Local farm store had 25% off all Duke traps, so I picked up a dozen Duke DP's to go with the dozen I bought 5 years ago. Here's what new/different; first off traps are now made in China and not Korea ( seems Duke is getting away from Korea as the 110's are now made in Vietnam). They are powder coated brown with plated trigger, pins and spring, compared to bare steel on the older ones. The new ones have two slightly larger drain holes in the bottom compared to one slightly smaller hole in the older ones. The new traps now have a mid chain swivel and one on the end. The older ones only have one on the end of the chain. The pivot hole on the trigger looks to be slightly bigger , thinking it would be less likely to freeze up or bind with mud. Overall the changes all seem to be for the positive and the price is about the same as what I paid 5 years ago. Just thought I'd share. Thought or opinions ?

They still have the crappy stabilizer that won't hold in anything other than hard/ soil? I always use a holder for my duke DPs now. Have found too many of them pulled out laying empty on the ground. I always set them places where they might get stolen. So far no luck. Figures.

Sounds like good improvements to me. Duke has always tried to provide for and modify their traps to make them better at the request of trappers.

I haven't used a lot of them, 4-5 dozen over the years but I must have the right soil here since I have not experienced trouble with the stabilizers Calvin described. I do like the EZ-Trap stabilizers best of all I have tried. I don't like them to hold too firmly and often only put them in the ground up to the washer on the side of the stabilizer.

Our soil must be right also, as I have never had a problem with them either. You could always weld a washer on the stabilizer if you think it would help.

If you got them 25 percent off normal retail and no shipping I'd say good for ya.

The other day, frozen ground, dp with washer thing was stuck in ground. I kicked it sideways to loosen it. The stabilizer bent and that is what chain attaches to. I pulled that one. The dukes were not "as" stuck.
Think I caught five 3x + coon there, in three different brands. Can make any of them work and we all have favs for whatever reasons. Relax coon market complainers, ADC work.

My duke dogs are notched, no more empty traps with trigger pushed all the way.
Not a cure for cleaned traps, but more mice and rat catches. Bait thief Rats need trimmed too.

I noticed that my new ones seem to have a little heavier spring than that of my 2 year olds.

I'd never put a DP in past the bottom on the washer in frozen ground and I rarely do in thawed ground unless its just soupy wet. A DP that is too solid in the ground means too much foot damage and possible escapes from lack of swiveling. IMO keeping the trap higher off the ground lessens the mice bait theft as well,,, although I have caught several coons with the DP just laying on the ground on its side.

ADC "I'd never put a DP in past the bottom on the washer in frozen ground"
Me too. I put those in mud. Winter happens. The first couple checks the dukes were pulled and dumped out, the other held coon.

ADC "A DP that is too solid in the ground means too much foot damage and possible escapes from lack of swiveling."
I agree, that's why I loosened "those" traps.

ADC "IMO keeping the trap higher off the ground lessens the mice bait theft as well,,, " Yep, also makes it easier for coon to pull and dump. I suppose I could use something to "lift" the trap, but I cut down on gadgets a long time ago. It's just trapping.

Edit, never mind lol.

Originally Posted By: Wright Brothers

If you got them 25 percent off normal retail and no shipping I'd say good for ya.

The other day, frozen ground, dp with washer thing was stuck in ground. I kicked it sideways to loosen it. The stabilizer bent and that is what chain attaches to. I pulled that one. The dukes were not "as" stuck.
Think I caught five 3x + coon there, in three different brands. Can make any of them work and we all have favs for whatever reasons. Relax coon market complainers, ADC work.

My duke dogs are notched, no more empty traps with trigger pushed all the way.
Not a cure for cleaned traps, but more mice and rat catches. Bait thief Rats need trimmed too.

Got them for $11.24 apiece out the door .