I have dukes and I think I kinda hate them. They don’t wanna stay set. I’m not sure if it’s the wax causing the dog to slip so I melted it off in that area. I know that when you bed them you turn the springs kind of inward but some still don’t want to stay set. Additionally. The springs seem abnormally strong. I can break them over my knee but even stepping down on the springs doesn’t fully depress them. Does anyone else have an issue with them?

After melting scrape to get those last little bits out. I’ve used Dukes for years with no problems. There are better traps out there, but they do the job, and your not out a whole lot of cash if one breaks, or disappears. Eric

Sleepy creeks much better

Yes, Duke #11s are incredibly hard to get the spring eyes over the frame when setting. They're notorious for that. I can set them over my knee but it's a struggle. Duke's are the last #11 I own that I'll grab, sleepy creek being the second to the last.

Take a pair of pliers and bend the very end of the dog up a bit. This should solve your problem.

Are the dog and pan notch nice and squared up
If not file them both square
A nite latch will help also

They seem to be? Although I’m not necessarily sure how to file ? File them thinner? Or file the length?
I am sorry this is hard to discuss without being in person

A ha that is helpful indeed! I like his preface! Not for pansies sissies or crybabies!

He is a funny guy.

Seems like a genuinely nice helpful dude!

Coon Creek Outdoors has a great video on night latching, and Stu is a member here. Eric

Is Stu the CCO dude? I love his videos. He has a good one on tanning!

Yep that’s him

Do you know his handle?

No I do not, I don’t think he posts very often

Yes, Duke #11s are incredibly hard to get the spring eyes over the frame when setting. They're notorious for that. I can set them over my knee but it's a struggle. Duke's are the last #11 I own that I'll grab, sleepy creek being the second to the last.

Yotetrapper30,

Which brand of #11 do you pick up first?

Montgomery, but of course they're hard to find. Northwoods, Blake and Lamb, and Bridgers were also all pretty good. Talking old stock, not used any of the ones Victor is manufacturing today (B&L and Newhouse).

I have a pile of #11s. Probably 40% are Montgomery, 20% Bridger, and the other 40% a mixture of Northwoods, B&L, Herters,Victor, Duke and Sleepy Creek.

I like the looks of the new Sterling. Before that was released, I would have bought Bridgers if I had to buy new stock today.

X2

Of the two #11 traps I'm aware of you can buy new, Bridgers are first choice. Hope the new Sterlings are as good or even better. Dukes not so much. For past few months there has been a guy on ebay unloading a big pile of lightly used Northwoods #11's in lots of 8 to 10. I snagged a few and they are a good trap.

In addition to his short video on fixing the Duke traps, Dale Billingsly also has a video for those struggling to set these double long springs with stout springs. Perhaps Dale has figured out a way to make some money off his videos.......as he has been producing tons of them.