A trap is born.

This is a Todd Strohecker (CoonDuke) designed trap. Made by Gary Haupt (hammer).
Dubbed 'The Pennsylvania Trap'.

Gary uses a #5 Bridger with an 8 1/2" jaw spread. He removes jaws, cuts down jaws for 6 1/2" to achieve legal jaw spread in Pennsylvania. Doing this, keeping the extra width, lever to lever plus and keeping the huge pan.
Todd's design & Gary's reshaping makes this an excellent Beaver trap with added jaw spread & large pan.

Left--- original #5 Bridger
Right- HMR Bridger #5 aka The Pennsylvania Trap






Gary & County Cletus tested this trap the past season with good results.
They will be available at PTA Rendezvous in June at Gary's booth.
Thanks to Todd & Gary for giving Pa. folks another trap size option.

Here's a video Todd sent me-

So both dog on and dogless ?

Great traps. too bad I don't have the opportunity to do a test.

Yes
Standard jaws or offset jaws

Our warden would measure it axel to axel and it would be too wide. My opinion is not legal for Pa. I’d have to get it approved in Harrisburg first

Show side to side measurement please

I’ve seen where jaw spread was left to the wardens discretion. I’d have to hear from to top before I’d use them

I always wondered why someone didn't make a trap similar to a #4 Blake and Lamb dbl under spring that's has similar dimensions.

Hope they do well with it!

Had a argument with the wardens in the Pa game commission camper at the Clearfield rosy a few years ago. I presented a off set duke #4 with the pressed offset. Both measured and both had a different opinion. One measured inside jaw to jaw. The other measured outside jaw to jaw. With the outside pressed offset it was not legal. Tip to tip or across the pan, outside measurement cannot exceed 6.5 inches. They agreed finally after a call to Harrisburg. I’m Leary of your new design.

No dis to Wardens but if I was asking approval,
I'd ask the Magistrate or Judge, or Lawyer.
Someone will be along with the written law.

Way to go guys, good luck.

:

Kev you spelled excel wrong

Been busted by GP so many times I just had to lol.

Exceed. I got it right. Or is it wright? Lmao

Why can’t you guys use beaver traps up there? Is it that the law has never been upgraded to reflect the newer beaver traps that are not named #4? I’m assuming that since your jaw spread limit aligns with that.

Thought you meant axil
said the gear head, that now rides a,,,,never mind lol..

Nice looking trap, but how much are we talking on the price?

I'll be that guy.

The written law, at least what I can find is vague, intentionally vague like a lot of our Game Code if you want my opinion.

Pennsylvania Statutes Title 34 Pa.C.S.A. Game § 2361.

Unlawful acts concerning taking of furbearers

(a) General prohibitions.--Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person to:

(8) Use a pole trap, deadfall, poison, explosive, chemical, leg-hold trap with teeth on the jaws or with a jaw spread exceeding six and one-half inches or any device prohibited by regulation of the commission.

No mention that I can find on how that trap is to be measured. So I take it to mean not exceeding 6.5" outside to outside of the jaws on any axis. Keep it completely under 6.5" and you have taken any arbitrary discretion away from the warden.

If your warden measures frame post to frame post that’s not the legal measurement. If so then every bridger number 3 is illegal and very well used trap in pa.

I agree .you measure across the pan. not lever to lever.