My reason for considering the 450 is for live market trapping. My main question about these traps is in respect to pattern misses. I know they will hold a coyote as I have done it but does using them open you up to more pattern misses as apposed to using traps with larger jaw spreads? I've learned over the years to guide coyotes onto the trap pan in certain types of sets, like dirt holes. But, I can see some issues with guiding at flat sets. So those of you that use them do you find that maybe you are missing coyotes because of the smaller trap?

In short, no.
But with our 24hr check just go with regular jaws on the 550 if you’re worried about misses.

So the inside jaw spread difference between a 450 and a 550 is 3/8 of an inch, closed trap the jaw height is going to 3/16 of an inch difference. Functionality, no difference between traps . Both are pretty much 1 1/2 sized traps to me. My issue isn't so much pattern misses with these traps, because they have trap pans relatively the same size as traps with 6" inside spreads, it's poor catches and greater chance of pullout. It's the missing the pan that causes pattern misses

There's a guy on you tube Coastal land and wildlife (coastal coyote trapping Bill Smith )He uses The 450 and a 1.75 seems to do really well with them .I have missed more than i caught with them.If i was better at guiding i would use them more often.

You will have misses even if you used 9" Bridger Brawns. You need to be mindful and good at subtle foot guidance. It's easy...just have to remember to do it on each pattern.

They still have to step on the pan. Where you may have some problems is how the smaller jawspread traps grab the foot. May have more toe catches and lower/across the pad catches......which for the live market isn't necessarily a bad thing.....as long as they don't pullout.

Keep very strong springs on the 450s. If you can set them without saying "DANG!", then they might not be strong enough.

I watch Bill Smith from SC and he seems to prefer the smaller traps and does well with them. Although he does say that it is more for economy because he does make his living from trapping.

Yes I guess there really isn't much difference in the 450 and 550 size. I have done well with the 550 and have caught a few yotes with the 450( caught them in fox sets). I do have fox where I trap for the coyotes so it may be that in the more foxy areas I could set 450's and set the 550's everywhere else. I do believe that changing over to regular jaw traps would be beneficial for live market trapping. I didn't have very much foot damage with the offsets but why take the chance.

Thanks Swamp Wolf. lol. I don't mind setting traps with the stronger springs. I've gone to setting them with my feet instead of my hands!

Another thing is that you can't 100% eliminate all skin cutting on top of the foot....especially from a hard fighter....

And there will always be a really hard fighter or two caught along the way......

I will sell the good ones to live market and dispatch the other ones in the normal way.

If I could leave fox out of the picture this would be more economical. The property does have many more coyotes than fox though.

The 450 offset is a cutting fool. Every catch has a cut across the top of the foot where the bottom of the jaw rests. On thinner skinned fox tendons will be exposed.

But other than that they hold whatever steps on the pan.

It's not always about guiding. A friend of mine who can catch numbers with anyone makes one set 97% of the time. It's a set with a very large, open pattern. How he catches them in such high numbers is he gets them to spend a lot of time and effort at the set. They take ten or 15 step within a foot of the attractor your going to do better than a one step one sniff and gone. I think the attractiveness of lure or bait is somewhat underrated these days.

Believe it or not the duke 1.5 is better on feet than the 450. If I were doing live market I'd inside lam those and swap in a pit pan and call it good.

And they hold a coyote to boot though I'd probably bubble weld the jaw tips and baseplate if I planned on regular use for coyote.

Imo, time on set beats guiding.

Mine will be closed jaw.

I need a trap that needs no mods. I don't weld and its expensive to pay to get it done. Til you pay for mods you can buy a trap that doesn't need them. I do have a few factory laminated Duke 1.5 I will use or fox.

I do believe that the more foot traffic on the set ups the odds and you can always help yourself by subtle guiding. I have noticed though what guiding is acceptable to one coyote is not acceptable to another.

Do you guys think there is any difference as far as the weight of the trap for live market trapping? Does it make a difference as far as using the 450 or 550 for weight consideration? For coyotes that is.

I can't prove it but it's always been my feeling that more weight equals greater kinetic force for potential harm.

If anyone came out with a cast aluminum or titanium alloy jawed trap I'd be in line to give it a try. Two reasons less initial impact and less weight.