lets talk traps and coyote loss

[trappnman]

Good post- but I never had enough losses to keep that accurate of records. Never kept track of losses- to begin with- what are you considering losses?

a snapped trap with coyote tracks by it?

a small catch circle with coyote hair in the trap?

A large, dug up catch circle?

in scenerios #2 and #3- I have very few losses a year- so say from 2-5%.

If that. Now misses- thats a whole different ballgame, and misses concern me not at all- I'll catch him down the road, later that day, tomorrow, next week...

the secret in cutting down misses is simple- use a good trap to begin with ( in MNSHO, the Duke 1.75 is top of the line) and set like you ARE setting a small trap.

Regarding laminations, etc- BMPs prove, if my experience isn't enough- that both injury AND efficientcy scores are about the same on unmodified small traps as fully modifed small traps. And that folks, is a fact.

half arsed mosifications are in my book next to worthless- the whole schmeil or nothing is the way I look at it.

I should point out- for years, i was called a liar becasue of my choice and system of coyote traps- people tellng me it ws impossible to hold coyotes in unmodified 1.75s...well, guess what?

They is wrong....

coyoteman- I think the problem is- that on the traps you describe- with the long chain setup- has been used by others with lots of losses. Thus my query as to how exactly you are setting an using the trap.

Matt- your list of traps used amazes me- I haven't even seen 75% of those traps-

[Iowa Badger]

I was wondering that also, what is a "loss". I started out with victor 1.75s. I now use sleepy creek 1.75 OS and Bridger #3 modified OS. Very rarely once a coyote is in a Victor or Bridger have an empty trap when I get there. Just started using the sleepy creeks last year and had a few problems, see what I can do this year.

[mattjones298]

steve, loss to me is all that you stated above as long as the trap was fired.

i/e...finding a fired trap and zero critter standing there.

trap weight alone, might have some impact on coyote loss. that and improper bedding as coyotes are strong diggers and all it takes is one toe nail on a small traps jaw and it`s out of it`s bed and sometimes fired as it lands upside down. the big jake trap and mj6oo i dont think i have ever found one upside down at a set.

just a thought

steve, there is a soft catch law in tennesse so thats where my soft catch trap info comes from as i run a coyote line down there. i dont own many, just a set of 8 doz. softies and 35 jakes

the coyote cuff no.22 are the best number 2 size as far as holding coyotes money can buy and i am restricted to a number 2 size here in kentucky, that is also why i own alot of bridger no.2`s

i trap 2 states across the river that allow the use of no.3 size traps so i own a set of them for over there.

it is a shame a man must have 3 sets of coyote hardware and i can drive to any coyote set i make in 4 hours easy...aint that a whoopen... ;D

[MChewk]

Comment here about 1.75 Victors...do you guys remember the "old" version of the 4x4 Victor Professional that was offset? What a nightmare! If you know what I mean. Thin offset jaws that were way over powered. I often wondered who tested that trap before it was marketed? Base plating a trap is one thing that might be necessary BUT I personally think if the chain is centered so paw can't slide damage is reduced. NOW lanimate and even less occurs. I have found centering up the chain on my dbls traps was a huge move to reduce damage and hold toes in those particular situations. Good post Matt....makes guys think about the equipment they are using.

[mattjones298]

mike, that`s mainly the trap i`m talking about. i think it had a smooth base plate where the newer ones have the ridge along the bottom making them hard to base. i caught alot of fox in them and liked them better then the 1 1/2 traps i grew up with, and way better then the old square jaw no. 2 low leavered victors

was that awhile back or what. alot of guys went with the northwoods traps back then , but i hung out with the victors as i was night latching back then and just did not like fileing the pans on the northwoods traps.

matt

matt

[PAMINK]

I like the Bridger #2 & #3 tricked out. Caught a lot of fur over the years in 1.75 Victors - modified.

Traps I will never use again - #2 Montgomery SJ low lever and 1-3/4 Sleepy creek O/S. Terrible pullout ratios with these two.

I thought the SC would be a good trap when it came out. Still don't know why it isn't. Terry

[chub618]

i have some 1 3/4 sleepy's i have not used them yet! so what is the deal with them pa. they are offset and i am wondering if i shouldn't replace the jaws with regular jaws

[mattjones298]

chub618 and terry, i have a friend that said the same thing about the sleepy creeks, i felt of them and they seemed stronge to me but my buddy also said he had pullouts. chub i dont think it`s the off sets cousing the problem as i have never seen it with other traps..i might be wrong.

he said he liked the duke 1 3/4`s but did not like the duke no. 3...said he had pullouts in them also...dont make sence to me

matt

[PAMINK]

Chub
I had the T-bar offsets. Like I said the trap looked like it was designed right but I have no idea what the problem is. Never did much to them except take that cheezy baseplate off and put a real one on. The springs were stout, the levers came up fairly decent

I have no idea. Terry

[17kiss]

One of lifes mysteries Matt I believe I seen where you have used 1.65s. what kind of pullouts rate did you have with them? I had horrible luck with them , but the Northwoods roundjaw 1.75 and 1.5 never had a problem with. Go figure1

[MChewk]

Boys reading about all of these pullouts.. is it time to discuss pan tension? lol

[Stef]

MChewk,
I read, heard so many things about pan tension and I do not believe "at all"... that let say, low tension = toes catch VS heavy tension = high catch all the time.

The real thing is....

The dirt we're using (peat, waxed dirt, dry dirt, wet, muddy etc...)
I use lot of light soil all the time so heavy tension for me = misses
Why, traps will move before firing (at some kind of sets)
And the second part is that I rarely toes catch a fox or yote

Just my 2¢<br>
Stef

[Clefus]

Terry...
I tinkered with my SJ #2 Monties with low levers....
With a little playing you can raise the levers on them...

[Stef]

I believe muddy/heavy dirt trap pattern and not enough power (springs) cause escape.

Stef

[thebeav2]

I still think that by placing the chain on the end of the trap frame you can stop some of the pull outs.
I think that the animals foot Is pulled deeper Into the trap by a cam type action. While a animal that Is caught In a center mounted trap chain set up will be pulling straight out of the trap.

With my set up I have never seen where the animals foot has moved to one side or another. But the foot at times seems like it is deeper in the trap jaws on the opposite side of the chain.
I really can't see how a animals foot would move from one side to the other even with a center mounted chain. Once the trap Is sprung there is equall pressure from both spring levers once they are locked up on the jaws.

Yep I get a fair amount of sprung traps when using the smaller 1.75s and I know It's due to the smaller jaw spread.

But once I get the trap on the coyote, 95 % of the time he will be there.

More pan tension the deeper the foot Is In the trap?

Beav

[dj88ryr]

PAMINK said:

Traps I will never use again - #2 Montgomery SJ low lever and 1-3/4 Sleepy creek O/S. Terrible pullout ratios with these two.

ACKKK!!!! ;D ;D ;D BLASPHEMY!!!!
I am with ya on the Sleepy Creeks, but you can't take the name of Montgomery in VAIN!!!!!

[Stef]

More pan tension the deeper the foot Is In the trap.

Beav

;D

[Clefus]

LOL DJ

I just cant leave well enough alone...

[dj88ryr]

You are right Clef, a little work and those levers are fine, glad that I didn't have many.

[thebeav2]

steph
I should have said more pan tension the deeper the foot In the trap?

Beav