Friday, August 13, 2021

110 Body-grip (that is, Conibear) traps for squirrels

 

With just a few tweaks it is easy to make a free-standing set for Red Squirrels.

No, I don't trap Red Squirrels for the tails, pelts or meat. I trap them because my hazelnuts are almost ripe and a few squirrels can strip every bush I have.


The traditional free-standing set uses roofing nails but I could not find my box. I improvized with fencing staples. My first attempt was too narrow. The key point is that the nails/staples are INSIDE the wires. That is because the wires move outward and then together when the trap is triggered.

The second tweak is to use a file to sharpen the wires of the trigger whisker to make it easy to impale in-shell peanuts on them. Impale the peanuts with the suture line oriented perpendicular to the whiskers to minimize the risk of the nuts splitting when the squirrel tries to wrestle them off the whisker.

I also greased the dog and trigger to make the release smooth and positive. This was not necessary but it made me feel better.

The last few tweaks are to put the trap on a log. Squirrels prefer to travel along logs when they can. Secure the trap to something higher up. 

Tie some surveyor's tape to the coil of the spring so you can see from a distance if the trap fired. Since you secured the trap by tying to something higher, the trap will be dangling down after firing. With a little bit of thought, you can arrange it so you can tell when the trap fired.

Squirrels are semi-social. You want to reset as soon as possible so you can catch any of his buddies.

12 comments:

  1. Yep, logs work great, however, you 'occasionally' get more than just squirrels... :-)

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  2. I use 110s as well, set up differently though.
    Black stripe sunflower seeds chum in squirrels like you would not believe.

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  3. Squirrels also like to run up branches/logs that are set at about 45 degrees against a tree.
    I've had excellent success mounting 4-5 110's on a branch that way. Set in the morning and then check in the afternoon.
    Sort of like a trot line for squirrel.

    -rightwingterrorist

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, and when you run your set that way you don't need to use bait.

      -rightwingterrorist

      Delete
  4. Is there any particular brand you'd suggest to look for? Or place to purchase from?

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  5. good way to catch all kinds of stuff not wanted , could also be against the law is some places . if not still a bad set a bad practice

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  6. Any luck yet using your 110's?

    -rightwingterrorist

    ReplyDelete

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