What is everybody’s favorite for every day normal trapping conditions for coyotes and please explain why thank you .

I run standard (550’s) because almost any wire lever trap I’ve seen is more expensive than I want to pay for my recreational trapping.

Wire comes through mud and half froze conditions so much faster than levers

I’ve never used traps with the wire lever setup. I would think what dc replied would be true. My concern is that coyotes could damage them? I am wondering if there’s a spring/wire lever conversion available for #3 Bridgers?

I have never seen that. Spring steel is pretty tough.

If they can take full grown men jumping up and down on them trying to set them, a coyote isn't.

Sudden Valley use to sell the conversion but don't know what they are doing now.

I’ve converted a couple traps over to wire lever for something fun to do and can personally say a coyote can’t hurt them wire levers. It takes a vice and a lot of butt behind it to even bend them in or tweak them to work with another trap. Use to run a lot of 650s and some sterlings never had a coyote bend or deform a wire lever. Now if trap gets ran over well nine out of ten times about renders even steel lever useless. But had a no bs jr wire lever ran over and it still set and functioned like out of the box but could have been the way it was ran over.

Wire levers are great, but the only problem I have with them is being stuck with 4 coils. My catch is close to 50/50 gray fox and coyotes. No crazy cold temps here in NC. 2 coils are plenty for my trapping. That's the only reason all of my traps aren't wire lever

I use mostly MB 550 2 coil offset and a few of the no bull jrs , was just wanting to play around with something new and maybe order some of the wire lever juniors,, here in Virginia we’re starting to get quite a few coyotes so was just wondering if there’s a big enough advantage as far as bedding goes and things like that over regular levers thanks to all for your replies.

I've never used a trap with wire levers but modifying Bridger No.3s to wire levers is something Id like to tryout.

Jason dufrense used to make a wire lever conversion for popular coils such as the #2 and #3 bridgers but he is no longer in business. I'm not aware of anyone making those conversions now but there could be someone

I use MB 650 IL/OL almost exclusively for coyotes here in Wisconsin, never had an issue with coyotes destroying springs. I'm interested in looking at the No BS Extremes IL/OL w/wires to compare ... like the idea of a dogless designed trap.




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Yes they seem very interesting to me also and I am also curious how many people have tried them and like them?

It’s pretty obvious that lever damage is a non issue! So how about lever lock up? Is there any jaw movement when wire levers are locked up? It seems like there could be, but probably not enough to matter? It could be the wire levers actually get higher on the jaws?

I have the no BS wire levers here's my take, the mb 550 much easier trap to bed ,smaller lays flatter. Now if you want a more powerful trap, a little bigger has the nice coating the Jr is a fine trap.

That’s exactly what I was looking for ......everything from bobcat , fox an Coyote has been held just fine with the MB 550 thanks for your response .

If the traps were equal and cost the same, I'd pick wire levers. If I had to pay extra, then the metal levers it is. If I were making traps I'd use wire levers, they have to be cheaper to build, yet a desirable option, imo.

Thanks again to everybody for there replies ..I’m going to stick with the MB 550s they bed great lay flat and hold every Fox, Coyote an Bobcat that steps on the pan.

I like my 550s. Bridger 2 dogless do bed a little easier and are a bit larger jaw spread and the pan is bigger. But I like the wide 550 Jaws.

Both are good traps but the Bridger is cheaper if you in a theft prown area