I know a Duke #3 OS isn’t a beaver trap but could it work in a pinch? Assuming it was a front foot catch on a drowning setup?

Have a place to trap beaver, don’t have any beaver traps and don’t have the $ right now to go buy some. I do have a small handful of snares that I will use also.

Am I setting myself up for frustration with the #3s?

I dont see why not. Some guys swear by the Bridger 3 dogless for beaver (front foot of course). Front foot means shallower drowning depth. I say let em rip. I have a dozen Duke #3's I may try some front foot on in certain scenarios.

No its not ideal, but if thats all you have. I rely on the snares more. But i have caught and held a beaver by a hind leg in a mb550 offset. And he was alive, he got tangled up before he got to the end of the cable.

A 550 is definitely not a beaver trap but was all i had. Now the following season i had mb750s.

I've used #3 duke regular jaw on beaver before. It's all I have except for 330 and 280. I caught front and hind foot, prefer front. Just put them on heavy drowning rig and have fun.

I have caught and held beaver with the exact trap you are talking about. They work fine.

Well great! Out to go sets some iron and get the 2018 trapping season underway. Going to try and get a few sets in before dark then check them and set some more in the am.

It's not a beaver trap. And your probably going to lose a few do to the offset when targeting a front foot.
Get that beaver walking and set up your pan tension a bit so you get a high hold. And have a positive drowning system.

I use some 4 coiled Bridger #3s with a very slight offset in them for beaver. They catch both feet. They work well. I'll continue to use them on front feet as I have recently bought some of John Graham's #5s for beaver.

Possum post a pic of that #3 hanging on a foot when you connect.

It will catch beaver. You will miss a few....and might lose one here and there in the OS/s but I wouldn't hesitate to try them out.

I've used the Duke #4s for beaver and liked them more than I had anticipated.

Sometimes you get a good surprise.

I will end up getting some #4 & 5s but until I have a little extra cash I I’ll have to use what I got. Thanks for the info fellas

Set those #3 Duke all day long. Yes, as stated, it is not ideal but I've taken plenty of beaver in them. If I have to take the beaver (ADC) I would use 2 traps at the set. 1 set for front and 1 for rear foot, offset of the one set for front foot. As a general rule I set the front with pan at finger tips and rear at elbow. If I'm using 1 trap I usually go for a front foot and use as much guiding as realistic. Mostly a breasting stick to get them to drop that front foot where I want it. with that all said I've caught my share of belly fur too:) I can afford bigger and better now but still would use them without hesitation. Good luck and have fun.

I've got my 2 biggest beavers (55# and 52#) in Bridger #3 4 coiled OS by the front foot and not a drowning set either. Both were sitting high and dry on the bank when I got there.

I don't think beavers are a trap fighter like yotes are.

A # 3 Duke offset Is a whole different animal then a #3 Bridger 4 coiled OS. Both the Duke #2s and the #3s have a wide gap as an offset.

If the beaver Is toe caught It's going to be gone.
If your going to use them target a front foot and get that beaver walking. No more then a inch or 2 of water over the trap. I will even build a earthen dam or lay a large stepping stick in front of the trap I want that beaver walking and not sliding along on It's belly.

And set up the pan tension so you get that beaver fully committed before that trap springs.