I will take a true magnum 330 in the water every day over any 280. Bigger opening for them to go through, and less for you to block down. With Belisles and Savageaus the catch will generally be sitting the stabalizer or stabalizing sticks in place.

Most places in the states don't allow 280's on land. If legal they are a great land trap and I would take over a 330 when targeting otter.

IMHO a non-magnum 330 should never be used for targeting otter.

I can keep three times as many 330s working in blocked off channel sets as I can 280s

Don't I wish I could have partly submerged conibears here in Maine.Our conibear traps for beaver and otter have to be completly submerged to be legal.

How many otter do you southern guys catch in a year?

I saw this thread and studied my notes on this seasons otter catch in one area that I'm strictly using 330's. Of the 7 otter caught in this area 1 was hip caught but dead in deep water, two were suit-cased, and 4 were neck caught. These were 330 Dukes.

How many otter do you southern guys catch in a year?

I work my triggers after I make my set so they swing a little before they engage I believe when otter hit the wires they slink around um and ease through hence getting a LOT of hip catches, I catch a LOT of otter on trail sets in 330s with a diamond shaped configuration set on top and get neck only catches, neck ribs suitcases but no more tail or gut catches like that, I've had big otter hip and tail caught in 220s on dry land with v triggers on top once I started freeing the triggers it stopped, it's my belief that once they hit the free swinging trigger they go on an bulldoze through just like it's just more grass in the trail, when there static I thank it's more of an obstacle to be maneuvered around that's been my findings!
Colt

How many otter do you southern guys catch in a year?

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I caught 214 in 75 days one year when they were so high. Many years over 150.

Don,t try to catch them now and don,t trap as much at all.

When I went to my first NTA the announcer introduced the speaker as the best otter trapper in the U.S. I ask him how many otter he caught that year. He said 78. I ask him how many was the most he caught in one season. He said 138. At that show Claudie Taylor said he caught 138 his best year. That show was when Claudie just came out with his otter video. I have always enjoyed seeing Claudie. If you get a chance visit with him.

At the same show I remember two guys at the NAFA booth from MO. I asked them if they would tell me their favorite otter set. They said it was a secret. I learned after they walked off, they had caught 38 together that year from a smiling man on the other side of the table.

When I first started trapping otter the Georgia DNR lady that was tagging them said that 80 was about the most she knew of. She thought the population was being depleted.

It makes a big difference if they are worth 100$ instead of 15$. I have never seen or thought otter numbers here were decreased no matter the price.

I will give my 2 cents worth.....

Most of my otter killing happens at pinch points in very small streams/ditches (a few feet wide and a few inches deep. Many more die at crossovers on dams and near culvert pipes. Rarely are my traps completely submerged...usually not enough water, but I don't set them much on dry land either.....Even though bodygrips less than 9.5" are legal on land further than 10 feet from water in Ga. In the South, due to warmer temps, otters need to be caught in the water or use 6 to 8 feet extension cables so they can reach water. So, my conditions are a bit different than others.

I have 72 Belisle 280s....and 17 Belisle 330s (landowner crushed one digging out beaver dam with backhoe.)

I never intentionally set a 330 for otters.

Belisle 280 is the otter trap...for me