Hog trap door/trigger help

[kwperry]

Hey TBH, I picked up an old hog trap door and I am trying to figure out the best way to rig the trigger on the trap. It is a swinging door trap where the door opens left to right into the trap. Right now I have a screen door spring that keeps the door shut tight. I had it set that way for a while, seeing if hogs would push through the door and get inside, but it didn't work.

Next I tried to use the same spring, but prop the door open with 2 pieces of wood cut to fit together like a hinge, and ran a trigger string from the end of one board to the back of the trap and down to make a trip wire. This works okay but after a few days the spring gets worn out and will not keep the door all the way shut.

I know ya'll would be able to help me better if I had pictures to show you, but I forgot to take some tonight.

Whats the best way to rig the door and trigger on this style trap?

[bassmatt72]

No help here, I had the same set up and did the same thing with a hinged piece of wood. Worked fine for me and the spring I was using never wore out? I was using a heavier spring than what is on a screen door.

[kwperry]

What type of spring are you using, and how wide do you prop the door open usually? The spring I'm using is pretty wimpy, might need to beef it up

[dustoffer]

I have a similar trap-door setup and that is the precise reason I prefer a top-hinged door that I use a wire hook to hold it up. Put a trigger wire across the far end of the trap with plenty of corn under and past it with another wire from the trip wire to the hook. Hogs come in, and eventually get to rooting around in the corn under the trip wire, pulling the hook off the door which falls closed. I also paint the ground from the entrance to the trip wire gold too, so as many hogs as possible get in the trap.

It works too--



Probably will get around to changing from this side-hinged door to a top hinge door this winter so I can eliminate the spring issue.

[Graysonhogs]

I use trampoline springs on that type of door.

[kwperry]

Grayson how far can you stretch a trampoline spring comfortably?

[dustoffer]

Another way to lick the tired spring issue is to use 2 or 3 lighter springs and don't stretch them as far--or hook two together and spread the stretch over 2 springs.

[Chance Love]

Why not just use a door that swings from the top? No springs or triggers needed. They can get in but can't get out. And they can keep getting in.