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Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping #7966763
10/08/23 02:33 AM
10/08/23 02:33 AM
Joined: Aug 2023
Ohio
R
REVOLT1488 Offline OP
trapper
REVOLT1488  Offline OP
trapper
R

Joined: Aug 2023
Ohio
Gonna share my experience with an offset jaw trap and my subsequent opinion, which is sure to get some people up in arms

Bought a duke #2 OS square jaw from rural king last year, which was a really solidly built trap felt good in the hand, added my usual 5 or so feet of #2 American chain to it and hit the woods, ended up setting it in a high bank trail along a creek as a blind set, chained off to a sapling.
Idk how long it sat before it had caught, but when I walked up on it, it was yanked from the trap bed and sitting in a small catch circle with nothing in it. This trail was way too thick and overgrown to be a deer trail, I would bet I had a coon or possum step in it, or mabey even a squirrel or something, but was able to pull right out because of the gap between them jaws.
The trap now serves a purpose as an weight on a setline I put out from time to time... and I will not own another offset jaw trap again. I'd imagine it would be great for coyote or fox or large coon, but for me, smaller game makes up the bulk of what I trap. In this fur market I have no reason to put out a huge line and tons of effort into putting up numbers of coyote, fox, large raccoon, etc. I run small strings trapping for meat to keep my grocery bill low. A small coon or possum, or a fat squirrel, or whatever I lost that day, would have made an excellent meal and had I used a regular jaw trap I probably would have had it. When your only running 10-15 sets and one hits but is sitting empty when you come around to check, it kinda sucks.
Lots of fellers talking about higher lockup more humane all that, idk my regular jaw traps hold what gets in em and rarely do I ever have damage done to a critter, this trap failed at its job. I don't do much catch and release fishing, I don't want to do much catch and release trapping either. Won't touch another offset jaw trap and I don't understand the appeal of em. You wouldn't crack your door and expect to keep things out, why have a gap in the jaws of a trap and expect to keep things in?

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7966765
10/08/23 02:52 AM
10/08/23 02:52 AM
Joined: Jan 2021
MO
D
Dstone1992 Offline
trapper
Dstone1992  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Jan 2021
MO
Use what works for you brother. The offset jaw is not causing you lost game.

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7966786
10/08/23 06:08 AM
10/08/23 06:08 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Philippines, s.e. asia,ohio
west river rogue Offline
trapper
west river rogue  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Philippines, s.e. asia,ohio
Not much luck holding a toe caught coon in an offset jaw trap. Tighten pan tension for higher catches. Do what u must.

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7966787
10/08/23 06:12 AM
10/08/23 06:12 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter Offline
trapper
Trap Setter  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2014
Eau Claire Wi
Sorry you had a bad experience, I like my os.


Life sure is tough when you don't learn from the mistakes of others.
Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7966812
10/08/23 07:32 AM
10/08/23 07:32 AM
Joined: Oct 2008
KY
L
learch Offline
trapper
learch  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Oct 2008
KY
Offset or not a two sized foothold is a lot of trap for a coon. Use the correct size hardware for your target critter and you should not have any problem.

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: learch] #7966817
10/08/23 07:36 AM
10/08/23 07:36 AM
Joined: Aug 2008
Saginaw, Mi
M
micheal Offline
trapper
micheal  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Aug 2008
Saginaw, Mi
To each his own

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: learch] #7966823
10/08/23 07:41 AM
10/08/23 07:41 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Midland, MI.
Seldom Offline
trapper
Seldom  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2007
Midland, MI.
Originally Posted by learch
Offset or not a two sized foothold is a lot of trap for a coon. Use the correct size hardware for your target critter and you should not have any problem.

This^^^^. Tapered legs and offset jaws are a formula for pullouts!


"A few want to know WHY, the majority appear to be satisfied just knowing HOW!"
Youtube Channel- SeldomFales
Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7966833
10/08/23 07:54 AM
10/08/23 07:54 AM
Joined: Jul 2022
Va
S
Spike369 Offline
trapper
Spike369  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Jul 2022
Va
Wow 1 trap, 1 miss and they are all no good. I've only been trapping for 1 year and had a few misses but never blamed the trap.

