Hi I’m going on my second year trapping. In my state (NJ) it’s illegal to use or even possess footholds. I’m researching what footholds to buy for when I trap out of state (PA) and they will stay at our cabin up there so that I don’t break any laws. Since I only get to go up there a few weekends a year and I honestly won’t get much use out of them I don’t want to spend a whole lot on them. Looking for maybe a dozen footholds. What size would be best for the largest variety of critters. Looking to target coyote, bobcat, fox, coon and beaver. I know that different sizes work better than others on specific species but is there one trap that can catch all of my target animals or do I have to get different size footholds. I been reading a few threads here but some of them are older and I know there are updates and improvements to traps over the years and am hoping to get y’all’s updated opinions. Thanks

#2dbls was king of versatility for a long time. Read some of Jonny Thorpes stuff he was the kind of practical trapping and #2's where his choice

Now the MB550 is arguably the best for all round land trapping ( for out of the box work)

Though some will say the Bridger #3 Canadian jawed is better

Down here though a lot more people like a MB450 for all around land work and a #11 for most water trapping up to otter ( historically)

#3 long spring would be my go to

#1 1/2 LS, from weasel to raccoon. It's a great muskrat trap.

Some #1 1/2 and some #3 Dukes. That covers a lot of trapping there. Land trapping I just assumed that you meant......jk

MB 450's :-)

3 dls.

Duke #2 coil. Not the best at all for beaver but if you target the front foot you can make them work. Also a little big for dry land coon but fine for water trapping on drowning sets.

Some #2 Duke coil springs. Great traps and they won't cost you a arm and leg. I would go with a closed jaw # 2 trap
If you target the beavers front foot you get away with a #2 coil spring.
There Is No ONE BEST trap but the #2 will work for you.

I suppose if I could only have one trap for all those critters I'd go with either a #2 or #3 round jaw. Which one I picked would depend on what I will be trapping more of. If I planned on much beaver trapping I'd do the #3, but if I planned on mostly fox it would be the #2.

Honestly, I think I'd go with the #2 and just use snares for beaver if that's legal in PA.

If you are in eastern PA with mostly fox and not yotes I would go with 1.5 coils if I was only going to buy one trap type. Good for fox, coon, mink, rat and will hold yotes. If you feel you have some yotes a few 3 3 sized traps would give you more options. Two weekends per year or so? You could go to the PA rondy in June and buy good used traps there and I am sure they will have the sizes you would want for the area you will trap.

Bryce

Speaking for myself, the Sleepy Creek 1.75 coil, closed jaw with round pan is the most versatile....It's really a #2 coil with a jaw spread identical to a Victor 3N longspring.

Much tougher than a Duke or Victor coil, and much less expensive than MB's.

Cheap enough to set on public land, and robust enough to git 'r' done....Bobcat, coyote, fox, coon, mink, etc. are all in the wheelhouse of this trap.

If you only want one trap for coyote, bobcat, fox, raccoon and beaver I would go with the Duke #3. It works well for all of them with maybe the exception of raccoon.

If beaver was not on the list I would go with 1.75 Duke.

There's a list of critters you want to trap, and there's a list of critters you'll realistically be able to catch. Based on that a #1 1/2 Duke double jaw will catch the latter wonderfully and it'll hold the others on the "wish list" most all of the time. Yu'll catch more stuff with more traps and less stuff with better traps if there are fewer of them.

number 2 duke,

Any #2 coil would work well. I would move to PA and buy a couple dozen mb 550.

Just about every brand and size has been listed. I will throw in a Duke #1 coil spring and a #4 Victor DLS. Should cover it.

Holy crap.

#3 Newhouse, will hold rats to small bears!!

Move out of New Jersey and buy a dozen of each trap on this list! Seriously though, I'd get 6 mb 450s closed jaw and 6 mb 550s.