For the guys who have trapped both, are western coyotes as wild and feisty as the eastern, or are they less brutal on gear? Thanks.

Some of it depends on the country. If you have rocky soil your traps get beat up more. If all you have is rocks your traps get beat up a lot. Plus there is not near the water out west so your traps can last longer because as a rule they do not rust like they do here. There are big coyotes all over. As a rule the westerns are smaller but here in Illinois you and I will get a little of everything from a 21 lb small silky to a 50 lb super dog.

Coyotes in the west are true coyotes and are small compared to yous and alot of others.
They kill the same

Was curious whether the old square jaw victor 2s would hold a western.

#2 Victor's are not a good coyote trap anywhere imho.

to easy to bend the baseplate and pop the jaws out.greatest mink and rat trap ever to some though-me included.

100% agree with pcr2 a coyote western or eastern will reek havoc on a old #2 square jaw vic. When I was younger I tried to beef some up a little for red fox first coyote taught me a very well needed lesson.

watched a big bobble cat rock back and heard a "pink".cat just walked off like nothing happened.was before we had cat seasons so it was a good learning lesson at no cost.

Figured as much, but I'm curious and bored. Working too many hours at the new job, might get to do 1 or 2 ride alongs this season, otherwise I'm probably not going to trap this time.

I agree #2 victor ls is not a good choice for coyotes. having said that though about 40 years ago I had some bobcat sets made with them. I was still living in Colorado. my go to in fact my only bobcat set was to hang a rabbit about four feet off the ground and bed a trap under it. a fence of brush and cactus on each side of the trap with some urine on one side. lion stepped on one of those 2's. was tied off on the exposed root of some oak brush. root broke stead of the trap. put dogs on that cat next morning. great big tom. trap was still on the outside two toe pads. I have no doubt if that root had held the trap would have come apart. but it didn't. and that trap stayed on that cat. it was only 3-4 miles from where it got caught when those dogs bayed it up.

I have held bobcats in them. I also only use them now on drowners for coon. those long springs stabilize the trap in gravel or mud. on drowners. not dryland.

I still use longspring victors at times cause of the way they bed for coyotes and cats but only 3's and 4's now. in wy where snow can be a problem I use 5's cause they are a bit taller and reach up through snow better.

They make an excellent mink and muskrat trap...

Coyotes east or west have an innate ability to detect weakness with their jaws. If it bends when they crunch down the keep working on the weak point until it fails.. As far as trap retention is concerned the only difference is Eastern yotes average 5-7 pounds heavier over all.

I’ve had coyotes do some pretty crazy stuff to even “proper” coyote traps. Some individuals are real fighters that just never quit.

Had one pop three of the four spring arms off the levers. Was just plain luck he was still there.

Once they think they’ve found a weakness they attack it.

often amazed at the teeth marks they leave in steel.also,to watch one use leverage to pump a stake is another mind number.

What has always amazed me is they have very little tooth damage. Tough buggers for sure, east or west. We can all thank the coyote for the great traps we have today.

First coyote I ever caught was in a victor #2 rd jaws Not square jaw. The coyote was solid black. I just went to rebar. I only used 1 stake very young. He pulled the stake make it to the backed up water. He tried to swim it got caught in in the weeds in water and drowned. Last time I ever used 1 stake. I was using a dirt hole and mackerel. Luck!!!!
The square jaw #2 makes a good mink or muskrat traps.