just asking a simple question in the late 60's I was with my Granddad he would caught in #2's everything from beaver, coyote, raccoon and mink so why is it now days there is articles stating you need #3, #4 and bigger to caught coyote and beaver? we always had a caught if the trap was sprung

Easy answer you can catch most furbearers in a #1 1/2 but that doesn't make it the best choice for many reasons.

Think of it like this , a roofing hammer will drive in a trapping stake but a sod buster would be a better choice don't you think?

understood but if you can kill a rabbit with a bb gun why use a shotgun?

Don't know if you're just wanting to disagree with someone or you're looking to justify using only a #2 trap or what. But you use whatever trap you like/is legal.


You can do all your running around like going to work,store,check your trap line all with a horse but I bet you use a vehicle. Why? when you can walk,ride a horse or a bicycle? Why use a vehicle? Why?

not disagreeing or justifying stating fact in the 60's plus I walk my trap line it's good exercise but I could use a vehicle, horse or bicycle if I was lazy

So in my reading ( stuff 1900-present) I've found it rather intresingthere are two main regions in trapping g that equated to to main trains of thought.

Western and eastern.

A few guys have written that in general the east has been fox territory. So mainly trappers from this region simply didn't need a larger trap for fox,which were the main k9 of the east when this whole galvanizing of thought took place. So really for fox coon mink marten Fisher ect the #1-2 ( in some special applications a 21/2) was all that was needed for anything the average trapper would go through. Now when coyotes started making their big Eastward push in to areas they once hadn't been or had been scarace, many saw them as nothing as bigger stronger fox and saw no need to boost up.

How ever in the west where coyotes wolves lion and even bear weren't uncommon and all wanted ( eridication was the main reason ) a larger strong trap was what was wanted . The #3 was the base line #4 was recommended and #41/2 was king !

I'll answer you question JComer.

Use em their great traps you just need to learn to guide when using them for big footed critters.
If your using them for beaver target a front foot. A beavers back foot isn't something you should target with a small jaw spread.
Great coon traps when used in the water also great rat and mink traps.

Your Grand dad could probably trap circles around some of us. He used what he had available to him and worked out a system that worked for him. Trappers today have to many options when It comes to traps. If one system doesn't work they go to something else. When most of the time It's the trapper lack of understanding what he's up against not the trap. Some like to take the easy way out.

yes sir he raised a family during the depression and had to provide he told me one time if he had 4 or 5 22 bullets that meant he had 4 or 5 meals for the family