In Mr. Hershbergers book he tells how he began modifying #3 square jaw Victors for cats. This was in the early eighties before the premium footholds we have now were made. I’ve been tinkering with some lately trying to make a good cat trap out of them. Got a good deal on a couple dozen but I’d been better off getting more newer ones I believe. The jaws are pretty thin and need lamination. There was no mention of this in Mr. Hershbergers book. A good book I might add. The reason I’m fooling with them is nostalgia, same as the 3n’s I like so well. Anyway, was wondering if any of you currently use the old Victors for cats and if they are suitable in your opinion. I may have asked this question before. My memory ain’t what it used to be. Thanks.

I still use a lot of square jaw #3,s. Course they don't perform like the original ones that came out of the box. They and sterlings are my go to yote trap. I got a lot of work in each one, and did it at stages from when I bought them in the late seventys up to about twenty years ago. They are also a dogless trap. No need for new traps, I've got these like I want them!

A lot of the material you find today for modifying traps wasn't widely available then,if 4-coil kits were around before the early 80's I sure never heard of them,I know I never heard of laminating traps in the '70's,the thought was there with some of the old timers and some of them did tinker with it but it wasn't until.The '80's and '90's that these kits were widely available.All my longsprings are modified for predators,that is their center swiveled ,offset and laminated.It really made a difference in foot damage,compared to the thin stock jaws that came from the factory.And I should have added,yes,I still have some the old No.3Victor coils from the 70's.Mine are modified with jaws laminations and really like them,wish I had more of them.

Lee you’re in the book too. You must have known him personally. This book is like Mr. Lucero’s coyote book. Not real big but right on with pertinent information still for today.

Jc conner thought very highly of mel hershbergers skills as a trapper and in conners dirthole video, conner uses a #3 victor Square jaw. And briefly explains how he modded the #3 victor as jaw.

I got to know Mel at the NTA in Rutland Vt. A very nice and humble gentleman that I immediately liked and visited repeatedly during the convention. My fasination with Mel wasn't about catching bobcats, most people can catch them! Mine was the fact that he had several full grown cats as pets, and we talked a lot about them and what they taught him about their habits. He died just a year or two after that, and never had the good fortune of seeing him eye to eye again. He was going to Arizona trapping cats when most were just catching their first ones around home, and hadn't thought of going anywhere! I miss him!

Best bobcat book I have read. I will say I think a trapper with a little experience will benefit more from it than someone just starting out, but the info is solid and well laid out. His bait will take any predator in North America. I have a bait I make that I based off his recipe but with a major twist. I also liked the pics of his house bobcats. In a previous job I got to work with captive bobcats, lynx and a cougar. The bobcat was a male and was tame but was a handful. He wouldn't really hurt you but he liked to play rough. The lynx was a female that was acquired when super young and was bottle raised. She was a lap cat. She had to be near you, on you, or you had to be petting her. I am sure they are not all like that - we had another that was confiscated by FW and she was like a demon. That cat wanted to kill you. Same with the cougar - he was a big, like 125lbs or better and his idea of interacting with you was to try and kill you. After being around that cougar I quickly figured out that if one was stalking you and you didn't see it coming it would be game over for you. I don't think most people realize just how much power a cougar has, their speed, or how scary quite that big critter can move.

Lee,
You are dating yourself, I was about 7-8 years old when the NTA held the rendezvous in Rutland, Vt... I bet there isn't 500 trappers in the state anymore.

Yes ST, prolly so, but I plan to pester yallz for quite a spell yet, and if I don't, so be it! I'm good with whatever works!

There prolly ain't 500 trappers left in Ks, at least till the prices go up. Most won't justify their time for wildlife managment!

Having visited with Mel at his home in Phoenix one time, I have to say he was a true gentleman and a devout Christian. He was perfectly willing to help but I already had his book and therefore I respectfully asked very few trapping questions.

I had a many a conversation with Mel, who I was introduced to by J.C.(Jim) Conner.
I hired Jim to, if my memory serves me right, modify some 700 coil spring traps, mostly 3's and 4's much like they were doing back then.
This was when he did modifying of traps for hire, pre Jake trap.
All had laminated /off-set jaws, 4 coiled. base plated / with D ring and a double swivel at the base, extra double swivels with #2 kinkless chain and modified trap dog, unless it was a dogless trap. While I have sold many of them, I still do have several hundred that still hold animals like they did 30 plus years ago.
When Mel died, I bought most of all the glands, beaver castor and lure he had made from his son Lavern, save that one quart of muskrat glands that Jim beat me to the punch.
I can still remember him smiling as he walked past my booth...

Also, if my memory serves me right, same year that Charlie Dobbins, was inducted into the NTA hall of fame.
I was the 2nd person to shake his hand and congratulate him.
Who was the first? Why J.C. Conner of course !

Midland , Michigan 1995

Good ol Mel, they don't make them like that anymore, met him in '84 at the NTA in Tn. He was selling bobcat paw key chains, still have what's left of it around here somewhere. Excellent cat book as well. Him and JC partnered i later learned, seem's the 'greats' somehow migrate toward one another, kindred spirits i guess but what a pile of GREAT trappers there were back then, miss those days.

Hi J hope all is good with you Donnie and Shelly.
Never had the chance to shake his hand, just heard JC talk about him being a top notch trapper and good man...and that’s good enough for me. Read his book and saw where he was an innovator. Copied his stake and saw the advantage of extra swivels. Wonder what him and other good trappers that have passed think as they look down at us now?

Mike, they are prolly glad they are where they are, as crazy as this country is getting!

No doubt Lee...sickening to see these anti USA nut bags.

I think I bought a bunch of 550 Helfrich traps in Mansfield Ohio 20 years ago or so with his name tags on them? If it wasnt him, it was some other well known trapper from the southwest. I kept the tags when I put mine on but havent seen them laying around anywhere lately- dont know where they are now?

Nope, I was wrong....just remebered.the traps I bought back then had James Luceros tags on them.