I think they are advertised as a 6.5 inch spread as well if I'm not mistaken.

A person never knows until there on your bench with a tape measure !

Do not want to hi-jack this post---but what are best release methods for DLS. Have used the board and release pole but looking for something better.

That is a good question as I think it is a bit harder than when using a coil spring???

Mac

I find it easier to get something out of a dbls than I do a coil more to get ahold of

Red mt---alive??

I have to agree with Red on this one. I run lots of long springs in exposed sets for cats. If you get a spring in each hand and compress them and then bend the whole spring down away from the jaws it is easy to release quickly. There is a lot more to hold onto than on a coil spring trap.

And what is the cat doing when you have a spring in each hand and bending it away from the jaws to release the cat.




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FYI ---> INSIDE jaw spreads (i have these traps)

#4 sleepy creek long - 5 & 11/16"
#3 sleepy long offset - 5 & 1/4" big
#4 bridger long -----5 & 5/8"
#3 vic long ------ 5"

What year are your Victor #3 double long springs? mine are 5 1/8"

Not sure i have had them bout 15-20 yrs. my tape could be off a smidge

Just wondering because Arkansas you have to have offset or rubber jaws if over 5" on land and I would love to use regular jaw #3's if I could find them

I have released a number of wolves from #4 SC DLS without a hitch. In my experience I can easily squeeze enough with a hand on each spring to release their large paw. You do not have to open the trap all the way like setting it.

Although I am very fond of, and own a dozen, SC 4.5 dls, I have not released a live animal. I have to use a setter to get out a dead one.

With one exception so far, wolves have been easier in to release live than an otter in any foothold.

Ringbill,
How are you holding the live animal so that you can use both hands on the long springs.

Do understand the live release of an otter, I would rather do anything else then release a buck otter. It is my opinion that most animals want to bite you an otters wants to eat you.

A tap on the nose will stun an animal long enough to release them,with the exception being a wolf.

I stand on the catchpole. I go 250 though. Like I said, you don't have to squeeze them far. Wolves are generally pretty docile in a catch pole. Plus you have time on your side. Cats you don't have time and it may take a few tries. Better to try for 15 sec three times than hold a cat down for 30 seconds trying to release it in my experience.

My 120 lb daughter held this one down. She tried squeezing the springs while I held the pole but wasn't strong enough.

Man! Wish I could walk up on that in one of my traps!

Bless her heart, she is out there trying, gotta love that!

You will. They spread further every year. Last year I made it without one in the trap. I have been getting 2-4 a year. Backing off #4 dls and into 3s unless an exposed set to cut down. Also crowding the hold in most dirtholes helps quite a bit. Seems urine posts and hay sets are harder to prevent the big dog from getting in paw first. It is a pleasure and a curse to catch one.

IMO BIG double longs in a hay set on drags in 30 below is a wonderful combination. I may hammer a spot for my center swivel in but most often just bed in some hay and shake/cut a small amount of chaff over to break it up. I most often use a duck carcass of a chicken carcass, but will sometimes cut dice sized chunks of beaver and mix in in.