For those of you that have done some experimenting over the years:

If you had to chose just one brand, style, and size of trap to use for canines...what would it be? And...why? For sake of simplicity, and cost effectiveness, let's leave out Sterlings. They may very well be the best out there, but they are out of reach for too many trappers.

All conditions that could be experienced, should be taken into consideration...soil conditions, and weather conditions, from the southern United States all the way to the norther tier. I hope the guys from Canada will chime in, too.

I'll go first. I have used SVS, Monty Dogless, MB 550, Bridger Full Mod #2 and #3 Dogless, Victor K9 Pro, and recently K9 Extreme K9 Jr.'s. They are all excellent traps, and have their good points...and one or two bad points (in my opinion...or something that I-personally-don't like). Since I have both fox AND coyotes on my line, I like a #2 (or thereabouts) sized trap.

I tweak and tune every canine trap that I ever buy...whether it it necessary or not. So, ease of tuning...and the consistent result, is important to me. So, right now, for me, I'm really liking the K9 Jr.'s.

I have to say two...Bridger dogless in size 2 and Pro 550. Due to their being solidly built and have good jaw spread

Best coyote and bobcat traps would be Mr,Sterling's MJ 600's i'm lucky enough to have 5 dozen,fox/coyote tuff to beat the MB 550's I use a fair amount of the Bridger #3 dogless for coyotes and bobcats,i know the Victor Monty is also a excellent trap for coyotes I just dont have any,Jake traps are also a very good coyote/bobcat trap.

Been using mb 650’s since the first time I tried them, awesome coyote trap !

#3 and #4 Vic / Montgomery and Jake traps ...

I’ve used Duke, Victor, Bridger, all dog-on style coyote traps of various sizes. They are all ok but need a lot of tinkering, and tuning after most catches. I’ve also got 3 dozen mb 550, 3 dozen K9 extreme jrs, and this year I bought a dozen mb 650 cast jaws to try out.
People complain about the pan tension on the NO-BS traps, but I do ok catching coyotes in them, who wants to catch every miniature coon, skunk or possum anyway? I catch enough non targets as it is lol.

People complain that the 550 doesn’t have enough jaw spread,
but I catch and hold every coyote that has stepped on the pan.

People complain that there’s a dead spot on the 650, but in my limited use with them I’ve never showed up to a sprung empty trap. Although I am curious about the longevity of the trigger system on them.

To choose just one would be tough. When I started making the switch to higher end equipment I got the mb550, they are by far the easiest most bullet proof right out of the box, add a midchain swivel and a super stake and you’re good to go,

The jrs are also decent right out of the box, add midchain swivel, order welded on super stakes, rub a little wax on the trigger, tune a couple and you’re set.

The 650 took a little bit of tuning, then add the super stakes and swivels and good to go.

The jrs with wire screen are my go-to trap for pipe dream sets,
The 650’s have been used in mostly trail sets,
The 550’s mostly in trench style dirt holes

Jake trap 99% I’m trying some MB’s this year so I left 1%. I bought a dozen and a half. Seem like a great trap. I can’t wait to try them

Victor Montgomery #3 trap. But my favorite trap hasn’t been made yet. It would be a MB 550 style trap, but in a size #3.

Victor square jaw #2 coils ( my great grandfathers, still cracking yotes) and both Bridger #2 dogless OS and Bridger 1.75 nightlatch OS.

I've tried a pretty wide variety of traps over the years Bridger dogless/dog on, Jake's, Mj's, Coyote Cuffs, and of course the good old trusty duke's. I don't like anything bigger than a #2 here due to issues with coons which usually knocks me out of these conversations. I can't find a trap that beds with my style better than an MB550 I dislike the dead spot on the pan. This is the first year I have run the Extreme Jr's and I must say if they go bang there's something waiting for me. I'm not in the big trap club personally. More wax dirt, bigger beds, and more work at least in my territory. The MB550 and Extreme Jr's have worked flawlessly without any kind of in the field adjustments and will hold anything Nebraska has to offer. I'm pretty well content with a 50/50 run on these traps depending on what I am doing.

Mj 600 for usability,,, easy to bed catch what steps in them.
Victor 3&4 dogless for useabilty catches holds what steps in them,, good feet priced right but got tinker with them or on them.
But I got hope lol

The traps are getting so good, it's almost impossible to say one is better than the other. If Carlis made an SVS #3, with cast jaws...wow, that would be a fun one to work with. Or, a #2.

Al you will be hard pressed to out perform those jrs! There a bridger doglesses big brother on steroids Im a dogless guy thru and thru! Dogless traps enable me to trap without a toolshed in my rig. Only ever had one dogless fail me in the field. But its hard to hold a 4020 lol not even a tiny catch circle

I have a few montana round jaw #2s 4 coiled that are becoming real favorites of mine. I put pit step downs on them and man those are tenacious little traps. Nice rounded jaws, music wire springs, crisp pans, and not too much room under the jaws because like wade any coyote set we make around here could also yield a nice jumbo boar coon too and that makes me.steer clear also of anything larger than a #2.



I like bridger #2s also, and 1.75s. I run a lot of #2 longsprings on my coyote mixed bag line too. I have a lot of confidence in #2 longsprings and have used them for coyotes since 1980s but I do beef them up with booster springs to make them faster, center mounted welded kinkless chain and at least 3 swivel points. Still one of my all time favorite coyote traps.


Jim

The only thing I like better about the Jr.'s, over the Bridger full mod #2's...is the contact point between the pan and jaw, or...how the dogless dog hooks up.

I like the Bridger full mod #2's that much. I don't have a bad thing to say about the Bridger #2's and #3's that I have, and been using.


I had a ripper pull a #3 Bridger out of the ground this fall, and it was good as new when I got to it. Built like a tank, too.

Have loved the K9 jr traps from Kendall Obermeir (not sure spelling).

Had a hard time holding that Deere!!!???

New traps would be #4 bridger longspring

Modded victor #3 longsprings with #3 MB chain link chain and pit pans. Also I like how the victor/Montgomery #3 coils catch a coyotes foot.

I use mostly Bridger 1.75’s and 1.65’s. They hold everything I need them to. Have some Victor 1.75’s as well. No complaints. Prefer the 1.65’s but not sure why honestly.