I bought four Victor 330's last year to try my hand at beaver trapping. I see Duke 330's on sale. Price is inviting. Any real difference anyone see's between the two when using? Pro's vs Con's. Thanks.

i know some people say the bars on the dukes will bend after a catch due to the impact of the bar hitting the backbone. i had this problem with a duke 160 and a coon.

I've got a couple of dukes and they're slightly bent. Granted I'm no big time beaver trapper, I've caught 7 in my whole life, but after those seven beavers, both of my 330s are bent about a 1/4-3/8 inch. It's enough to obviously see.

I 've caught 1000s of beaver In Duke 330s they will kill beaver just fine.

The Duke is not a 10" x 10" trap, it is a little shorter than that set. That being said, I use them right along with every thing else.

I know mine aren't square, but they fit my stands just fine. I assume they're something like 9"tall by 10" wide.

I have several brands, and I have had good luck with the Dukes. If I am setting for otter I really like them. They are easier to hide in shallow runs.

Thanks everyone. They are advertised as a 10" x 9" trap. I only caught 1 beaver and 2 otter last year, but only had the 4 Victors to use. The canal I'm trapping has state reg's only allowing a 10"x10" for body grip size. Footholds 4-1/2" inside or less. Under water. Not a beaver trap. Can't even use a dog roof for coons, and them bandits are everywhere.

dukes for me

Make that 10 beaver and 2 otter last year. Typing too fast.

I have killed plenty of beaver and otter in Duke 330s. Just a few days ago I had a beaver by the back foot in a Duke. They work just fine.

FnT got em on that special. Get em while the gettin is good. I have some bent Dukes and some that have yet to bend. I say go with it they eat beaver just fine IMO.

3togo are you on some special hunt unit or something ?

Golf ball, It's the Hennipen Canal. State owned. Bike path on one side, mowed "horse trail" on the other. Only access by foot. PITA. Loaded with coyotes, otter, and beaver. Runs about 60 miles east-west. Ends down by Moline.

I bet the 10 inch regulation is a maximum size, and the Dukes are probably ok.

3 togo steve is rite our state land has the same coni law no bigger than 10x10 dukes will pass so will all 280s. That 4.5 jaw spread law is crazy! all I can say is better be in deep water with a good drowner or your gonna find lots of toes! With that horse trail maybe horse and buggy would be the easy way to set and carry equipment! pic your poison amish or jaun valdez. Either or would beat carring out a couple 50lbers

if you use setters the dukes will work. The way the welds are and the way the traps is made makes setting by hand smoother and the spring rings less likely to catch on the welds in the victors when setting by hand. Victor is just a better trap.

victors have the 4 way trigger

The last Victor 330s I bought needed springs right out of the box. I like the true 10x10 but that's about it. There are areas (shallow water) where I do prefer the more squad Dukes so always have a few on hand. And the springs have stayed strong over the years.

If I was going to buy new 330s right now, I'd buy the Bridgers, personally. But if you're a hand setter, you might now like the smaller eyes. I used tongs so not an issue, for me.

Thanks again. I ordered a dozen. I have an RTS setter and the long, steel F&T setter. No horse here Tony. I use a pack frame for hauling in traps and critters back out. I try to stay no more than 1/4" mile from a parking location. The 10" x 10" may be max, but if you measure a Victor and want to be nit picky they are slightly larger. I believe the Duke will be ok. And the price is good. Heck you only need 3 beaver to pay for one!!!!!

Hey Calvin 1" smaller may make a difference In some situations but not In a 330. LOL

I honestly think dukes are the way to go in a area that might see some theft! They can say what they like but. I got several 20 year old conis and by far the duke springs are considrabley stronger than the vics

I got dukes that have been used for several years in great shape. I put them up with the springs set for about 7 years and pulled them out 2 weeks ago slapped them in some dams and stacked up some meat. Not a duke fan when it comes to footholds but i like the 330's. I can only speak on 330's because thats the only body grippers I use.

Any of you folks painting your 330's?
Can I wipe them off with acetone, dry, and spray with Rustoleum primer?
I cleaned my Victors last year and brush coated with FMJ. Worked ok for a while.

