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Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8010415
12/03/23 04:38 PM
12/03/23 04:38 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 772
Anchorage, Alaska
broncoformudv Offline
trapper
broncoformudv  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 772
Anchorage, Alaska
I have been using Bridgers but think I will be switching to the Belisle due to the better design of their safety's.

Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8010442
12/03/23 05:23 PM
12/03/23 05:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514
Orergon
A
alaska viking Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
alaska viking  Offline
"Made it two years not being censored"
A

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,514
Orergon
Hate Bridger con's.
Belisle all the way.


Just doing what I want now.

Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8010476
12/03/23 05:58 PM
12/03/23 05:58 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,176
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Offline

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
W

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,176
McGrath, AK
X2 what Viking said


Mean As Nails
Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8010522
12/03/23 06:33 PM
12/03/23 06:33 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,276
NWT
Ryan McLeod Offline
trapper
Ryan McLeod  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,276
NWT
X3. I’ll take belisle over any other brands. I also have zero complaints about the savageau traps. The 2001-8 is a perfect wolverine specific trap IMO. I just prefer belisle for their triggers and the compact size allows me to fit more in my trap bag.


If you take care of the land the land will take care of you
Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8010618
12/03/23 08:11 PM
12/03/23 08:11 PM
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 764
Bush Alaska
victor#0 Offline
trapper
victor#0  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 764
Bush Alaska
I recommend the Belisles as well

Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8010644
12/03/23 08:29 PM
12/03/23 08:29 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,480
Idaho
B
bearcat2 Offline
trapper
bearcat2  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,480
Idaho
How limited on funds are you? I personally don't like the Belisle safeties because I set the traps by hand and with both hands on the springs I can just tilt the trap or give it a little flip and put the safeties of the other brands on. But I know I am an outlier on that and pretty near everyone else prefers the Belisle safeties. If you are limited on funds the Bridgers will catch everything just fine, just not as user friendly as some of the other brands. I haven't used their 330s but I believe they have small spring eyes like the other Bridger conis that can be a pain when setting. If you are limited on funds the Duke 330s are not a bad trap to use as long as you don't mind a rectangular trap that is a different size than all other brand 330s. I only use them for beaver and otter, so it doesn't bother me, but they may not fit right in boxes made for other brands.

Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8010656
12/03/23 08:41 PM
12/03/23 08:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 223
Chicken, Alaska
Chickenminer Offline
trapper
Chickenminer  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 223
Chicken, Alaska
Just get Belisle and be done. Best coni traps no mater what size!

Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8011163
12/04/23 10:11 AM
12/04/23 10:11 AM
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 534
Pennsylvania
K
Keystonekiller Offline
trapper
Keystonekiller  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 534
Pennsylvania
Not even a question belisle all day long specially if your after wolverine

Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8011217
12/04/23 11:03 AM
12/04/23 11:03 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,205
Armpit, ak
D
Dirt Online content
trapper
Dirt  Online Content
trapper
D

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 11,205
Armpit, ak
Originally Posted by bfisch
Thanks everyone! Now should I go with Belisle or Bridger?


From experience, Bridgers will kill wolverine and lynx. Maybe somebody can explain what's wrong with them?


Who is John Galt?
Re: 280 or 330? [Re: Dirt] #8012352
12/05/23 12:28 PM
12/05/23 12:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,524
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Online content
trapper
Boco  Online Content
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,524
james bay frontierOnt.
Originally Posted by Dirt
Originally Posted by bfisch
Thanks everyone! Now should I go with Belisle or Bridger?


From experience, Bridgers will kill wolverine and lynx. Maybe somebody can explain what's wrong with them?


Not made in Canada.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bearcat2] #8012437
12/05/23 02:16 PM
12/05/23 02:16 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 772
Anchorage, Alaska
broncoformudv Offline
trapper
broncoformudv  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 772
Anchorage, Alaska
Originally Posted by bearcat2
How limited on funds are you? I personally don't like the Belisle safeties because I set the traps by hand and with both hands on the springs I can just tilt the trap or give it a little flip and put the safeties of the other brands on. But I know I am an outlier on that and pretty near everyone else prefers the Belisle safeties. If you are limited on funds the Bridgers will catch everything just fine, just not as user friendly as some of the other brands. I haven't used their 330s but I believe they have small spring eyes like the other Bridger conis that can be a pain when setting. If you are limited on funds the Duke 330s are not a bad trap to use as long as you don't mind a rectangular trap that is a different size than all other brand 330s. I only use them for beaver and otter, so it doesn't bother me, but they may not fit right in boxes made for other brands.



The Bridger 330 has large spring eye openings so no issues there. Nothing like the small eye openings on their 110's and 120's which are a total pain in the rear.

Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8012696
12/05/23 08:15 PM
12/05/23 08:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144
AK
bfisch Offline OP
trapper
bfisch  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,144
AK
Well I ordered six Belisle 330s. Undecided on buckets vs boxes. I have a lot of scrap lumber and not very many buckets on hand. May try both and see what I like.

Thanks everyone for the input!

Last edited by bfisch; 12/05/23 08:15 PM.
Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8012792
12/05/23 10:03 PM
12/05/23 10:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 223
Chicken, Alaska
Chickenminer Offline
trapper
Chickenminer  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 223
Chicken, Alaska
It seems like results really vary among trappers on this issue! I have had a ton of refusals with buckets and to date not one has committed suicide in one!
I have had good luck with open ended boxes and natural cubbies.
Good luck with your experimenting!

Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8012847
12/05/23 11:11 PM
12/05/23 11:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,657
49th State
M
mad_mike Online content
trapper
mad_mike  Online Content
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,657
49th State
Either size trap should work well. Personally I run 330’s, my only consideration between the 280 and 330 is that the larger trap gives the marten a bit more grace as far as room to miss the trigger coming and going from the wolverine set. I can’t catch all of them in boxes and they invariably work the bait.
I don’t make lynx specific sets, but have caught them at wolverine sets.

Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8013269
12/06/23 02:13 PM
12/06/23 02:13 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,276
NWT
Ryan McLeod Offline
trapper
Ryan McLeod  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,276
NWT
[Linked Image]

Here’s a Bridger. They work but it’s not my first choice when loading the trap bag full of traps.


If you take care of the land the land will take care of you
Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8015619
12/08/23 08:05 PM
12/08/23 08:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 937
Anchor Point, AK
trapperjoeAK Offline
trapper
trapperjoeAK  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 937
Anchor Point, AK
Just can't go wrong with Belisle 330's if you are buying bodygrips for wolverine.

That said, Caught 4 wolverine so far this season, even split between 280's and 330's. We don't usually set 280's on purpose targeting wolverine except on "pole" type sets sometimes, and I have a hard time imagining an advantage to a 280 over a 330 in almost any situation for wolverine. However, have quite a lot of 280's set on trails in blind sets for otter and picked up two bonus wolverine in those so far this season (30 otter so far also). Both dispatched quickly. It's a lot like catching otter in a 220. Using a slightly undersized trap tends to insure perfect strikes right behind the head if you can still get the critter to go in. My 280s are mostly pretty old, cheap ones, at this point for that matter. Have maybe two dozen 330s set for wolverine right now, mostly belisles but a few Bridgers. The Bridgers are much newer and significantly stronger. I GROSSLY prefer the belisles and it has nothing to do with killing effectiveness. They are just better traps. Killing effectiveness is mostly strike placement which is just a combination of trigger configuration and then factors mostly outside of your control. The only reason I don't own 300 belisles 280's and 330's and instead mostly own dukes and bridgers is the same reason as everyone else. They are cheap. (and used to be even cheaper) Bought 4 doz of the Bridger 330s for an absolutely ridiculous price years after I had decided I grossly preferred the Belisles. heh. That said I will reiterate that cheap traps kill stuff just fine, the issue isn't with spring strength at all in my experience.The Belisles are made with much better steel, and hold up markedly better over the years (this is why if I could go back in time 20 years I would probably only buy them), the safeties are better, and they are MUCH easier to set with my hands. I do not carry setters of any sort and have set and taken critters out of thousands of big conibears with just my hands. The fact that Belisles simultaneously easily pass over the center hinge but also do not ever jump around the corners is just SO SO SO SO nice. Wasted 10 minutes the other day with a wolverine in a Bridger 330 and a fair bit of snow because the second spring kept jumping around the corner (due to critter in my way etc) had to unhook the trap from anchor to get critter out.

Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8015764
12/08/23 10:02 PM
12/08/23 10:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,295
Mt.
g smith Offline
trapper
g smith  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,295
Mt.
That is well worded and even I could understand ,thank you


You can ride a fast horse slow but you can't ride a slow horse fast .
Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8031090
12/25/23 10:12 PM
12/25/23 10:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 224
Minnesota
B
BeLiSlE330 Offline
trapper
BeLiSlE330  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 224
Minnesota
I'd go with 330. They open wider plus they are overall a pretty reliable trap if you know how to use them!


"No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -Thomas Jefferson
Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8052107
01/17/24 12:23 AM
01/17/24 12:23 AM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 10
Alaska
T
trapz Offline
trapper
trapz  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 10
Alaska
I use them both, and have caught both lynx and wolverine in 280s. 330s are easier to set.


The Lord bless you and keep you...
Re: 280 or 330? [Re: bfisch] #8052113
01/17/24 12:33 AM
01/17/24 12:33 AM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 10
Alaska
T
trapz Offline
trapper
trapz  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 10
Alaska
Boxes work well; bears like to bust 'em up in the summer, though. I use buckets more than any other set.


The Lord bless you and keep you...
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