Shock Springs on coyote traps

[mickm]

I have never felt the need for them.I am a big fan of short chains. On the traps that I have bought that chains came stock with, I shelled the chains straight out of da box.

For folks that use them, do you think they help enough to over ride the PIA they are when bedding?

Do you use long chains for some reason? Drags etc... Live catch etc....

[robertw]

I use them on my drags, the idea was that maybe it would reduce the abuse inflicted on the traps by black bears and mtn lions.....I don't believe they do any good after several years of using them.

[trappincoyotes39]

PIA is in relation to time of year setting and soil conditions.

I think they do help with stake pumping and the amount a force a coyote can put on the trap jaws and the effects of lunging. But again you would have zero need with 6" of chain what would be the point?

[SteveCraig]

State law required them here.

[mickm]

Jul 5, 2010 18:01:29 GMT -6 SteveCraig said:

State law required them here.

I'll be darned, I did not know that.

Is Arizona the only state that requires them? I'm bettin Arizona allows extended check as well?

[mickm]

Jul 5, 2010 17:54:15 GMT -6 trappincoyotes39 said:

PIA is in relation to time of year setting and soil conditions.

I think they do help with stake pumping and the amount a force a coyote can put on the trap jaws and the effects of lunging. But again you would have zero need with 6" of chain what would be the point?

Well I was saying that I prefer the short chains, over the use of a shock spring.

I can certainly see why they are useful to you on the long chains and extended checks.

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

I think they are just extra weight on my traps. I don't stake anything. Drags create their own shock spring in most cases when they tangle in a bush.

[SteveCraig]

"I'm bettin Arizona allows extended check as well?"

Nope......24hour check.

[mickm]

Thanks Steve, I was just guessing because it seems like many western states do, and would explain why springs were required.

[ohiyotee]

i see no benefit to the animal with them, in fact the foot might be worse with the springs . i think because it is easier on the shoulder area , as not a sudden jolt and there fore they fight harder putting more lunges on the foot.

[John Porter]

any staked trap with a chain length over 8 inches must have a shock spring in NC.

[trappincoyotes39]

Ohio yote that theory has merit except when you consider using shock springs with high end traps and no foot movement, then they act just as a shock absorber as the foot cannot move between the jaws and with the proper offset I have seen slightly less damge and far less stake force with the shcok springs the main reason I like them.

[thebeav2]

So what happens when the animal has the shock spring bottomed out and Is still pulling and struggling?

In my opinion It's just another thing to trap the trapper.

[ohiyotee]

i can assure you that i have no foot movement with my rigs, just seems to be more torn up area with the shock springs. for years i thought that i should put them on and 2 years ago i did . i run 30 inches of chain with 3 double swivels , a number 3 long spring - prefer b&l they are base plated, center swiveled, offset, inside laminated , and have pawsy pans. 24 hour check, I swear the feet where better without the shock springs. ( j.c. conner). but in all honesty I'm not the 100 yote man that most of you guys are so maybe to small a sampling. also these are easterners and our yearling pups can be
30 pounds. that maybe a factor, who knows thats why trapping is so interesting. The less shoulder shock is just a guess as to why

with the shock spring

without

maybe not the best comparison but the one with the spring has fought more. (might just be that particular animal)

typical foot without the springs. who knows

[bobwendt]

imo foot damage is directly related to chain lenght ( longer = more damage), and the no brainer, time in trap. like caught at 8 in the evening or 2 in the morning and here you come at 8 a.m.

[trappincoyotes39]

could be many facotrs but if your seeing more foot damage with springs that is interesting.

Beav they can bottom out but a coyote doesn;t stay in that position for very long and still acts as a cushion, they do help with the force on a stake that is a fact and could be proven and I have seen it.

Bob foot damage has little to do with foot damage if using traps where their foot cannot move. If using traps with wide smooth jaws and the proper offsets. If using thin sheared jaws and adding chain yep becuase you then have more force with a trap that allows foot movement and less surface area to grip the foot better and weaker springs. The reason many who use longer chains base plate, reneforce jaws and springs. Common sense.

[bobwendt]

you know ct, I typed a real good reply, lots of knowledge and experience in it. and then figured nah, I`m not getting paid to do this. I owe you nor anyone anything. too bad, it`s cheats others out of some klnowledge I`d of gladly shared, but rather the ones that don`t deserve it don`t get it, so only cure is don`t post it. simple.

[trappincoyotes39]

Bob it was a good reply, but it doesn't mean it is the same for all traps. Surely you can see that correct? I mean if I put 3 ft of chain on a 1.75 and 3 ft of chain on a wider jawed trap, with thicker jaws it is your belief the damage will be the same?

[bobwendt]

*

[thebeav2]

I believe that a wide jaw face will cause less Initial force to the foot just by spreading out that force caused by the jaws closing on the foot.

But dose that relate to less damage? I always figured that a wide jaw face allowed for more Initial movement of the foot at that first lunge.
If you take a 12" ruler and lay It flat against your finger and put some force to It. It's still pretty easy to move your finger. But If you take the ruler and lay It so the narrow edge lays against your finger It's a whole different story. So what I'm trying to say Is you will get more movement with the wide faced jaw then the narrow edged jaw on that first lunge.
Of coarse It's only going to move as far as the full heel pad or the pads on the toes. Dose a wide faced jaw create MORE toe catches?