Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Trapping Best easiest way to set large conibear traps?

I have 4 330's that have incredibly strong springs on them, I hate setting them so I must be doing it wrong.

There are tongs, and ropes......

https://www.minntrapprod.com/RTS-Trap-Setter-Bodygrip-Setter/productinfo/TRG-SET/

Easiest and safest.

I always used a setting tool that was made to squeeze the springs --kinda like tongs with notches in the ends and a hinge that would let you squeeze them far enough to get the keeper over the springs.

The ones I have work great and aren't near as elaborate as the ones pictured. I will take a pic of mine and post them if I can find them.

Ken

Yeah, they are pretty strong.
I use the tongs like most everyone else.
I don't care for the rope method at all except
for a JIC emergency measure.
FWIW I made my own tongs with a little bit
longer handles than the store bought ones
found around here.

If you don't already have one, you ought to
consider picking up one of the little spring
loaded safety devices they sell for about $5.00
It'll sure save your rear if you fire one on your
hand accidentally even if you have tongs or a
rope or whatever. I use one for all of my BG's
except for 110's

I made a setter from 1/4" rod... T handle on one end, J bent into the other end. Stand the trap up... put one foot on the 2 bottom jaws... poke the J hook end through both eyes on one spring... pull up the bottom eye, set the safety hook.... repeat. Easy Peasy on 330s.

I have a couple of those ^ ^ ^
They work great as long as you're on
solid dry ground. If you're in the slop
or belly button deep in the creek
not so great. I have and use the
hook and tongs both

I know more than one trapper who set their 330's at home and transport to the field on the hooks. A safety device when placing the set is a VERY good idea.

Got any links to the safety device?

Amazon: Duke 963 0963 Safety Grip Tool for Body

Can't make a go of it with this raggedy phone,
but all the trapping supply places have them.
RP outdoors is closest to me , plus a link ^ ^

Free helpful hint- I put a piece of blaze orange
high viz cord on each of mine. Makes it easier
to find if you set it down, and reminds you to
remove it after the set is finished.. . . Not that
I would forget to do that. . . .

They’re a bastard to set with just your mitts, setter is the way to go

Yep and I am done with that forever! Ordering a setting tool already. I made a block out of a piece of wood with a groove in it so I could step on the spring to collapse it. Still a pain to do.

4 seconds! Hot dam! I can barely compress the springs on mine, barely and 4 minutes is more like it if things go well. I need a hard surface, in the dirt doesn't work for me.

And slowest

I always just squeezed each spring by hand and put the lock then set them. At the trappers convention we used to do it timed standing waist deep in a barrel of ice water.

naked?.....