Ive been out of the dog proof trap game for a while now.
I went to order a dozen and was greeted with plethora of options.
What are some of the pros and cons of all the different brands?
They all seem to be similarly priced

Can't go wrong with Duke. Have a pair of them that are 10+ years old and still never had a pullout.

Dukes for me. I got rid of everything else.

We’ve had great luck with Duke.
MTP had a sale on some like new Bridgers where the box had gotten wet and they rusted up some. Bought a couple dozen of those and haven’t had any issues either. To top it off the coons didn’t care if they had a little rust on them and after a catch they cleaned that trap right up, lol.
We use anchors or just cabled to a tree and have never had one pull out. I’ve had them up a tree about 3ft and tangled around brush so bad I considered cutting the cable rather than trying to unravel the mess, but no pullouts. Now these are normal Southern coon. I’ve read those Northern coons will get out every time in those scenarios.

I always had the Lil Griz. Never had a problem with them.

I have some Duke that have been great traps. I bought a dozen Freedom brand FB2 in the spring that are made in the USA. Been solid so far. Just picked up a couple dozen NO BS to try. They seem like a great value, but I cannot find where they are made.

Really cant go wrong with any of them. FB1 is the most sensitive if you adjust them properly, also the most maintenance intensive trap. FB2 probably the closest in sensitivity. The bridger t3 required the most pull in testing.

I really miss the Black HIlls DP.

^^^ X2

I’ve got several models. Dukes, Zs, coon cuffs, they all work well and have their place on my line.
Jim

Last year was the first time I used them and they worked well. Mine are Freedom Brand.

Mine are Z traps...love em'

I have Freedoms and Dukes. Work great, but some of these guys know way more about coon trapping than me.

I have some Dukes and Coon Daggers. I suppose the Coon Daggers are no longer made. They are a great trap.

As much as I like setting the FB1 I will no longer buy them. Pain to adjust. A big racoon can really knock them out of adjustment. Fb2 are nice and trying the no bs this year. Have 80 dps and will add another 24 this coming year.

Coon Daggers are the best if you can find used ones.

Carlis Stevens made the best Dog proof trap out there
if you can find someone who is willing to give them up.

Rest In Peace, Carlis.

walleyed

I’ve got dukes , daggers. grizzes and z traps always set the grizzes and daggers first but they are all good

They are all going to catch coon and anything else willing to reach their paw in to grab the prize, even when laying on the ground.


X3

My son started with Bridgers and that's what he uses.

I think it boils down to: where your royalties lie, what you have confidence in, and provides the best perceived value.
I haven't really seen where coon are going to past up one brand over another, all other things being equal.

The dukes would be my choice of those options. Nothing wrong with the no bs ones either.

I got dukes and bridgers.. like them both and they are affordable.

I used a few different ones , and the Z trap mostly with the two way trigger.