Home
Posted By: Oklahomahunter Pan covers - 02/13/20
What are you guys running for pan covers? I’ve been using window screen and garden weed barrier. What do you guys prefer?
Posted By: WL205 Re: Pan covers - 02/13/20
I quit using pan covers and went to a trap cap when bedding. Works great., one of the best and cheapest trapping investments I've made. Got mine from Minnesota Trapline Products.
Posted By: cwh2 Re: Pan covers - 02/13/20
I saw a video of using a piece of asphalt roofing and window screen to make pan covers. Never done it but it looked like it would work great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSzObxpoBUk

I'll let the video creator take credit if he wants to.
Posted By: Oklahomahunter Re: Pan covers - 02/13/20
Originally Posted by cwh2
I saw a video of using a piece of asphalt roofing and window screen to make pan covers. Never done it but it looked like it would work great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSzObxpoBUk

I'll let the video creator take credit if he wants to.


That’s pretty slick. I like the bigger pan idea. I’ve never left a set uncovered, though.
Posted By: Highoctane Re: Pan covers - 02/13/20

I don't use pan covers! No issues either!
Posted By: erich Re: Pan covers - 02/13/20
I used Leaves from the Linden tree(Basswood). I'd pick them up off the ground on a damp morning in the fall and put them flat in baggies(sandwich size) and put them in the freezer. A bag full stuck in my pocket was enough for a day of setting. They are the perfect size, round, soft and FREE.
Posted By: Ray63 Re: Pan covers - 02/13/20
I quit using pan covers along time ago. I figured if a fox was working a set and just did miss the pan his claws might have the chance of hooking the screen and making a mess. I did try fiberfill this year with no problems but might not do it any more. May be a scent contamination thing there. I sift all my dirt and bed right to the edge of the pan. IF the pan moves at all it fires. I still have the pan adjusted for some weight be required to fire it but if it moves any... ANY... it fires. I usually don't redo the set after a rain unless it rains hard or for a long time. Ray
Posted By: Ray63 Re: Pan covers - 02/13/20
Has anyone come up with a way to keep sand and silt from covering your beaver traps and stopping the pan from dropping ?
Posted By: DakotaDeer Re: Pan covers - 02/14/20
Originally Posted by Ray63
Has anyone come up with a way to keep sand and silt from covering your beaver traps and stopping the pan from dropping ?


Are conibears an option for you there?
Posted By: Ray63 Re: Pan covers - 02/14/20
Iowa can use conibears. The 330 size needs to be clear under water. I trap 2 rivers that have a lot of beaver and a lot of sand bars and silt. Trying to figure a way to set the sand bars with foot holds. Was thinking about trying to put them in 1 gallon zip lock bags.
Posted By: teamprairiedog Re: Pan covers - 02/14/20
Originally Posted by Ray63
Iowa can use conibears. The 330 size needs to be clear under water. I trap 2 rivers that have a lot of beaver and a lot of sand bars and silt. Trying to figure a way to set the sand bars with foot holds. Was thinking about trying to put them in 1 gallon zip lock bags.


Foam rubber under the pan.
Posted By: Ray63 Re: Pan covers - 02/14/20
I thought of that and would like to find the "RIGHT" foam. Most is too dense and the silt will cover the trap and pack so hard you can stand on the pan and it still won't fire. I am going to try the zip locks and go on the down stream side of the sand bar where there is less/no current and try to rake out a little eddy and see if it will help the problem. Ray
Posted By: shawlerbrook Re: Pan covers - 02/17/20
Wax paper.
Posted By: Oklahomahunter Re: Pan covers - 02/18/20
Saw a guy using coffee filters. Thought that was interesting.
Posted By: Ray63 Re: Pan covers - 02/18/20
YA, about all that stuff is for dry ground. I am looking for an answer to beaver trapping.
Posted By: Rickshaw Re: Pan covers - 02/18/20
I use a sheet of CHEAP TP....nice to have on hand if the urge strikes while out and about too.
Posted By: Oklahomahunter Re: Pan covers - 02/19/20
Originally Posted by Ray63
YA, about all that stuff is for dry ground. I am looking for an answer to beaver trapping.


