Been caught in foothold traps more times than I can count with no issues, the ones that hurt are the conibears. I thought I was real cool not using conibear safeties until I was wearing a Belisle 330 across the first joint of 2 of my fingers. Time I got out my fingers were mashed so flat in the joint they looked about the thickness of a wood ruler. At first it wasn't too painful, Took awhile for the blood to get back to my fingertips and when it did it was a rush of hot stinging pain.

I have several conibear safeties now and I use them religiously

My worst one was probably getting half my hand caught in the corner of a BMI Supermag 220. I had to wear it back about 5 miles to the boat landing and it was my throttle hand caught. My 4 year old son was along and kept asking if I was going to die! LOL

I couldn't use that hand for about 3-4 months afterwards.

I haven’t been caught in one of my footholds yet. I hate to think what would happen if I did. My 4 coil NOBS beavers extremes are pretty powerful. I give them a lot of respect and room. I think now I’ll give them more.

Sounds like almost the same situation. I also was playing it a little too cool. My water gloves were MIA so didn’t want to put my hands down in that cold water. I was like “I got this”. I guess I didn’t. The next thing I know, Bam! Right across the 1st joint of both thumbs. I assumed those safeties would save me. I put them in position but did not slide them up on the spring. Belisle safeties don’t slide easy but they slide if you rotate and push. I could’ve slid them and made sure they were engaged. Never assume. One worked and the other didn’t. If they both didn’t, it very easily could’ve been broken thumbs. Lesson learned. Conibear safety on always. If not, trigger them from afar.

Several times every year in #3 coil springs . If it doesn't happen every once in awhile you just lolly gagging and aren't setting fast enough.

After viewing these posts.......my intrest in learning bodygrip and foot hold trapping critters in barn and coyotes on my property.....has just ended.............I'm sticking to trapping with cages....no mater how hard it is to get them to go in........if you pros are being wounded......I don't stand a chance.....

Sissy

That's ok........I'll change that to my screen name......will have to ask paul dobbins how to go about changing..........I'm allergic to pain.....

Probably don't even have to put ur purse down to set one of those cages.

Wetdog that hurts to look at . Been in everything at least once.

Pain just lets you know your alive
I'm alive everyday

Snap a few conibears on your hands/fingers every year pre-season to build up defensive calluses.

A 220 ain't no bargain either! Don't ask.

Ive had my fingers in traps much more than I care to admit. 330's, 220's, 750's, 3's., 4's, you name it. Hundreds of times in 1 1/2's trapping muskrats. I've never been "injured" though.

I was working on a 4 coiled k9 extreme and had one set in the vise adjusting the pan level. I had to reach over the top for a wrench and it fired on my stomach. I had a hard time getting leverage to open that thing. It left a pretty good bruise I carried for about 6 months.

Conibears hurt a little, footholds don't. I've caught myself in a #9 and all my digits work fine. I may lose some to frostbite one of these days if I'm not more careful (I have a bad habit of not wearing my mittens because they get in the way of things) but I doubt I'll ever lose any fingers to a trap. I will say though, I have yet to get grabbed by a #14 and I'm not looking forward to that day lol

Reaching under ice can be a death sentence with your large traps. You can't get out.

True statement. I watch a lot of YouTube for tips. 330 Maniac never reaches down in the water. He uses his axe handle to check under the ice.

Was beaver trapping in a clay bottom ditch. Just put a 330 victor in a run. Turn to crawl out of the ditch and slipped on that clay bottom. My foot when right into that 330. Hurt like the Dickens. Soaking wet it took a few minutes to get out of that fix. Had a black and blue top of my foot for quite some time.

Read book about trappin in alaska. Many stories about trappers gettin hand caught in beaver sets. Freezin to death . Bad way to go. MB650 hurt especially when it's in the teens. Bro got thumb in one. Broke it.

Seems like I need to remind myself every year why I have a “fat” knuckle on my right hand middle finger