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Post by duckman1911 on Sept 6, 2011 22:30:09 GMT -5
First off I have never trapped before and I know no one that does so if this is a stupid question I apologize. What is the advantage if any of using one jaw configuration over the other? There is a very small difference in price between the two designs. Im gona be trying to trap coons for the most part. May try my hand at coyotes if I can find one thats blind,deaf, and has a nose that dont work.LOL. Was thinking of Bridger 1 1/2's for coons and Bridger #2 or #3 for yotes. Thanks for any advice...John
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Post by R.C.Livingston on Sept 6, 2011 23:26:58 GMT -5
Lots of folks use dukes and bridgers and they are for sure good traps I just rather put money in a American boys pocket like Sleepy Creeks or Victors .If I was going for coons I probably wouldnt use offset ,for a while it was the thing to do but seems now folks arent useing them as much I reckoned a toe catch anything more than likely wont be there but me personally a good catch has been holding fine for me .I think the thought is for it to not cut the blood flow off stopping chewing . And might not as much but it does cut it off some you can just squeeze your finger and in a while it will go numb and I have seen catches in them that the hair fell off of after being released some say is because of being too cold I dont know the answer to that could be some of both
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Post by ToddH on Sept 7, 2011 6:48:18 GMT -5
Offset jaws are designed to NOT break bone on the animal's leg or foot. With that said I would personally only use offset jaw (laminated of course) traps for Fox and Coyote, Coon, Mink Rats and Beaver would use regular jaw.
Again my 2 cents
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Post by wortman89 on Sept 7, 2011 9:31:27 GMT -5
I don't use offset for coon. I use offset for coyote and bobcat. I aint much of a beaver trapper but when i do catch them i use Regular jaws on drowners
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Post by gailkeller on Sept 7, 2011 17:10:26 GMT -5
First you need to look at your state regulations before you purchase traps,here in Louisiana they are not required,so get regular jaws on anything you want,now if you were planning on trapping non-resident in another state,you would have to read their regulations,also.Offsets were designed to allow the levers to raise higher on the jaws and allow the trap to lock-set the jaws and allow for a stronger hold and keeping sliding in the trap jaws and pullouts to a minimum.I would not buy the Bridger #1 1/2's,there were problems with them locking up and pullouts by coons,unless they have cured the problem.The Bridger #2 and#3 are good traps for coyotes and bobcat,with some swivel and chain modifications.A lot of folks use Duke #1 1/2 coilsprings for coon,I use Victor#1 1/2,they will catch fox well,also.
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Post by R.C.Livingston on Sept 7, 2011 17:53:24 GMT -5
I bought a doz. ! 1/2 Sleepycreeks last year too late to use but I have never seen a stock trap at these prices that looked so modified ,the offset jaws are supper wide as wide as most laminations .I havent seen any bigger ones but these look good but havent tried them yet I say I havent I set some today on a control job .I do have some #3 LS Sleepycreeks and dont have anything negative to say about them
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Post by duckman1911 on Sept 7, 2011 19:31:12 GMT -5
Thanks for all the advice. Im really leaning torwards the Sleepy Creek Traps. I like the fact that they are made here(thanks for bringing that up R.C.) Had no way of knowing that untill I found out about MTP yesterday. They show where the traps where made. Im on a trapping budget but i'd rather give my money to our workers.
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Post by R.C.Livingston on Sept 7, 2011 22:06:14 GMT -5
Sound wisdom we have to stop giving away our jobs
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Post by Tony Howard on Sept 7, 2011 23:10:01 GMT -5
I know this is a debate has gone on for years and years on many sites and it is still as clear as muddy water. I understand what Gail is saying and know that the original design was to make the levers come higher on. Not for sure which trap manufacture started it, I want to say it was Victor. However, what Todd has stated is where we are at today with offset traps. They are designed now to not break bone and as a selling point to also make the animal more comfortable in the trap allowing blood flow to the toes. The offset debate will go on and on for years to come and everyone will at least agree to disagree with the offset jaw theory. This said, my thought on the offset jaw changed once I started using them. Again as Todd has stated, only use a laminated offset jaw. The jaw face is the most important part of any trap. The jaw face needs to be smooth, flat and as wide as possible and still maintain trap speed. Many times the speed of the trap can be beefed up by adding heavier springs or beefer springs or even 4 coiling the trap. I have personally found that when the trap bed is made properly the animal will commit to the set fully and you can have a somewhat slower speed trap and still have high catches above the pad. Commitment is the key to any set. As many of you know I use the 450 for fox and cat. These are regular cast jaw traps, but the 450 has a very wide jaw face. I also use the 550 for cat and coyote. These are offset cast jaw traps with again a very wide jaw face. When just coyote trapping I use the 650. My 650 are cast jaw but after using Todd’s 650 out side laminated jaw traps last year I feel they are as good as or better than the cast jaw 650. These are also off set traps. I like the offset jaw trap and have had no problems holding any animal from coon to coyote. Here are few pics from the proto type test on the MB-550. You can see full pad catches and toes catches alike. They have all held. I have held some rather large coyotes by two toes. I share these pics not to show anything off, but rather as a tool the share information. What trap is best is an opinion. Are offsets better than regular jaw? Again this is personal preference. Do I recommend one over the other? Not anymore, go with what you feel works best for you, but as for me and my line, I have found what works for me with NO modifications needed to use. (I hate working on traps, I like trapping) This is my favorite pic right here. I took this coyote by two toes. He was there to the end. He had the world torn up and yet he held. It was raining this morning like cats and dogs. Poor pic but you can see how he was caught.
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Post by wortman89 on Sept 13, 2011 9:43:25 GMT -5
very good post tony
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Post by rookeman on Jun 11, 2012 20:18:26 GMT -5
Here is an old best management practices report from may 2000 which has the specfic traps and trap efficiency, and injury rates for each trap as it applies to coons and coyotes, and nutria. "Summary of progress testing Restraing traps for development of best management practices for trapping in the united states "May 2000.
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