Could you cut the top off of a cup about the same size (a little bigger) as the pan and put the cylinder under it? The only gap would be the distance between the top of the cylinder and the bottom of the pan.
Posted By: Ray63 Re: Pan covers - 02/20/20
That might work... but the silt gets in everywhere. You have to see it to believe it. At times, I find the trap chain and have to pull very hard to move the trap at all and a whole block of mud comes out still completely covering the trap. And it does not take long to get all packed up. I miss a few chances every day because of this. Beaver going right over the trap and working the castor mound.
Posted By: DakotaDeer Re: Pan covers - 02/21/20
Have you tried blocking the current to some extent upriver so that the silt is directed away from the trap?

Are you allowed to set on land out of the water?

Are you sure that it is the silty river plugging the traps, and not the beavers themselves as they push mud balls up to the castor mound?
Posted By: Ray63 Re: Pan covers - 02/21/20
Was think about trying the daming thing on sand bars. Not the beavers doing it. You can watch the silt floating it. Going in on the down stream side of a big sand bar might work. I had been thinking on that one for a while. Should have the jet put on my transom jack tomorrow and then all I need is some weather that isn't trying to drown me or freeze me and away I go. We have so much fluctuation in the water levels it makes it hard to keep up moving traps up or down every day and the silt...
I need to talk to my fur buyer and see what it will cost me if he skins instead of me doing it. I turned 65 last September and running the line is getting harder and then skinning too just plain poops me out too much. Never figured I would be saying that......…...…..
Thanks for trying to help. KEEP THINKING !! RAY
Posted By: DakotaDeer Re: Pan covers - 02/22/20
Ever try digging a little 2 foot channel into the bank, sort of like a really deep pocket set, so that the silt would go on down the river and not get into your pocket?

I think a beaver would still go into the pocket to reach a castor mound on the backside.
Posted By: Ray63 Re: Pan covers - 02/26/20
Have had a couple of places like that and it seemed to work. Still need to find something to completely contain the trap so I can us it on sand bars.
Posted By: rickmenefee Re: Pan covers - 03/15/20
Canvas
Posted By: yukon254 Re: Pan covers - 03/15/20
I use the light foam that goes under laminate flooring.
Posted By: Pashooter Re: Pan covers - 03/15/20
Originally Posted by WL205
I quit using pan covers and went to a trap cap when bedding. Works great., one of the best and cheapest trapping investments I've made. Got mine from Minnesota Trapline Products.

Yep not only eliminates the need for a pan cover but gets a good solid bed and a stable trap.
Posted By: ajf55 Re: Pan covers - 03/31/20
Set your trap in deep water about 8’’ and modify your trap so the pan is above the jaws. Use a poke stick at the bank to get the beaver to put its rear feet down. When the trap is set in deep water it doesn’t matter if the pan is flat. For coyote traps, I prefer coated steel screen and when I run out, I double up small coffee filters or crumpled waxed paper.
Posted By: Tom_in_VT Re: Pan covers - 04/12/20
Screen or crumpled up wax paper
Posted By: Savedbygrace2001 Re: Pan covers - 01/25/22
I usually use pan covers that are made of a window mesh material, I've also seen guys place a piece of sheep fur under the pan to keep dirt from getting under it and then cover the trap
Posted By: MadTrapper375 Re: Pan covers - 02/04/22
Poly-fil under the pan is what I use.
Posted By: NMpistolero Re: Pan covers - 02/05/22
Between me and the guys I worked with we used, canvas, polyfil, foam, coffee filters, blue shop towels, sandwich baggies cut in half, wax paper. They all worked.
© 24hourcampfire