Written by @dave_e
A common problem on both the DOC and BT traps is that from new the Treadle
plate can stick up at an angle.
If the Treadle plate is angled up it can significantly reduce the effective opening in
the inner mesh, which restricts animals from entering and getting caught in the trap.
You can alter the Treadle Plate angle in the field without removing the trap from the
Box, you just need to remove the inner mesh so that you can fit the tube tool.
For the sake of clarity I have used a trap outside of a box and also painted the tube
tool red.
Use a piece of light tube, steel or Aluminium, for both the 200’s and 250’s a tube 20
mm in Diameter and about 170 mm long will be good, I use an old Tent pole
This is a New DOC 200 with an angled Treadle Plate
To check if any of your Traps do have a problem simply set the trap and look
through the Mesh at the end of Box. If the treadle plate sits flat and Parallel to the
base of trap it’s fine, slightly up is also ok. If it sits up at one end like in the photo,
then it will need to be corrected.
To correct an angled Treadle Plate first set the trap and fit a Safety Catch. Note the
Safety Catch must go underneath the Setting handle, fitting a Safety Catch near the
outside of the Trap is asking for trouble.
Now set the trap off using a piece of stick. Remove the Inner Mesh and place your
Tube Tool under the arm attached to the Treadle Plate, it will naturally want to sit in
the lower curved part of the arm.
Using the Palm of your hand lightly press down on the Treadle plate close to where
the Arm is joined to the Treadle Plate, you will feel the Treadle move slightly. Stop
and reset the trap, then check the angle of plate, If it’s not yet level or just slightly
up, set the trap off again, fit the Tube Tool and bend the treadle a bit more.
After you have altered a few Treadle Plates you will get to judge how much you
need to bend them.
Tube Tool (painted Red for Clarity) placed in curve on underside of the arm,
Treadle Plate bent using Palm of Hand. Note Safety Catch under Setting Handle.
Note : Do not bend the treadle plate past level or it might hit the Trap base before
the trap sets off. When finished double check that the trap does go off as normal, if
it doesn’t bend the treadle plate back up slight and recheck.
Now is as good a time as any to check the set off weight of your Traps, and adjust if
required. A good guide is 50 grams trap won’t go off, 100 grams it will. If you are
Targetting Weasel’s then 80 grams is a better trip weight.
Whenever you adjust the trap set off weight it is important to check that the Treadle
Plate sits level or just slightly up, excessive banging on the Sear/Tab area can bend
the end of the Treadle plate up.
While you are working on your traps it pays to have a good look at the Vertical
opening in Internal Mesh, relative to Treadle Plate, when the Trap is set, 60mm is
good. Occasionally mistakes happen when cutting the mesh.
You might laugh but also check that the Inner Mesh Baffle is around the right way,
happens more than you might think. You are not going to catch anything if the
opening in the internal mesh is not on the Treadle Plate side of Box.
Happy Trapping