Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: bigfoottrapper]
#7139669
01/16/21 12:11 PM
01/16/21 12:11 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,324 AK
FairbanksLS
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,324
AK
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More traps in the ground equals more catches. 2 dozen lower priced traps will catch more fur than a dozen higher priced traps. It doesn't take long to tune a couple of dozen traps and how to do that is readily available on this forum.
formerly posting as white dog
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Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: ]
#7139707
01/16/21 12:58 PM
01/16/21 12:58 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,919 Idaho Falls, ID
Grandpa Trapper
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,919
Idaho Falls, ID
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Good steel lasts. Cheap steel does not. How long do you plan to trap is your question that may help you at this point. I have MB550's I bought 11 or twelve years ago that are 100% good to go. Were they "cheap" or "expensive?"
I'd say, "well worth the price."
Quality lasts. X2 Excellent quality and not overly priced. I always have good paw catches with the MB 550.
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Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: bigfoottrapper]
#7139711
01/16/21 01:02 PM
01/16/21 01:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,834 Michigan
Michigander
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,834
Michigan
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More cheap traps will out catch fewer expensive traps every time. There is a limit to how cheap of a trap though. No weak spring rusted out flea market finds. New or lightly used Duke traps will be cheap and good enough to pile up the fur. Over time as your budget allows you can replace your stockpile with better quality.
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Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: dunit]
#7139758
01/16/21 01:49 PM
01/16/21 01:49 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
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I can buy a Doz New Duke #2 for less then a $100.00. And It's a well built trap and It has some super strong springs. What traps do you think I'm buying.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: The Beav]
#7139768
01/16/21 02:04 PM
01/16/21 02:04 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592 Northern Maine
Bruce T
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
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I can buy a Doz New Duke #2 for less then a $100.00. And It's a well built trap and It has some super strong springs. What traps do you think I'm buying. Duke
Nevada bound
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Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: bigfoottrapper]
#7139778
01/16/21 02:13 PM
01/16/21 02:13 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,666 Wisconsin
Green Bay
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,666
Wisconsin
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I would also echo what others are saying but add that I have found buying new is best for me. I started out with used traps - a whole bunch of styles and brands. Ended up fixing / replacing parts. Each one had to be set differently etc. For me, new traps allowed me to standardize which allowed me to keep my sets uniform which saved a lot of time. (On the other hand, I guess I did learn a ton by fixing traps that other people "modified" ).
Author of The Lure Hunter: A Guide to Finding Fishing Lures
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Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: bigfoottrapper]
#7139780
01/16/21 02:15 PM
01/16/21 02:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,236 West Michigan
Getting There
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,236
West Michigan
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Ask the guy that got the new Out-of-Site mole traps. You can buy a hack saw blade Harbor Fright or Low's and see how long they last. JMO
To Old U.S. Army 60-63 SGT.
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Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: bigfoottrapper]
#7139790
01/16/21 02:23 PM
01/16/21 02:23 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960 Northern Nevada
Bob
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
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I started with a handful of duke #2s. Over the years I’ve added some high quality traps a few at a time, now I have piles and piles of mb550s and highly modified Bridger #3s. Cheap traps will get you started, but they won’t last. They’ll get bent up and you can only bend them back so many times. These days it’s quality only for me. I’ve got modified double longsprings that are 40+ years old and still coyote catching machines. No way in heck a duke is gonna last 40 years with all its original parts. Or even any original parts.
"I have two guns, one for each of ya."
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Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: bigfoottrapper]
#7139794
01/16/21 02:26 PM
01/16/21 02:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592 Northern Maine
Bruce T
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
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I have had duke traps that lasted for years muskrat,mink,beaver,otter,marten,and fisher trapping.
Nevada bound
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Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: bigfoottrapper]
#7139796
01/16/21 02:27 PM
01/16/21 02:27 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10,404 Northeast Oklahoma
Mike in A-town
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10,404
Northeast Oklahoma
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It really boils down to what your laws allow and deciding what your time is worth...
In general, more traps set equals more fur caught. However...
A less expensive trap will likely require a little more investment on the front end to get it where you want it. But it may require some extra time during season too... A thin flimsy dog that requires straightening after every catch can be a killer if you're rushing a small line before work or checking 300 on a long line.
Inversely, more expensive traps, well... they cost more. So you're probably able to get fewer of them with the finances you have. But if they're "good to go right out of the box" you can spend more time catching fur which (in theory and during a good market) might mean more profit... Extra profit can be used to buy more of the quality traps.
Your target animal might make a difference too... Coyotes are notoriously tough on gear. A trap that has to be taken back to the shed for repair isn't catching coyotes.
What will your regs allow?
What is your target?
How much time can you allot for your line and meet your legal check requirements? (If you have check requirements)
Are you in area where theft may be a big concern?
There are so many variables that a guy could write a book on which trap to choose.
Mike
One man with a gun may control 100 others who have none.
Vladimir Lenin
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Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: Arkansas87]
#7140705
01/17/21 07:56 AM
01/17/21 07:56 AM
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 309 AR
bigfoottrapper
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 309
AR
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Just remember in arkansas we can only use a trap with 6 inch jaw spread or smaller on dry land. And any trap over 5 inches has to be offset or have rubber jaws.I use bridger #2 that I modify and mb 550's if that helps you with anything.they both have there pros and cons.Lot of other good traps out there tho. yes that does help, how do you modify the bridgers?
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Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: bigfoottrapper]
#7140714
01/17/21 08:03 AM
01/17/21 08:03 AM
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Mark June
Unregistered
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Mark June
Unregistered
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Some people like to work on traps. Some people prefer to work in the field.
Traps that need tending because they are lesser quality = more time at the bench = less time in the field. Time is money as they say.
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Re: TRAPS quality vs. quantity
[Re: FairbanksLS]
#7140719
01/17/21 08:11 AM
01/17/21 08:11 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 28,715 Eastern Shore of Maryland
HobbieTrapper
"Chippendale Trapper"
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"Chippendale Trapper"
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 28,715
Eastern Shore of Maryland
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More traps in the ground equals more catches. 2 dozen lower priced traps will catch more fur than a dozen higher priced traps. It doesn't take long to tune a couple of dozen traps and how to do that is readily available on this forum. Not to mention the tuning can be done while watching a favorite dvd or television show. I’m still using Duke 1.5s that I purchased almost 30 years ago. Take care of your gear regardless of what you paid for it.
-Goofy-
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