To you live market trappers, What would make the perfect Coyote live market trap?
Thank You

I guess there are no live market trappers on here.

Or is it a big secret?

I trapped for the live market for 15 years down In the Carolinas.

My trap of choice was a 1.75 regular jawed Duke. The only thing I did was to add inside laminations to the jaws. And I kept the chain to about 8" long with 3 swivel points not Including the J hook at the trap frame.

Not saying It was a perfect set up but I sold a lot of fox to those buyers.

I used victor soft catch #3 for coyotes and 1.5 soft catch for foxes only. I have caught lots of coyotes in the 1.5 over the years just as things happen when trapping for a specific specie.

I never used regular jawed traps for live market work for 20 plus years. It will cut into your bottom line.

You will find out what works best in time to achieve the best result.

I just started trapping for live market this year. Thinking about trying the Bridger 1.65 rubber jaw traps. I trap places with both coyotes and grey fox. I would love to go to 1 trap for all predators. That has been debated on T man countless times. I am not starting a debate, just stating my thoughts.

The one and only 1.65 I have is ok I guess but the pan seams to be just a little thicker than aluminum foil. It came bent up new out of the box and I bent it back to shape by hand. I definitely don't think it would last long with coyotes

from the older guys ived talked to who've been live marketing for a while they prefer the Montana #3's. Rounded jaws, laminated ( inside out side preferred but inside minimum )short chained with lots of swivel points. they were kinda half and half about the shock springs though ( some guys who used the kb 5.5's swore by that shock set up ). lotta folks are liking the vic #3 soft catches too

Stay away from off set jaws (allows foot to slide causing more skin cutting.)

Stay away from rubber jaws (freezing temps will make the rubber hard and result in some nasty-looking feet.)

Laminate the jaws (top or bottom or both...use round rod to eliminate sharp edges.)

Keep strong springs on your traps (foot stays where trap clamps on.)

Short chain and swivel heavy (12 to 15" chains and minimum 3 double swivels.)

Use in-line springs (takes the jolt out of lunges and may prevent injury to shoulder.) Also makes stake/anchor pulling harder for critter to do.

Go with either a good live market fox trap OR a good live market coyote trap. A single trap that works well everytime for both DOES NOT EXIST.

^^^ 100% correct. I have yet to find a perfect trap. 450s are decent on fox but too small for coyote. I run alot of fully modified Bridger #3s for coyote

WE didn't have coyotes In the south when I trapped. Well maybe the last year or two but not many.

Waiting for this,
perfect live market trap answer !

I caught 7 coyotes and a red fox last week. I was using just three mb450 fox with the same set up as what's on a Jake trap. One of the coyotes was caught by the hind foot. All of the feet where fine.

Montana # 3 Off set. 4 coiled is a MUST so foot doesn't slide around in trap Outside laminated center swiveled with a shock spring Best set up there is ive tried most

Second choice would be a Bridger # 2 outside / inside laminated shock spring center swiveled

Third choice would be mb 550 as long as you keep good strong springs I ran them two years and had good feet the third year the springs had gotten weaker and I was having bad feet because the foot was alllowed to move some

Important things are strong springs ( not ridiculous)
Center swiveled and shock spring
A rolled edge jaw Not sheared Which is one reason I prefer the Montana
6 inch jaw spread. Bridger 3 catches too high most of the time I didn't run them long


This is what I've seen the best for live market coyotes. I do not live market fox That will be someone else's department

I have personally went strictly to the 550 rubber jaw. Somewhere around 6-8 inches of chain including 2 swivels. Just what works for me on coyotes. 99% of my coyotes sell.

Do you run 2 or 4 coil on the rubber jaw Doug?

I use mb550s 4coiled in the rubber jaw and seems that every coyote I catch has good feet, unfortunately in Tenn I can't sell them live, but seems like it would be a pretty good trap for live market

I agree with everything Swampwolf said. I didn't believe him until I changed my setup in South Carolina. I always though offset would be better. When I changed, the feet were better. Trapping before and after work and taking 2 weeks off I'd get between 50 and 60 average per year but went over 100 a couple times so my observations are pretty solid.

Just 2 coiled with #2 music wire springs.

To be fair about the rubber jaws.....I have not used rubber jaw traps in 20 years...so the modern rubber jaws may be better quality that doesn't get hard in freezing weather.

I use victor # 3 soft jaws. Only thing I do not like is the price lol. Proper pan tension and check as soon/often as you can will help with the feet.

I’m law bound to use rubber jaws on land here and during the cold months the mb550s and the Vic 3s seem to work just fine for me as well.
As far as the bridger 1.65 rubber jawed traps, I agree the pan is small and flimsy. A quick cure that worked for the cats I caught in those traps, was using a #2 bridger pan on them. I since switched most of them to the sterling pans on the 1.65s and both work very well. Those traps (1.65s) I run those all 4 coiled. The others, MB’s, Vic’s, so on, 80+% are 2 coiled with plenty holding power.

Side note, I find the mb springs are superior

Howre you prepping the rubber jaw traps? Do you boil and wax with the pads on just like regular traps?

Yessir.

When using the rubber jaws, there are 2 main factors that increase damage.

Colder and older.

The colder it is and the older the rubber is, the harder the rubber will be.

I prefer the JC Conner pads and that is what is on the 550. It's a much stiffer and tougher rubber than on the Vic's. The issue I had with the Vic rubber was they were so soft that they would wrap around cutting off blood quicker.

I use j c Conner pads on my #3 Victors

Do they fit right on or do you have to do any trimming?

^^^

Trim

Thank you all for the replies!

Rubber jaw are great if temp stays above 30 degrees if it falls below your done. Best all around trap is a regular jaw450

One of the best , if not the best live market trapper ... used #3 Victor soft jaw trap..nuff said for me !!!

Would you tell me which #3 victor, the sight offset? Two or four coil.

Not slight offset I think..not sure . 4 coiled with 1 1/2 ..4 coil springs.

I have not seen any difference using either regular soft jaws or slight offset..I have both.

Thanks for your help. Do you take the springs off and replace them with the springs from a 1 1/2 trap?

PM sent

And he also checked traps 2 or 3 times a day if it was going to get cold...

He still used the #3 Victor soft jaws for a reason. Wonder why ? He could’ve used other traps there are reasons he didn’t.

I'm not disagreeing with you on that. Couple reasons...

Cheap, easy to tune or repair, larger jaw spread, good quality rubber. Want me to call and ask him when he gets back from his trip?

If you want too...I probably know the reason.

I bought one victor 3 4 coil with the slight off set and caught on in it yesterday. It was female and was fighting hard and did not hardly have a mark on the foot. I had been reading this so I took a picture of the feet. It might be good trap to try if you are into live market. I am sure some one on here has been using them and has more info than one catch but I was pretty impressed. They also make a 2 coil in the slight offset.

That is the rubber jaw model with the slight offset..

Fox ,Bobcat and Coyote
I'll take the Belisle 6" foot snare over anything else.

I just got in a doz 2coil 550 rubber jaws I'm gonna try out. Will post updates when I get them in the ground in a few weeks

What kind of cable? I have not found a cable that doesn't cause damage. They look fine at first but by Day 3 in the holding pen, it's rough.

I don't trap for the live market (I don't agree with it).
I do use Jakes with the rubber jaws and the feet are always in good shape on coyotes. No cuts, broken bones or extreme swelling.
Keep in mind that a Jake trap without the pads is an offset trap. This might be significant for why the feet aren't damaged with the pads on.

Ttt

Anyone use snares or CR's for live market?

Bump