Wherever otter season is closed in NY we need to use the triggers as shown in the picture on all 330 traps for beaver. Because many beaver get too far through the trap before it fires, I get hip caught and tail caught beavers and lose too many. It's forced me to stick with foothold traps on drowning rigs. Any suggestions on upping my percentages with 330's?

Have you tuned up your dog/trigger engagement for minimal trigger movement before firing?

Here is a classic example of what happens. This beaver was not held but probably injured badly and lost.

No but that's a good idea. Kind of like presetting triggers for mink.

Here's the dog/trigger tuning info

Large body grip trigger adjustment

Sad solution but something a trapper has to deal with...IF anything I would add extra swivels to my cable/chain rig because of the ADDED chance of poorly caught beaver/otter fighting the trap.
How about ALLOWING the use of bigger sized body grippers for trappers during this time? This research could possibly help trappers in the future??
John Kulish developed the Species Specific Body gripping traps in the 90s with an ADJUSTABLE trigger for this very reason ...trap beaver and ATTEMPT to avoid the otters. Just my thoughts

Thats good stuff. I just checked my trigger travel and its insane how far it moves before tripping.

I was suitcasing otters in most instances before I tuned mine. Now I get good head catches on them. That's in 220, 280 and 330s. I even tune my 160's for coon sets on dry land.

I use a natural twig that goes from trigger to spring eye acts as an aditional trigger if you will

I was just thinking same as David. Also, could you block the opening on the side opposite the trigger by shoving a stick down between the too and bottom jaws? Not a lot, just am inch or two less opening the animal has to squeeze through. Those suggestions combined with a well tuned trigger may help a lot.
Worth noting that it does not bother me a bit to catch otter. We are overrun with them around here, so while I would want to stay within the letter of the law, I would not be terribly upset if an occasional otter ended up on losing end of my setup.

This.

Wouldnt that defeat the purpose?

We don't have an overabundance of otter yet. Some but not many where I am. That's why they supposedly have the restrictions. When you catch one there a whole lot of bs protocol your supposed to follow.

Another thing his diagram doesn't show are that there's no four way triggers allowed

Suit casing small beavers are inevitable with these regs

I've tried the twig technique but it only works where there is zero current. Otherwise it gathers leaves and branches and sets the trap off.
I asked the game warden about using the twig one time and he said if it's attached to the triggers with anything (wire,glue,rubberband etc...) he would issue a ticket otherwise he said it good to go. The twig sounds easier than it is to do also. I gave up on it and went with hip caught small ones. Usually there hit in the back well and expire fast anyways

Only other thought I have is to place something either side of the trap that forces the beaver to turn when it is partway through. Im thinking 2” dia stick maybe12 inches away, one each side that is placed so the beaver has to do a bit of a turn - maybe 1/3 of trap width from in line with one side of the trap. Good and solid stuck in the mud so it wont move and impede jaw rotation. This forces the beaver to bump the trigger. Maybe. Never tried it. Might still allow an otter to get through since they are more slinky than beaver.
I would expect to still get suitcase catches but not as many full misses or rear end catches.

Run 280s, that’s mostly all I run for that reason… catch 50+ lb beaver in them without issue…

move to a trapper friendly state.

There isn't many of them anymore.

Could you get away with having your triggers 2” long?I have a friend that cut all his that way and really likes them.Wouldn’t work with Chinese traps being they are only 8” tall.

Archer guy is that reg only Southern Zone?

Anywhere there is no otter season