Coyote pullouts

[Randy Davis]

Last year I laminated some #2 Bridgers inside and outside with 3/16 cold roll and I started having slight catch circles with nothing in the trap. I added some JC Conner shock springs to see if that would help but I think I'm still having some pullouts. They are 4-coiled with 12-14 inches of chain including the shock springs. They are night-latched with about 2 lbs of pan tension. Have any of you had this experience? I don't have this problem with Soft-catches and I'm about ready to re-tool.

Randy

[jalexander]

Try a shorter chain. I use 6-8 inches.

What part of AR are you from?

[Randy Davis]

Jeff, I had 7" chains until I added the shock springs. I'm in southwest AR.

Randy

[jalexander]

I switched to shorter chains and my pullouts went way down. No shock springs, just swivels.

[bobwendt]

I go even shgorter than that, to where they can spin and that is about it. I can`t imagine trap strength is a problem, so must be setting technique or chains. you cover too deep? the rage of a known pro is 1" of dirt, balderdash, 1/8th inch is plenty. storm issues? underlay with peatmoss then skiff of dirt and no wash out.

[ColdSteel]

Bob may be correct on covering to deep ,years ago when I started out that was my problem and I was having the same things happen that you described.I use 1.75 traps mostly and I have very very little dirt over my trap and I hardly ever have a problem with a pull out

[buckskinner]

Bob,how long is your chain and swivel set up?

[Randy Davis]

Bedded and covered with peatmoss. 1/4 inch or less dirt covering. I didn't have this trouble until laminating and am catching them with Softcatches in same setup. That's why I'm asking. It doesn't make sense. I'm not having trouble holding coons or cats - but then they're not coyotes. I wondered if it would help to go to inside only or outside only on laminations.
Had a triple night before last with 2 in softcatches and one in Bridger that just left his circle. Too expensive to lose them. I'm not knocking Bridgers. I really like them.

I may have to try Bob's short short chains.

Thanks for the replies.

Randy

[bobwendt]

even 1/4" is a lot if wide jaws. my chains are a double stake link, , double swivel, 3 links, "J" hook and trap. no shockspring, even take the toy one off that comes with new softies. but I countersink stakes under ther trap ,effectivly cutting the chain to maybe 4". interesting your softcatch out perform the steel jaws. I been telling everyone that for years and they act like I`m a ijyut.

[Randy Davis]

Bob, one thing I'm sure of is #3 Softcatches are coyote catching machines. Almost no misses or pullouts and they hold up well except for the pads and it's not that much trouble to change them. We have to offset them in Arkansas because the rubber is considered part of the jaw but that also gets the jawspread down to legal size.

I'm not suckin up but one thing I've learned about trapping is when Bob Wednt talks, listen. I appreciate the way you share your experience.

Randy

[bobwendt]

why thank you there toenailor, I appreciate that. the new VICTOR softcatches I notice come with the jaw tips bent up and several of the earlier edition problems from 20 years ago ironed out. those who tried them and gave up 20 years ago should look at them again , the newer versions. butera, who owns victor now has made a lot of upgrades in them. I know no one wants to talk bmps, but as far as long haul future investment in traps, the victor #3 softie is bmp approved, which may or may not be a factor down the road.

[gunny]

Toenailer, that is some of the best trap buying advise you will ever get. I retooled everything this year and bought 10 dozen new traps, not softcatches, BIG MISTAKE.

My exotic taxidermy animals have suffered trap damage that severly reduced their marketability.

The only money left in trapping is western cats, uncommon taxidermy specimens, and to some degree the live market.

If you want a trap that will hold a 12# taxidermy animal w/o damage and hold a live market animal, the softcatch is THE trap.

Moreover, its PR with the public, landowners, and government agencies is unequalled.

If BMP's do come to fruition, you are ready and will have an edge on the competition.

Sure, most traps can be laminated and welded up to work, I've welded on traps for over 25 years. Should have spent that time more wisely. The softcatch ready out of the box less waxing.

