Hey guys, I’m looking to invest in some beaver traps for high theft areas, and I know that these are usually sold pretty cheap. Do they make good beaver traps? What is the jaw spread? Pros and cons? Thanks!!

Contrary to advice I have received in the past I think they work great...front or back foot. Never had a trap snapped that didn’t have a critter in it.

X2

A lot of the 3 and 4 vic dls have been around for a while.
If the springs are strong they are a good beaver trap.Pass on the ones with weak springs.

That’s my go to beaver trap not enough beaver here to blow the big bucks on the bigger traps, a LOT of beaver have been caught in #4s over the years.

A vic 4 long with good strong springs is a beaver catching machine.
Jim

don't quote me on this, but I think the jaw spread is 6 inches.

Number 4 Blake and Lambs. Stay strong way longer than Vics.

Great traps and not just for beaver.

Not a Victor, but yes...6". My eldest Son and I took #4 DLS to Wyoming and did well on beaver on the upper Green above Pinedale.

Danvee, I picked up a couple dozen #4 vics that had huge custom pans on them and the old guy said he had been trapping lynx with them. I have not tried this yet but plan to. That said..my first year trapping up here I caught a lynx in a #3 vic. Good connection too.

Victor #4 long springs have a jaw spread of 5 3/4". If you are setting a few traps each year to catch a few beavers each year they CAN be used. If you are planning on doing any serious beaver trapping you want a larger (more expensive) trap. If you do decide to go with the #4 victors I would recommend targeting front foot catches only. While you CAN make rear foot catches, a beaver's back foot is large enough to span the jaws on these traps, set the trap off, and have their foot thrown from the trap. Doesn't happen a lot, not even often, but enough to justify larger traps if you intend to trap a lot of beaver now or in the future.

Classify “serious”. I have ts 85, Bridger and duke #5 and mb 750....what I have the most of is #4 victors...there for I set them the most aside from 280 330 and snares. I’d say aside from snare and 330 they have been my hardest hitting trap when it come to beaver and for that matter nutria.
I have to note I moved from Oregon almost 5 years ago...this statement applys to my time down there. Since I’ve been up north I haven’t done much beaver trapping and used snare and 330 almost exclusively.

Serious - Well, Ave is from Ohio, while we have a few beavers in this state and some trappers make impressive catches here, a lot of trappers are out there for a weekend or two and catch half a dozen to a dozen beavers and then they are done; especially at today's prices. If Ave is a young man, planning on trapping for a lot of years, maybe out of State too, and looking at trapping hard for a few weeks, or longer, each year I think he would be best served to buy larger traps that, in my opinion, are better all around beaver traps. I used to use mostly #4 longsprings and a few #4 undersprings, but then moved on to larger footholds (CDRs in my case) More expensive, yes. But I believe worth the additional costs.

Valid point. I have to admit I am an impulsive trap buyer and snag deals when I see them...so I have a wide variety. Guess when I think numbers I think how many traps I can get out.. and the fours have served me well.

What makes you think he doesnt already have the nicer more expensive traps? He specifically mentioned cheaper traps for high theft areas... leads me to believe he doesnt want his nicer stuff taken.

Ave, I find used victor #4 longs and used bridger #5 coils for pretty much the same price. For beaver id say the #5s are a good bit better. The wildcard though... with Ohio's regs the #4 victors become legal for coyotes with the addition of an outside lamination and a swivel or two.

Work better set for a front foot catch. Just make sure there is nothing to tangle up on so as to avoid a ring off.

Consider snares on a drowner in high theft areas.

but if he wants to go into nearby beaver ridden pa he can only have a 6 1/2 max jawspread.

and blake not victor but i can recently vouch for the holding power of the 4 long.hurts till ya can get a foot on a spring and long before ya hit the end of the chain.

top to bottom: #4 and #3 sleepy creek, #4 bridger, #3 victor.
#4 vic is same jaw spread as a bridger