How to Set a 220 Conibear Safely

The 220 is the do-everything body grip for raccoon, beaver, and muskrat runs. It's also strong enough to break fingers, so setting one safely is the first thing to learn. If you've never set a 110, start with my 110 Conibear guide. It's the same idea in a smaller trap.

What you need

• A #220 body-grip trap (measure inside the jaws; most are 7 x 7 inches)
• A setter tool (Conibear setting tongs or a 220/330 setter)
• A safety gripper (jaw clamp)
• Heavy gloves
• ½-inch rebar stakes, 24 to 36 inches, with chain and swivel, or trap wire
• Metal trap tags with your name and address or IDNR customer number

How to set a 220, step by step

1. Put on gloves and a safety gripper. The gripper clamps the jaws, so if the trap fires while you're handling it, it slams on the gripper instead of your hand.
2. Compress the first spring. Use a setter tool to squeeze the first spring all the way down, then hook its safety catch.
3. Compress the second spring. Do the same on the other side. Both springs are now locked.
4. Open the jaws and set the dog. Spread the jaws, bring the dog over, and hook it into the trigger notch. Keep your fingers outside the jaws the whole time.
5. Place and anchor the trap. Stake or wire it in place (see below) before you take any safety off.
6. Remove the gripper, then the safety catches. The safety catches come off last, with your hands behind the trap.

Trigger adjustment

• Centered trigger: the default, and the usual choice for a raccoon in a cubby.
• Offset trigger: for beaver, bend the trigger wires to one side so the head passes and the jaws close behind the skull.
• Lowered trigger: for muskrat, set it low so the rat swims into it.
• Notch choice: the shallow notch fires easily; the deep notch takes more push and helps where leaves or small animals keep setting off the trap.

Staking and anchoring

Anchor every set. A raccoon or beaver can drag an unanchored trap into deep water or brush. Use ½-inch rebar on a short chain with a swivel, or wire the trap to a tree. In water, run a stick through the spring eyes so the trap stands upright. In soft mud, use two stakes.

Three common 220 sets

• Raccoon cubby: a small box or bucket with bait in the back and the 220 across the entrance. Keep it well away from homes and anywhere dogs roam.
• Muskrat run: set across a run or den entrance, mostly or fully underwater.
• Beaver run: in a narrow channel with the offset trigger and guide sticks on each side. A 220 is on the small side for adult beaver, but it works in tight runs.

Illinois rules for 220s

• Trapping for raccoon, muskrat and mink runs Nov 10, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027. Beaver and river otter run Nov 10, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027.
• On land, a body grip can be no larger than 7 inches on a side (square) or 8 inches round. A standard 220 is right at 7 inches, so measure yours. If it's bigger, it's a water-only trap.
• In water, body grips can be up to 10 inches square or 12 inches round.
• For beaver and otter, a body grip must be between 7 and 10 inches square. That rule doesn't apply while raccoon season is open.
• Placement rules for body-grip traps (on land vs. in water, and by species) are set by IDNR. Check the current IDNR Hunting & Trapping Digest before you set.
• Tag every trap with your name and address or your IDNR customer number, and check traps at least once every calendar day.
• On land, don't set within 10 feet of a den that may be occupied. Water sets are exempt.
• Don't disturb beaver dams, lodges, or muskrat houses and feed beds, and never set inside a house or lodge.
• You need the owner's or tenant's permission to trap within 100 yards of an occupied home.
• Wear blaze orange (or blaze pink) in the field during firearm deer season, Nov 20–22 and Dec 3–6.
• Many IDNR sites have their own trap rules, and most don't allow 220s. Read the site's rules before you set.

This is a summary, not legal advice. Always read the current 2026–27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest before you set a trap.