I'll sell you the one I have for $25. I should be able to almost buy two used Dukes for that, lol.

That's about when I started buying them too. I remember getting my first dozen from Cumberlands for $180/dozen in 2001.

I have one belisle and one 12x16 MB that Tim gave me.. Both have made catches that no other trap would have, Ive got picks of otter by the tail and beaver by the front foot with them.. I love them but that said I still use duke 330's too..

Anyone modifying the Dukes to make them hold better ?

I own Victors, Sauvageau, Bridger's, and two Belisles

Rarely, maybe once every couple years, do I have a trap set off without a catch (330's)
I mostly set my Victors and Bridger's. Have caught a couple by the tail in the Bridger's
Don't have a problem ever with the safeties on the Vics
Bridger safeties are a little awkward being wide flat metal but no problem
Sauvageaus are a little bulky with the extra kill jaw and being larger but I like the wider opening for a few sets
Belisles are a good trap but I don't see all the hoopla over the safeties, I never had a problem with safeties unless it was me forgetting to take them off lol
As for zero closure, I don't have an open otter season and my Bridger's have caught beaver by the tail. Plus like I said I have hardly ever had a 330 set off without a catch

These observations are for the OP if you don't have the money for the high dollar traps don't worry. Cheaper traps will work just fine. Good set location and stabilizing you trap correctly will catch you beaver. Good luck with whatever you decide to buy.

Dukes hold beaver just fine.

Anyone who is consistently & habitually catching beaver
by the tail is obviously having issues with delayed
firing triggers & their Belisle are not tuned properly !!!

If your Belisle has excessive trigger travel the beaver
is going to get too far into the trap before firing it
hence all the tail catches some are bragging about.

All that is needed is tuning the trap & eliminating
the excessive trigger travel.

You'd think for $380.00 a dozen those
Canadian white elephants would come
from the factory already tuned for flawless action !!!

walleyed

You guys need to try the LDL body grippers also...top notch.

What's a LDL?

A $35 Canadian 330. They look to be solid but hard to tell from pictures.

You ever sit with binocs at evening time to watch the last beaver in a colony and motor up slowly to a 3/4 submurged 330 and then do the "divers" flip to set off the trap with their tail???

It takes a little thought....but the set off Traps or tail caught beaver AREN'T from them flying through a trap. otters can yes but not Beaver. put a good trail camera up and on Video .

Good Grief