring shove the DP and the stabilizer Into the bottom of the hole. Then place some rocks around the hole to close up the larger opening. Spray some fish oil on those rocks and use what ever bait you like In the trap. Yo will be surprised on how important the curiosity factor will up your catch rate when using DPs.
And this set up pretty much makes the DP actually dog proof.

you would think so.

I've had lots of coon walk right by DPs set In the standard way.

As have I maybe setting where you can't see tracks is the answer

ADC:

Will agree on the Yancy trap, if anything pulled up on the trigger they would not be going anywhere and I stabilized mine the same way, got tired of burying them. Still have 5 left and use them on occasion. Hate the setter tho

Coon cuff they were designed to be buried. Still have some that I haven't used for years.

Coon cuff they were designed to be buried. Still have some that I haven't used for years.