#3 Montana Special Modified setup

[nycoyote]

I purchased some #3 Montana Special Modified Traps for this upcoming coyote season. I have to say I really like the trap. Just wanted to see if anyone does any further mods to the trap. How do you like the chain and swivel setup?

[trappnman]

nothing further needed. I've done nothing on my chain setup, and I've been using them since they first came out. I am one that doesn't like baseplates and d rings under the trap- makes it a pain to bed. The only fault I have with the Montana, is the pan sits just a tad above the jaw. This matters only when using screen- You can't use a real stiff screen- you need screen with a little flex. all I use are Montanas

[nycoyote]

Thanks Steve for the feedback. I bought some Montana's from John Graham and picked up some of his pre-cut screens.

Anyone have any quick tips for removing the factory oil fast? I used a dish washer in the past but don't have access to one now.

[trappnman]

soak for for a day or two in bleach, with a shot of dish soap-

[braveheart]

I myself see no reason to use a limp screen for a pan cover. I was shown to use screen to increase your kill area. I had some Montana's and ran O gorman screen got snapped way to many times for me. I do know I welded a heavy S hook off the d ring and have 3 links of chain before the first swivel. Makes bedding nice especially in frozen ground.
I am all Vic. Montgomery 4 pan sets lower than jaw and is fast. I take mine to the car wash hit it with engine cleaner then rinse off.

[trappnman]

not limp- but not like a piece of steel either. The screens that 1080 and I'm thinking you like to use, have zero give and zero flex- which is why 1080 stop using Montanas as well. But there IS a heavy aluminum screen that is stiff (no droop) but yet is flexable enough to keep it tight, without a bubble. If you try to use a heavy screen, and try to make it lay flat, you are going to snap traps. I buy my screen from Menards, cut it so that I can tuck it under the jaws, and have no problems with it either in snapping traps, or misses from not being stiff enough.

[nycoyote]

Brace heart,

I was looking at the #4 Vic. Montgomery. So no issues with the stiff screen with these traps?

[braveheart]

None what so ever. I run about 4 lbs. pan tension. I run a different cut in the dog with a 3 point file. Make pan drop to below the jaw.It is flawless. If they touch the jaw edge they are going home with me. All good catches many double leg even on cats. I had a customer order 10 full sheets from me yesterday runs Montgomery square jaws 3's. A no. 2 size trap is the smallest I would use it on. Ran it on 550 in Ga. it worked but hard to work the pan I would not recommend on that trap. Ran some on Bridger dog on traps works super as well.
I was told Vic. was going to start making the 4 again in June some time this year.

[nycoyote]

Any chance you could post a pic of how you file the dog braveheart? I have some #3 Vic. Montgomery’s that I want to work on.

[braveheart]

I will try to get a pic. later today.

[nycoyote]

Marty,
Were you able to get a good pic to post? Thanks

[braveheart]

I can't get a good pic. of the notch. Red on the brown site puts the same style notch to his trap he made a pic. of it. It is right at the transition of the slope to the factory notch.

[nycoyote]

Thank you Marty

[nycoyote]

Marty,
Do you prefer the 2 coil or the 4 coil?

[trappnman]

On the Montanas, for years I had no problems leaving them 2 coiled. But 2 years ago, did have some misses that shouldn't have happened, and went to adding helper springs this past season.

[braveheart]

I run them 2 coiled for about 3 yrs. And now starting to 4 coil them with a JC Conners regular helper spring. If you you use the no. 3 the spring will fit just fine over the factory spring pins but the 4 will work but not much extra clearance.. I am talking the Vic. Montgomery 3-4 size trap.The factory 4 coiled version has weaker spring than the standard 2 coil. I caught about 30 coyotes with the set up and all springs stayed on fine.We will find out this year with more catches to see how they work.
Marty

[nycoyote]

Thank you Steve and Marty for your feedback. I appreciate it.

[trappnman]

The montanas have just a slightly different spring pin- Little shorter maybe? don't know, but I did lose 3-4 helper springs.cheap enough to replace. I suppose I could tweak them somehow, but the effort doesn't seem to warrant it for a couple lost springs.