I've never posted anything here before but would appreciate any advice from anyone who's used the Sudden Valley #4 coil for coyotes. I trap ranchlands in Oklahoma & have used mb550s this past season. I've caught & held over 50 coyotes in what amounts to about 3 weeks of full time trapping. However, I've had more misses than I'd like & don't remember having this many misses when I used bigger traps. The SV #4 looks like a strong well built trap & is dogless, similar to the older #4 Montgomery which I used 20 over years ago & had good results with.

I will say that you will like them. Mine took more tweaking than any other coilspring to get them perfect, but they are very nice now. I had to adjust the trigger, pan tension and height, grind/file the jaws where they lock up, and a couple other minor things. A couple wouldn't fire when the pan dropped. Carlis was great to work with, and made it right with me.

Probably the most horsing around for any dozen traps, but they are sweet now. Huge kill area, and huge pan. They very well may be my favorite coyote trap now.

Thanks for the info. Did every single trap need adjustments? I might order a few to test out. They're pretty much the same price as mb650s so w/ cost in mind, I wonder how they compare.

I have a few that I picked up when they first came out and love them, they pop through the crust pretty good up here. My only suggestion would be to look at getting off sets with lams if you got fox running around.

I would give the NO BS extremes a look.

I have a routine I go thru, to tweak every new trap I buy. But, no, not every trap needed adjustment. But, pan tension was all over (an easy fix with this style dog), and just a couple had the other issues.

I think I saw someplace that he just came out with cast jaws on this trap. Either way, give Carlis a call and visit with him awhile. Check out his website too.

I will go ahead and order a few. I like the wire levers & big pan. Like I said before, priced the same as mb650s & most would agree the 650 is a coyote catching machine out of the box, so I'd have high expectations for the SV trap. I appreciate the responses!

I got some of Carlis' prototypes before he started production, by far my favorite cat and coyote trap. And for what it's worth I adjusted nothing.
The only fault I see is they are some what stronger than I like to set. I had to have Dave make me some One Hand Setters. The wire lever locks up super tight and with out the OHS are difficult to get off the catch.
I would not recommend as a primarily fox trap, they have weight.

I never tried them. I no full time trapper that bought five dozen then the next year sold them all for 12 dollars a piece. I should have bought some to try. His complaint was pan tension issues.

I like them myself, and bought a 1/2 dozen cast jawed offsets to try last fall.

While I'm getting feedback on traps, has anyone used the Wolf Creek #3 dogless? I'm thinking about getting some of these w/ the intention of baseplatjng, laminating, & maybe 4-coiling. They're listed at $99 dozen ($8.25 / trap). At that price I would expect some quality issues but at $8.25 / trap, but after modifying I'd only have about $12 in each trap.

At $43 a piece for the cast jaw model do they come shipped with the coyote already in it?

The No.3 dogless are 140.00 a doz. shipped. I believe you are looking at either the no.2 dogless price or the regular dog-on no.3.
I just just finished modifying the doz. I got. Well actually only 10 of them. I was shorted 2 traps in the one box. I'm still dealing with that. But on mine I to put a lot of work into them. I made mine offset jaws, 4-coiled, base rods, no.3 chain, bubble tipped the jaws and 3/16" lamination. Now they are a good old Montgomery style dogless trap. I'm not saying they aren't any good unless they are totally done over, but I like to tinker with everything!.

they are a nice trap to mod I liked the way they looked after wards 1/4" square stock the guy I did these for said not a mark left on the foot

$43 each according to their website.
http://suddenvalleysupply.com/shop/svs-4-cast-jaw-2/

Referring to the wolf creek no.3 dogless.

You are talking about the #2 dogless for $99 a dozen. I got the #3 dogless and I like them so far, especially for the price. I personally dont think 4 coiling is necessary and i think the bases are think enough that you dont need a baseplate. The only thing I will be doing to them is bubble tip the jaws, they are way to close to the hole in the frame and there is a little bit of movement in them. Had to do a little work on a few of them to make them set, but good trap overall.

Anyone used the cast jaw model.

Right here.

I have a handful of the SVS #4's and they are one of the best "right out of the box" traps I've used for cats. They already have a big pan and they are more than powerful enough for a cat. Love the big jawspread. And the trap is quite lightweight, overall, for such a "big" trap. The only downside in my view is the cost. Not saying they aren't worth it, just saying that in relatively high theft areas its hard to throw down a $25 trap (plus extra chain and drag). Would love to see a #2 or #3 size trap with the same features (i.e. Big pan, wire levers, four coiled) with a lower price tag. Two thumbs up on the traps!