As a general rule great advice. You can never go wrong buying quality tools. They function better and hold up over time.

Now that said with experience you can learn to make use of lesser, read less out of pocket, equipment if the situation dictates due to potential loss or damage.

I welded the J-hooks shut and put little bubble welds on the jaw tips. I think bending them jaw tips up would have sufficed but I had the welder out anyway. I lost one coyote to a J-hook coming open, reason I welded them shut. I'm not sure if the coyote opened it or if I had opened it by pulling the trap by the chain at a previous location, but regardless I didn't want it happening again.



I'm not advocating using them as the best option or anything, but it can be done if they are all you got and can't afford or just don't want to buy others.

Forgot to add, the dogs got bent nearly every catch but I carry a small pair of pliers and straighten then back out in a couple seconds. Seriously no big deal but you should be prepared for it if you try them. No trouble with the frames or jaws bending.

Thanks adc, I happen to have a welder and there's some dukes hanging in the shed that aren't doing anything right now might have to go wake em up.

One thing's for sure they will never catch and hold a coyote while they are hanging in the shed.

And again I'm not saying they are the best option for that purpose,,, but you'd be surprised by what they will hold. I know guys who use them a lot for coons in the water that have held a LOT of incidental BIG beavers and otters in them as well as the occasional coyote.

As the old saying goes. By once. Cry once. BUT on the other hand. We caught 1000s of coyotes in the late 80s and early 90s before the internet told us = You cant catch coyotes in. 1 & 1/2 size traps !! LoL! BUT also. You cant catch coyotes with no traps in the ground

Yep. I'd hate for someone, with the time and desire to set more traps for coyotes, to leave their 1 1/2's hanging in the shed because they can't afford to buy more traps and the guys on the internet said they won't catch and hold any coyotes.

ADC. When the coyote first arrived in the south in the late 80 s. We had nothing else. Fox traps. Where modified. To be coyote traps. The small. BMI K9 Wolfer 4 coil was a 5 inch spread trap trap. But caught coyotes like crazy in the early 90s. Heck. 1 year ago. I was still using them in Alabama to catch coyotes. True it was more of = nostalgia = fun = old memories type thing. Or digging a small hole thing. But small traps work. Just. Foot placement must be kore precise

I’ve caught quite a few coyotes and bobcats in the MB450’s which is basically a 1.5. And every single one was set for coons and had full pad catches.

This is true, caught an aweful lot of coon and fox in #1 victors back in the day, loved those things.

My son caught his very first coyote in a stock duke 1.5, so yeah it can be done. If you have the money, buy the 550s though. It’s worth it in the long run. If cash is real tight, buy the 1.5s and use you fur check next spring to upgrade.

I’ve tried many, many different sizes and styles of traps, and I’ll tell you one thing is for sure, I’ve NEVER regretting shelling out a chunk of money for high quality traps.

If you can swing MB 550's do it,if not try the Duke 550 not as well built but cheaper I don't know how the Duke will be 5 year's down the road as I think they have only been out for 4 years,cheaper swivels and chain for sure don't know about the springs and metal.Buy the best you can afford,it only hurts once!Good luck this fall,practice making set's hole sets,flat sets and bed the trap really good,scout locations and find the best location's.You'll probably want to make up some waxed dirt/sand mixture.