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7966847
10/08/23 08:16 AM
10/08/23 08:16 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
McCurtain Co. Oklahoma
O
OKforester Offline
trapper
OKforester  Offline
trapper
O

Joined: Aug 2014
McCurtain Co. Oklahoma
You got one thing right, you do need a different trap.

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7966858
10/08/23 08:42 AM
10/08/23 08:42 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Minnesota
I'm at a loss as to what to say because it will go right over the OP's head

You cannot use the wrong gear and blame the gear.

low fur prices are not what's preventing you from catching large numbers of anything


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7966863
10/08/23 08:52 AM
10/08/23 08:52 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
San Antonio , Texas
Y
Yotegiter Offline
trapper
Yotegiter  Offline
trapper
Y

Joined: Oct 2011
San Antonio , Texas
If it’s meat your after get some DPs

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7966877
10/08/23 09:21 AM
10/08/23 09:21 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Worthington, IN
S
Scott T Offline
trapper
Scott T  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Dec 2006
Worthington, IN
A 1.5 Duke is a good coon trap. I like to stake mine and keep them away from anything they can use for leverage.


Looks like he needs another year;-)
Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7966896
10/08/23 09:54 AM
10/08/23 09:54 AM
Joined: Jan 2017
Marion Kansas
Y
Yes sir Offline
trapper
Yes sir  Offline
trapper
Y

Joined: Jan 2017
Marion Kansas
Trap didn't fail, you just picked the wrong trap for your intended job. Duke #2 OS is not a small coon, possum, squirrel or rabbit trap

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: Yes sir] #7966899
10/08/23 09:59 AM
10/08/23 09:59 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Minnesota
Originally Posted by Yes sir
Trap didn't fail, you just picked the wrong trap for your intended job. Duke #2 OS is not a small coon, possum, squirrel or rabbit trap

Truth


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7966938
10/08/23 11:13 AM
10/08/23 11:13 AM
Joined: Jun 2008
el vado, nm
T
Tom Fisher Offline
trapper
Tom Fisher  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2008
el vado, nm
A long time ago I removed the pads from some #3 Soft Catch, welded a lamination on them, added a shock spring. I staked some and dragged some. The staked traps held Grey Fox,coons,cats and a couple porkys, the ones with the drags were wound up past the shock spring and empty. The offset is 5/16 on these traps, there is something else going on with your loses, if I was targeting coon, possums etc. my choice would be an 11.

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7967005
10/08/23 01:02 PM
10/08/23 01:02 PM
Joined: Feb 2023
South Louisiana
T
Trappeur Gunny Offline
trapper
Trappeur Gunny  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Feb 2023
South Louisiana
"Bought a duke #2 OS square jaw from rural king last year, which was a really solidly built trap felt good in the hand, added my usual 5 or so feet of #2 American chain to it and hit the woods, ended up setting it in a high bank trail along a creek as a blind set, chained off to a sapling."

That sentence says it all. #2 OS, 5 foot of #2 chain and chained to a sapling. You are lucky you found your trap.

Last edited by Trappeur Gunny; 10/08/23 01:03 PM.
Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: Yes sir] #7967082
10/08/23 04:10 PM
10/08/23 04:10 PM
Joined: Oct 2019
Custer Co, Idaho
S
sneaky Offline
trapper
sneaky  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Oct 2019
Custer Co, Idaho
Originally Posted by Yes sir
Trap didn't fail, you just picked the wrong trap for your intended job. Duke #2 OS is not a small coon, possum, squirrel or rabbit trap


Exactly. It's like setting a 330 for mink and wondering why they aren't working.


Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand
Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7967088
10/08/23 04:18 PM
10/08/23 04:18 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Tennessee
Scuba1 Offline
"color blind Kraut"
Scuba1  Offline
"color blind Kraut"

Joined: Jun 2007
Tennessee
Catch and release ..... is that not called the "Brandon set " ???


