We have done a lot of experimenting with shorter space saving double door cage traps, pushing the envelope to the limit.  Though some double door traps for armadillo have been made as long as 48", we found that double door cage traps as short as 24 inches would accomplish the same goal without issue.  Likewise, we found that double door cage traps as short as 18 inches were more than adequate for skunks and chucks, misses pretty much non-existant.

With beaver we began with a 36 inch double door trap, taking beaver up to 66 pounds.  The 36 inch traps never let us down.  From there we began using 40, 39 and 38 inch long traps to err on the side of caution.  After hundreds of catches, studying and running the numbers it seemed likely that shorter just might work, 34 inch for sure, but maybe even shorter, a really short 32 inch?

This is a picture of a 45 pound beaver taken today in 32 inch long 12x18 double powered door cage trap on the first attempt and in all likelihood a first for a double door trap this short.   The trap was set upside down in 30 inches of water on the bottom in a stream channel with the powered doors lifting the beaver up and into the trap.  Time will tell if this was a fluke or the norm and just how short double door traps can be made.

Superior Trigger in Comstock Panless Traps

All of the panless traps we produce have one common characteristic, simply the most stable, consistent, sensitive trigger system available in cage traps, a big plus for setting, placing,  and firing to take animals large or small without issue.

With standard pan type trigger systems or wire triggered traps that use conibear type triggers, triggers that have moved even slightly after setting in what is often an undetectably small amount of travel,  triggers become very "touchy."  If one of these cage traps is jarred by the user or an animal, the trap may fire prematurely, even before the animal has entered the trap.  Pan type triggers have a range of sensitivity dictated by where the door catch contacts the door itself, very light to heavy, difficult to see or understand if the trigger is heavy or light.

With the swing bar and swing panel triggers on the Comstock traps there is no accidental light or heavy setting.  All of these traps have wide, easily seen contact points.  The trap is set no heavier or lighter by the position of the contacts between the trip rod and swing bar.  It is always the same every time, no guess work.  Though the amount of trigger travel may be more or less if the trigger contact is off center, the amount of pressure required to fire the trap remains exactly the same.   Also, the trap will fire exactly in the same prescribed position each time, no surprises.

On the larger heavy duty traps trigger pressure can be varied by positioning the door hook either close to or farther from the trip rod.  You are in command with the ability to regulate the pressure needed to fire the trap since the door hook position can be easily seen.  No other traps afford this option or reliability.  Even the small squirrel traps have the same stability as the larger raccoon and beaver traps.

Because of the features incorporated into the triggers, traps that are rolled over or even tossed into the water remain set and stabile and at the same time, sensitive enough to catch a small muskrat in the beaver traps and sensitive enough to capture a mouse in the squirrel traps.      

Luke sent in this picture of a very small mouse in a 5 x 5 x 24 Comstock Swing panel chipmunk/squirrel cage trap, proving that the trigger is incredibly sensitive and the cage mesh is tight.

"When I said nothing gets by the panel trigger I meant it!! Luke"

Although not recommended for mice, it can happen in a 5 x 5 x 24 Comstock Swing Panel double door  trap!

"Jim, I'm absolutely loving my new squirrel cages.  The panel trigger gets them every time!  I wasn't sure about the nose cone at first, but now prefer one over wings. I've been hammering the ground squirrels and chipmunks with a positive set over their holes.  They also work great with one door down and use of bait.  Besides a few older traps I have, I am now using almost exclusively your cages. Thanks again for producing such a superior product!  Luke Pennington"

With powered doors and a wire trigger, even larger animals are being taken in the shortest double door traps available.  Though not recommended for raccoons, 18 inch double door traps with a 9x11 opening take raccoons with regularity.  Above is a 15 pound 'coon in the 18 inch trap taken by Tim in Ohio.

Likewise, the 24 inch double door traps easily take armadillos as Dusty in Arkansas found out.  Armadillos also have been caught in 18 inch traps on accession, again not the recommended size.  The 24 inch traps have replaced traps that were 36 to 48 inches in length, making setting easier and faster, while allowing the shorter traps to be placed where the larger traps would not fit.

Beaver Set using Castor

Above photo shows the last step in making a beaver castor set with beaver gland lure placed at waters edge for maximum attraction at a castor set for beaver.  (Note: Small area of expanding oily film lying on top of the water.)

This photo shows a completed castor set in its entirety, lure at bottom center with Beaver Comstock Cage Trap covered at top center.  Lure is shown with oily film on the surface and Comstock Beaver Cage submerged above, well hidden  under grass in the narrowed area created with logs on both sides of the opening.  This set was made on the edge of pond where a small channel and crawl out existed.  These sets can be placed virtually anywhere where there is either a natural or man made narrowing.  The cage traps are generally set in just over a foot of water, though a few inches deeper or shallower will not detract from the effectiveness.  A distinct advantage to this type of trapping is that there is no sign left for trappers or anyone to find and there are few limitations in where it can be made.  There is no wire, no stabilizing sticks or focal point for passers by to discern.  In a cage, even the catch is out of sight.  Unlike guillotine door cage traps with doors that protrude well above the trap in plain sight for all to see, this trap with power hinged doors that remain under waster, can be set in high traffic areas, completely undetectable.