I speed dip mine every 3 or 4 years. I don't go all hog wild with dipping.

It's more like 1 1/2", and it can make a difference between a ticket and not if you get the wrong conservation officer and they half to be at least 1/2 submerged. It's hard to predict sometimes how much the water will drop in the spring by the time it's time to check traps again. Other than that, Duke springs are really strong.

I have only caught upwards of 50 beaver all in Dukes. Would maybe change to a victor 4 way trigger though in the future.

If the trap Is used completely under water just spread the triggers. No beaver Is going to get through that trap with stock triggers.
When partially submerged just bend the triggers to from a T same thing Is going to happen one dead beaver. Never saw the need for a 4 way trigger.

I let mine get a little surface rust and then spray paint with rustoluem camo paint. This year I also dipped in FMJ and they have held up well.

Yes, Goldy...as you stated (and what I meant to say), the more squat Dukes are nice for those marginal water depth areas where the half submerged law we have here can be of concern. I should have been more clear.

best thing I found toe set 330's with is a rope. Light and compact. I'm running Dukes and Belisle.

Really?

I trapped several beaver ( including one at 40lbs) this year with no problems at all in Duke 330's. However, after buying a few Belisle, I like the fact that they close tighter.

Regulations specify "in the water". In the canal, along the banks it's usually about 1/2 to 3/4" submerged for bait, crossover, or castor mound sets. If I'm in a drainage ditch it could be about the same or more depending on water depth. I re-read the regulations, the Dukes will be ok. Reads 10" jaw spread. On this specific property they don't want 220's or 280's set for beaver/otter.
Beav, I'll be sticking with my RTS setter.

They aren't 10x10, but they will hold two otter at once and they close tight enough to hold a beaver by the tail.

[quoteThey aren't 10x10, but they will hold two otter at once and they close tight enough to hold a beaver by the tail.
][/quote]

It takes an awfully good beaver trapper to catch them by the tail no matter what brand used. Especially using an economy brand such as a Duke.

Kirk, I wish I could claim skill, but it was dumb luck. I saw a demo on how to make a dam break set with a body griper. I guess he backed into the trap while trying to fix the hole.

The reason duke bend is the supper strong springs way stonger than victor or bridger i prefer belisle myself but have the other brands for high theft spots

Long ago lost count how many beaver I caught in Duke 330's plus many otter.

Duke 330's SUCK BIG TIME!!!!! If you want to get rid of them PM me for my address and you can send them to me and I will dispose of them for you at no cost whatsoever!!!

I'd take look at BMI's before id shell out my money !

I have a pile of 330s in about 5 different makes, some are museum pieces, and I can make any of them work. No matter what, you have to go through your 330s and maintanence them every year, no matter what brand they are.

Not if you want strong springs. Unless things have changed recently, the ones I bought a couple years ago were the weakest springs I 've ever seen on new 330 traps. They were exactly the same strength, verified on a scale, as the Pioneers I have that I bought in 1980 and used for over 30 years. I could set them on my knee, while sitting in a chair, without hardly bending my back. Try that with any other 330. I sent them back. They were literally half as strong as new Dukes and Belisles on a scale.

Thanks for the tip Goldy.

I use Duke and Bridger 330s. Thousands of beavers later, not one complained about being killed in an economical trap. Dead beavers aren't snob beavers, they're just dead.

you got any dukes with good jaws still on em by any chance?don't need them to set or anything just need the jaws kinda straight

Just head down the road and buy them At Dukes Office In MS. Just tell them the beav sent you.

You straighten duke jaws the same as victor,belisle ,or bridger .you put a hand on each corner place the convex side of jaw on your knee and pull until straight then repeat on the rest of jaws until all are straight. I takes all of thirty seconds.

You must have gotten some bad ones. Sounds like they treated you right if they took them back. I have Bridgers,BMI's, and Duke's and the Bmi's are the strongest , then duke's, follow up by Bridgers. For the same price and a 10x10 , Plus Made in the USA, my money goes to BMI's