I finally get a beaver job and what happens? A 330 goes off on my hand! It wasn't much of a suit-case, it was more of a finger-nail.

As long as they werent a Belisle closed jaw conibear or a BMI Magnum it wouldnt be so bad. If it was , OUCH!

When a buddy of mine was helping with a woodchuck job using 160's for den trapping, and having had handling and safety instructions just minutes prior, I said hold on I want to get my camera. LOL

He had a good catch across both his thumbs and he just dreaded having to come to ask me for assistance.After trying the best he could to get out himself he reluctantly gave in to his dire situation.

Headline: MILWAUKEE-AREA BEAVER CATCHES FIRST WCO

First time I ever handled a 160 I ended up wearing it on my wrist and for the life of me I can't remember how.

I handle conibears with the same respect as a loaded gun.

I handle large coni's like they're lit sticks of dynamite.

The best thing I ever bought in regards to conis was that trap setter that is made out of a caulking gun. After I messed my right hand up pretty bad,(Not in a coni) I still cant set a 330 by hand. This contraption works great to set the 330 and then I leave it on the jaws until I am finished with the set.

Paul Winkelmann, Just out of practice. Brings you back to attention.
BE SAFE!!!!
I have one of the caulking gun setters that saved my hide one day in the swamp by my self with a 330 mag slammed on both thumbs cabled to a tree.
Hate it when that happens. I usually have the blood flying!!
Dave

It happens play with them enough . Rule number 1 when making sets with a 330s save the anchor part for last . Rule number 2 don't use the safety's because they come off safe and you don't reliese it so better off just not using them but keep body parts away . I did the same thing 330 on the finger nail last winter boy does that sting a bit .

I assume you know the rope trick......if not I would carry a length of rope around your neck to get you out of any bad situations.

I have a picture somewhere of a buddy who got his gut with a 330 (not a belisle), he had a bullseye on his stomach for about a month till the bruise wore off!

Can't imagine catching yourself with a belisle or other full closure coni, own them and I treat them like the others, but know the difference would be extremely rough!

I surely wouldn't want any of them but top of the list would be the Koro

That would be a soft rope about 6' long with a loop tied in one end. With this, you can compress the springs of a large coni using one hand and your foot. Run the bight end of the rope thru the spring eyes, then thru rope loop. Stand on the bight end and you can compress the springs by pulling up on the trap. Practice at home before you need it in four feet of water.

this is one of my favorite pictures,,,,, two 330 welded in a stack,,,,

Got a beaver in the bottom trap and forgot about the top one,,,,,,,, (was in a marsh rat in the swamp and no setter)

after you have mastered 330 prodigal,,,,,,, #5 etiquette is next.........

Vinke, did people trap you because of your valuable billionaire hide or were you just a nuisance?

OUCH!!!!!!!

Vinke You should go to using #114 Newhouse traps.

I would not want to get caught in any 330 but a belisle with one of the safeties off got my thumb a few years ago and I still feel it occasionally. I like that big yellow pin that WCS sells for safety it allows you a lot of freedom making the set and you can't hardly forget it...but you can.
I was helping a nwco get started severl years ago and one of my favorite memories is hearing him holler GET THE TONGS!!! Sometime the worst times of your life can become the best times with the passage of time and the pain is gone.
Paul sometimes your funny butt sometimes a nuisance butt in our little world thebillionair hide comment on Vinke was priceless;-)

PW BT strikes again. The middle trap was a 660 and held one third of a muskrat. The 330 on the left held a very feisty snapper. The 330 on the left held the largest and deadest snapper I've ever seen. ( Okay, the bloating helped ) So how come I never catch beaver in turtle traps?