Let me preface this post with if you can use a 160 or a 220 then do it. It is legal when set within the proper bounds to use a 160 here in PA. However a 120 will catch and kill any coon that sticks it's head in. One year I had all my 160's in use and tried the 120's. I did catch coon but noticed that I got a lot of refusal's. I was using the 120 in a dug in box opening (Outlaw set) as described by Tom Krause. Please buy his book if you want the set description. After watching this refusal I started changing my baiting methods. No more eels or fish for bait, I used only fresh marshmallows and PBJ sandwiches with as much bait outside of the box as inside. It did not eliminate refusals entirely but in my opinion increased the catch rate. The only problem was traps needed to be securely fastened as I started getting bears sticking their paws in and getting caught. The largest coon I have ever caught was in a 120 set and baited as described. Also, I set the trigger to the side and bent backwards, always check when doing this that the trigger does not contact the roof of the box before going off. I still set all my 160's first but will set the 120's if needed.

Scout

Thanks guys I think I will make some 120 bucket sets (newspaper box sets) for raccoons next year just to see how it gos. I am thinking about buying the 5x5s w/ the 160 springs, but I need to know if its worth the extra money. I mean if they aren't to much larger then won't they stick there head in them just as much as they will a 120? And if a 120 will kill them, should I just get them? And what do you guys use to elevate your 120s when setting them for raccoons? And about how high do you elevate them?

I used 120's for quite a few years. Last 2 years I have used the 5X5'S and the 1/2" difference is like night and day. Better catches, larger sized coons with less misses. The boxes I make are out of 1/2" scrap plywood with the opening just big enough to hold the trap. They are 16" deep and I place them the width of a 2x4 above the ground. I use the 2x4 across the opening and the 5x5 sits perfect clamping the top of the 2x4.

i was wonderin what is a good brand of body grippers that are reliable enough to kill the animal that is in it quickly and humanly

Mike: Don't you also cut off the trigger wires leaving only the trigger bracket for a firing mechanism on these small traps? I can see where that technique would result in less refusals, and get the coons deeper into trap.

-- Hal

Well Hal brings up a good point. I don't cut off my trigger wires but, All my bucket sets have the trigger wires bent into the bucket. I learned my lesson years ago when I caught a coon by the leg in a bucket set. Trigger wires in top, bent into the bucket, equals a coon caught by the throat and body.
I use 220's but I would bet you would about eliminate foot catches without the trigger wires in a 120.

That is correct Hal. On the 120's I found less refusals with the animals caught further in the trap with the wires cut off flush with the bottom of the trigger housing. I had to set the housing all the way off to one side or the other.

With the 5x5 I found that the same setup worked too well. I had too many coons caught too far back, so I set the housing in the middle and it works great.

By the way, while I was still setting the housing off to the side on the 5x5 I caught two 8-10 lbs raccoons on the way OUT of the box!!! (On seperate occasions of course)

Dated for search.