I recently shot a quick video on how I go about setting 330's by hand but alas, I don't know how to post videos, upload links or any of the fancy stuff most of you are so good at.

....But! I got a pal in Mississippi that is smart like that and out of the goodness of his heart he got it in a form that can be shared on here. When he sees this thread he will hopefully plug it in here.

Thanks Wolfie!!!!!

https://youtube.com/shorts/1nl3GG0NOOk?si=SHvtd_W602U0VhOW

There ya go! Sorry again about it being a short . YouTube is kinda stupid lol

I wish I could still set like that instead of lugging setters around but my arthritis won't allow me to do it for long anymore.

Do you bring setters for taking the caught beaver out or do you put the beaver between your legs?

X2

I used to do it similar I did it standing up but same technique,Hold the two spring eyes clamped with one hand and flip the hook with the other.
I use setters now too hard on the old elbow joint.

Not sure I could do that with a 160 anymore, lol, I think I can do a 110 by hand, maybe....

I don't own any setters for body grippers. Quite often I take the trap off of a beaver while the beaver is still in the water. Same principle and easy to do. The only time it gets a little tough is when I have a full body catch and their body kind of obstructs the sliding up and down of the spring eyeholes. Still, it's maneageble.

I'm 67 1/2 now. We'll see how many more years I can pull it off, but so far it hasn't been an issue.

I can still set them by hand yet if I have to. It’s a lot tougher when there’s a beaver in the trap though. I prefer a setter when I’m running any amount of traps. Just much easier on the body that way.

I stopped killing myself setting 330's by hand a couple years ago-setters are so much easier on your body. Beaverpeeler-that's impressive! Even after a few hundred beavers my arms and hands start to fall asleep! and my elbows really start to hurt.

I use to but it literally became a pain in the neck. When I would strain, I would get a sharp pain in my neck that would shoot up into the back of my head. Sometimes I would even get a headache from it.

Except for full body catches (dang near gives me nose-bleed to depress springs) having a critter in the trap is even easier to set than an empty trap. Less distance from eyehole to eyehole.

Btw, you notice I cleverly used a brand new Belisle for the demo since every time I comment about hand setting 330’s somebody invariably posts that I’m able to because I’m working with older traps with weakened springs.

I guess it beats paying for a gym membership

You're a machine BP! I'm going to try that.
I've reset B 330's in the bush but I found a log to press down on. Wasn't too bad especially if there was a broken branch on the log to hold the bottom eye secure. I started carrying a rope in my pocket though if I didn't want to haul setters along.

The rope is a good idea to have along. It is a lot easier to set body grips with a rope then with one hand, when the other one is in it. If you have never been in one, keep using them and your day will come. I am sure even BP has been in a few.

Wow! And a Belisle at that! I have a setter that I bought at a convention and can't set my Belisles that easy.

Thanks for sharing the technique. No way would my hands be strong enough to pull that off. I always thought I would like
to shake your hand and say Howdy. Not so sure now. LOL. My hat is off to you for still being able to pull that off.
Arthritis is a bear.

Mac

Thanks Mac! By no means do I mean to be disrespectful to anyone that can't physically do it anymore (or yet). My day will come sure enough. But if you use leverage to full advantage (you can't see it in the video but I'm pushing the eyehole to the spring down, not the spring itself) it's not a ton of strength involved. I do have stout wrists though which helps.

Shakey, when I bought my first 330's back in 1976 (Herters) I bought a setter at the same time thinking I needed it. Along comes a skinny 18 year old (NewHouse114) while I'm struggling with the setter and casually sets one by hand. I was red-faced and embarrassed. Didn't take long and I got real comfortable with them. Over the years about 90% of my beaver sets have been body grip sets so I've had lots of practice.

You'll get it down in no time. And taking critters out is a breeze too...most of the time.

I've set BMI magnum 330s
New Dukes
Victor's and Belisles by hand for 39 years

I now carry setters for the days I have Arthritis but 95% 0f the time i still set them by hand.


Thank You MERLIN LADD for teaching me back in 1986

I'll try that but not holding my breath..