I wanted to get some TS-85 traps but I learned they were not legal in NYS:

"During beaver or otter season, foothold traps up to 7 1/4 inches are allowed if set under water."

My question is: Is there a legitimate reason for this? Meaning a conservation reason or an ethical reason for not using them for beaver, during beaver-trapping-season?

Not knowing but id guess the law was written at a time when #4’s were the largest common trap. I don’t know what B&L 44’s are but #4 jumps are around 7 1/4. We had our jaw nomenclature changed here to reflect the newer traps. Our land law used to say #2 or smaller.

I think jaw size rules mostly come from an ignorant fear of traps as bone breaking, finger chopping death machines. Short of using an actual bear trap, I can't see any good reason for jaw size limits.

Can the TS 85 be inside laminated to make it legal?

Not down to 7 1/4.

That would be a half inch of lamination on each side. Would really need to 4 coil em if that was a legal thing to do

TS-85 inside jaws 8 1/8
Legal NY inside 7 1/4
That's 7/8" difference

That's 7/16" lam on both inside jaws.

It can be done but like sniper says you'll probably have to 4 coil

This is how I used mine in NYS

Because they are weak from the factory or because of the lamination?

Lots of complaints about empty traps in prior posts

They arent weak really, other than by comparison, but that much lamination is going to really slow the trap down. If you did get a toe catch youll probably lose it either way.

Blake & Lamb #44 Long springs are 7 1/2 " inches
and must have inside laminations to both jaws to
reduce the inside jaw spread to 7 1/4" inches
in order to be New York legal.

I have a dozen of them so modified
and they are my go to foothold
long spring in New York State for beaver.

They are also based plated, center swiveled,
with up graded heavy #3 twist-loop chain &
3 in-line MB-crunch proof swivels, Pit Pans,
and night latched heavy duty dogs.

They work very nicely for beaver.

walleyed

Thanks everyone.

My question still remains of what possible legitimate reason would exist for this law. A few have suggested that irrational fears or outdated laws were the reason.

I just wanted to make sure there wasn't some conservation (ergo Legitimate (Ethical or Moral)) reason why we shouldn't use the TS-85.

That said, I won't plan to buy any which is annoying.

Same in Illinois the people that make the rules here don’t know a 850 from a mouse trap that’s the problem and I feel they slide this garbage in the rules just for ticket writing purposes

Neat thanks. I'll look for some.

Neat thanks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSUOaQo2r8c

You'd still need to modify the CDR stock 7 1/2" inch
jaw spread with inside jaw laminations to get the jaw
spread down to 7 1/4" inches in order to be New York legal.

w

Does padded jaw meet the requirements?

To start with, why a TS-85? Get some NO-BS beaver traps and press on. Bigger isn't always better.