Let's go Brandon

"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7967094
10/08/23 04:26 PM
10/08/23 04:26 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
centrel PA
Kevin Colpetzer Offline
trapper
Kevin Colpetzer  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2008
centrel PA
My guess is you held a deer for a few seconds

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7967110
10/08/23 04:51 PM
10/08/23 04:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
S.W.Oregon
newhouse114 Offline
trapper
newhouse114  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
S.W.Oregon
Can’t count the number of mink, rats, coon, etc. I’ve caught in offset jaw traps. IMHO it had little to do with the trap that you came up empty!


Life Member NTA & FTA
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain

http://alaskastoneanivory.com/index
Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: Yotegiter] #7967134
10/08/23 05:52 PM
10/08/23 05:52 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Henderson, N.Y. Jefferson Co.
W
walleyed Offline
trapper
walleyed  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Feb 2010
Henderson, N.Y. Jefferson Co.
Originally Posted by Yotegiter
If it’s meat your after get some DPs


If it's meat he's after he should forget trapping &
head for the grocery store and see the butcher !!!!! laugh

w


"Provisional/Interim" member of NYSTA

"I Support Non-Resident Trapping"



Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: Tom Fisher] #7967135
10/08/23 05:53 PM
10/08/23 05:53 PM
Joined: Aug 2023
Ohio
R
REVOLT1488 Offline OP
trapper
REVOLT1488  Offline OP
trapper
R

Joined: Aug 2023
Ohio
I use a lot of #11s especially in pocket sets, but for my blind sets in trails where it's possible something bigger may come down the trail, usually I use a #2 of some variety, I have a dozen wolf creek dogless #2s that hold what gets in em and I set all my traps up the same, 5-6 feet of #2 American chain, several swivels near the trap.

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: Kevin Colpetzer] #7967140
10/08/23 05:54 PM
10/08/23 05:54 PM
Joined: Aug 2023
Ohio
R
REVOLT1488 Offline OP
trapper
REVOLT1488  Offline OP
trapper
R

Joined: Aug 2023
Ohio
I suppose that is possible, this just didn't seem like a trail a deer would be able to fit down...

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7967208
10/08/23 06:59 PM
10/08/23 06:59 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane Offline
"HOSS"
Happy Birthday Leftlane  Offline
"HOSS"

Joined: Dec 2009
The Hill Country of Texas
I forget which guy giving demos always always said 16 inches is ok and so is 6 ft. Anything in between is asking for trouble.

JMO I doubt the offset jaws were even a contributing factor but trap size and chain set up is all wrong for coins. Whenever one gets into my #3s it basically becomes a crime scene which is why thinning out the trash b4 the cats prime up and the big toms start to roll is a good strategy for me.


�What�s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.�
Captain Gus McCrae- Texas Rangers


Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7967209
10/08/23 06:59 PM
10/08/23 06:59 PM
Joined: Jul 2016
SD
T
TC1 Offline
trapper
TC1  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jul 2016
SD
Season open there already?


Thread snitch non reporter #2
Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: TC1] #7967218
10/08/23 07:09 PM
10/08/23 07:09 PM
Joined: Aug 2023
Ohio
R
REVOLT1488 Offline OP
trapper
REVOLT1488  Offline OP
trapper
R

Joined: Aug 2023
Ohio
This was last year, I was out on my boat running some catfish lines and saw that hunk of junk and decided I'd share my story

Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7967344
10/08/23 08:52 PM
10/08/23 08:52 PM
Joined: Jul 2016
SD
T
TC1 Offline
trapper
TC1  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jul 2016
SD
;), gotcha


Thread snitch non reporter #2
Re: Offset jaw traps, catch and release trapping [Re: REVOLT1488] #7967357
10/08/23 09:04 PM
10/08/23 09:04 PM
Joined: Dec 2020
Wisconsin
Scott__aR Online content
trapper
Scott__aR  Online Content
trapper

Joined: Dec 2020
Wisconsin
Use equipment you have confidence in and performs for your style of trapping. When going for new equipment, select target species specific sized equipment.


Megapredator ... top of the food chain!
Member of WTA
Member of U.P. Trappers
Member of NTA
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