I am just getting starting in this trapping adventure. Our season just opened on Saturday for the land furbearers near me. (4 coons on the boards already with only 7 traps out and just place 7 coyote sets last night with first check after work today) Here is my question. I'm using Bridger #2 dogless with offset jaws. I am dyed and waxed. After that I adjusted my pan tension at 3#. I am in pretty clayey soils. While bedding and pushing down on the jaws to wiggle the trap in and make sure it is tight, I have had them fire three times when pushing down on the live jaw. Any tricks of the trade to avoid this or is this just o be expected with a dogless system?

By pushing down on that jaw you’re taking pressure off of the contact point. When you set your trap down either put the back down and in first and pack from the loose jaw or don’t push on the actual jaw itself. Pack the dirt outside of the jaw toward the jaw to tighten it up.

That is kind of what I tried after getting my fingers bit twice...lol I tapped outside the loose jaw to force material in under it. I should have started the placement with the live jaw down in first. I see what you mean. I cent more centered and the packing wasn't workign as good as I wanted. The sets came out well but took forever.

I run the same trap you'll get the feel for it when bedding I had both my thumbs in mine a few times when I was starting. I make a deep bowl and only the outside levers and outside jaw edges are the main contact points
J

That really gets your attention when it happens.

I like to dig the bed deeper than needed, then put about half of the loosened soil back into the bed, then put the trap in and push down on each lever evenly. That way the loose soil I put back forms to the trap and compacts underneath it as I push, then just pack around the jaws and done. With practice I’ve got my bedding time down to just a few seconds with this technique. Takes longer to dig the bed out than actually bed the trap solid

I dig a hole about 6 inches deep, pound in the earth anchor and then pound in the trap bed with my hammer. I then seat the trap pushing on both of the jaws as I twist the trap in. I then push dirt all around the jaws, keeping the levers clean. I cover with peat , waxed sand and a bit of local dirt to blend in

you haven't had a problem with the dogless firing when you push on the to live jaw?

I always dig my bed a little deeper than need. Pushed on my ears first to see if it wiggles the trap if it doesn’t then I move to the jaws. Always seemed to me if I can wiggle it at the ears no need to test the jaw because it’s going to wiggle. I also started power bedding with a couple nails on the outside of the jaws.

No, I don’t push on the jaws really. I push on the levers and sink the trap into the loose soil. If the jaws are still wiggling after that I pack dirt under the frame in the appropriate place to stop the wiggling. The only time I push on the jaws is with one finger in each corner to see if it wiggles. If not, cover it up and go.