At $170-$180 a dozen, they are the most economic out of the box trap on the market. Compared with bridgers or montanas at $130-$140 a dozen then add the $$$ and time to baseplate/bottom swivel, laminate the jaws etc. Buy the softcatch and spend the time saved scouting new areas, obtaining permission, etc.

I hope you can learn from my mistakes

FWIW

[Dale]

Randy I see that your still working them yotes over. I am finally going to get a few sets out today.I am trying out my Montana # 3's. gotta see if they are as good as I hear. Well good luck and I will talk to you later on .

Dale

[trappnman]

Crap- it one thing to use softcatches- it purely another to say they ae superior to other traps.

Montanas can be used right out of the box- no baseplating or other modifications are needed.

Thats my friend is a fact.

AS far as PR- those against trapping are against trapping -and as Zags said many times- the antis or farmers could give a rats ass WHAT type of trap you got their dog in. And contrary to what some think- I like others KNOW that catching and releasing dogs does NO permanent damage to their feet on non freezing nights- and even with softcatches- freezing is a problem.

I'll never use a softcatch because I see, for me, no advantages and many disavantages.

Others can do what they like- without bashing non softcatch traps.

[bobwendt]

" I`ve never used a softcatch".

[thefoxtrapper]

its all physics and design, i have 1.5 victor toy trap softies, I have had several run over by trucks and i bent them back to shape by hand, and im not kidding, but when something gets in it, it is there, the levers lock, good springs, game over for that animal...and whether anyone likes it or not, softcatch traps have got me on places where i would have been denied to use steel traps, I am looking hard at getting #3 softies to use instead of my #2 and #1.75 steel traps, they will be easier on nontargets and still hold fur, whether we like it or not, times are changing and if using more softcatches can make trappers look better and get my foot on more dirt, then I will and no doubts on holding ability on my end..not everyone lives in no mans land, also for me many domestic catches have went over much better because of being in padded traps, big steel traps will bang up small animals, domestics included, been there done that, winston

[td]

When the padded traps first came out, I was told by an experienced yote trapper that swelling was a problem with them. Most of the coyotes i've caught in my offset wo/pads and non laminated have a small cut on the front of the foot, and he said the cut was why there wasn't any swelling. (I have some laminated for this season, but haven't used them yet) I have never used padded, so don't know how bad swelling is. Do all coyotes and domestics caught with them need medicating shots for the swelling? I guess what I am getting at is, ....is the swelling, if not treated, just as bad or worse on a foot than a cut? The dogs i catch are not usually cut,probably because they don't fight much, but they don't usually have swelling either.

[Randy Davis]

I agree with what Bob says and I agree with what Steve says. I have Duke 1 3/4 coilsprings, Victor 1 3/4 and 2 coilsprings and BMI 2K9 Wolfers. All of them will catch coyotes without any problem. I can take the laminations off the Bridger #2's and catch the fool out of them. What I'm after is reducing the damage for the live market. I just can't see skinning a flat southern coyote for4-12 dollars when someone wants it alive. My time is worth something and I want to make something out of it. I am constantly thinking of ways to improve what I'm doing and some "experiments" just don't pay off. That's why we ask questions - not to start arguments but to learn from others experiences. Thanks to all of who who share information. When I say I listen when Bob speaks I should also say I read when Professor Gappa writes, too. Thank you, Steve.

Randy

[bobwendt]

td, swelling is a sequelle of impaired circulation and no reflection on cuts or lack of cuts or rubber or not. whoever told you that had no idea what he was talking about. apples to apples, steel will cause worse swelling than rubber only because 99% of steel trappers have bought into a 4 coil elephant trap[ping system to trap coyotes. i.e. read to much montana-itis.

[td]

Got ya. I was thinking after I posted, and should have added. Does the circulation get cut off worse in a padded trap vs. offsets? I don't get swelling in the offsets, just some cutting depending on trap. Vics cut a little, the montys usually don't. Have seen the live, padded trap users talk about medication for swelling being recommended and just wondering if, wo/medication is swelling as bad on a foot as a cut.

Sorry for hijacking toenailer.