The Tomahawk Deluxe Rigid Trap Squirrels/Muskrats Easy Release Door - Model 603 comes assembled and ready to you. To set the trap, first you must lift and hold the trap door open. Then you must pull the trigger forward and lower the door slightly so that it rests on the trigger. The door will remain open when it is resting properly on the trigger. At this point the trap is now set. The front door consists of two wire panels. The larger of the two panels is connected directly to the trap and is called the “door panel”. The smaller panel is connected to the door panel and is called the safety door. Near the bottom center of the safety door is a wire loop which protrudes out from the safety door. Insert you index finger through the loop and then use your thumb to push the safety door all the way forward until it presses against the door panel. Now lift up with your finger to pull the entire trap door up until it is against the underside of the top of the trap. While holding the door up, pull the trigger forward and then lower the door onto the trigger. The brass roller attached to the door should rest on the trigger and the door will remain in the open position. The trigger rod is a long rod that connects the trigger to the trip pan. When the trap is set and the door is open, the trip pan should be up off the bottom of the trap pointing upward at a slight angle. When an animal steps on the trip pan, the trigger is pulled from the door and the spring loaded door closes instantly trapping the animal.