I got bit the other day. 1st time ever. Ouch! We were pulling traps on the river. A Perfect storm of situations got me out of my routine. Grandkids were in the boat. Trying to Pay attention to them to make sure they were in a safe location. My Trapping partner talking to me as well. I was trying to undo a fully set 330 from an H stand. I put the spring safety’s on (or so I thought) .. It was in deep water. I did not have my water gloves so I did not reach down and put on my Conibear safety on. Normally taking it off is the last thing I do when I set a 330 and putting it on is the 1st thing I do when pulling a live 330. Anyway instead of just firing it with a stick, I tried to de-arm it. I got distracted,wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing and the next thing I know I have both thumbs pinned in a brand new Belisle 330. Scary. Plus it hurt like heck! Luckily one safety was still on one spring. I was able to pull that thumb out the side and use that hand to help pull the other out. Lessons learned. Pay attention,don’t mess w/ live 330s, whenever possible get that dang safety on!

Current president of the club. Welcome!

Whole hand! Ouch. Those jaws on a Belyle really work.

I've heard people say you haven't trapped til you've caught yourself.

I have several times. Apparently the first one didn't suck bad enough I had to try again a few times to be certain I wasn't enjoying it lol. First time I got 3 fingers grabbed by an MB-750 I would have sworn was froze down (they usually are). The worst one was getting my foot in a 330 that was in a deep beaver house entrance, I was already about 2" from the top of my waders, so there wasn't much I could do under there. I had to shimmy over to where it was tied off and make my way to dry ground to get it off me

My partner says the same thing. He done it with a foothold and a 330. I was trying not to be a member of that club.

I try to avoid it, but it happens to most of us eventually. I've caught myself on purpose several times also (always to prove a point to someone who is trying to argue that traps/trapping is cruel or harmful) people may not change their opinions because you put your fingers in a #4, but they at least open their eyes a little bit

Me....way too many times to mention. Worst was a little Victor 120 across my thumb. Freezing outside...had just caught a big buck mink...was resetting trap and Bam!
Had to wired down to a root....have you ever tried setting the springs with one hand one a slippery little body gripper...lol

Who hasn't should be the question.

I caught myself in a fully modified Bridger #2 4 coiled last year by both of my thumbs. That was an experience, to say the least. And then earlier this year when I was getting ready for hut trapping rats, I caught myself in a NOS blake and lamb guard trap straight across the meat of my thumb and it took me about 5 minutes to get out, I almost had to call someone.

Lots of times, but there are certain traps I'm particularly careful of. I've not joined the 330 club. Most painful by far (and now a trap I'm particularly careful of) was a brand new Bridger 120. was making a marten set with a flower pot and already had the trap tied off to the tree. Managed to catch both thumbs in that one. The other bad one was a modified TS 85 wolf trap last winter. Now I've caught myself in them before, and they hurt, but apparently not bad enough to make me trap shy. But I was redoing a trail set and next thing I knew I had my right thumb in it. I had my setters beside me that time, problem was I had got caught in the corner of the jaws, tight against the lever (actually so tight the lever was a little down. My caught hand was in the way and I couldn't get setters on that side! Finally got the corner of a boot on that side and got it off. But it took about five minutes and that was my throttle thumb, made the snowmobile ride out not too pleasant.

Even with the safeties on they'll ring your hand, always near a sensitive joint too. The pain lets you know you're still alive...lol

A couple of years ago I was attending a class/meeting with the LDWF concerning hunter education and a friend dropped off a box of traps, putting them in my truck. When I got a break I went to my truck to see what I had in the box. My friend who was the bear biologist and several LDWF personnel came along as we just got done talking about trapping and wanted to see some traps. I reached in the box and I saw stars. I pulled my hand up and there was a big #3 CS on my thumb, I said see, traps don't hurt the animal at all. They laughed and I sat there on my tailgate with the trap on my thumb. When the break was over I asked my friend to get the trap off of my thumb. He laughed at how stupid I was. Later I called my other friend who had brought the traps over and he said it must have been the trap with the zip-tie on it. He used it as a demo trap and had forgotten to take the zip-tie off. Sure enough there was a busted zip-tie in the box. A couple of days later I was setting a 110 in a mink run and it fired on the same thumb. I'm not a smart man...

I over modified a duke 3 a few years ago with 1 1/2 music wire helper springs. I set it and was holding it by the lever with my thumb way to close to the pivot point of the jaws and it fired.

That was my worst one, I've since been much more careful

OMG. Not good. And I thought my little incident was bad!

Duke 3's are rough on the paws of everything they catch....

Ouch

One thumb in a Belisle 280. Was cleaning weeds off the triggers and thought I had the safeties both hooked. Apparently one wasn't. Where was my spring style safety at? In my pocket. Where were my setters? In my truck about 100 yards away. I was knee deep in water, about 15 degrees out and the trap was staked into the bank with 24" rebar, frozen solid for weeks. I was wearing heavy gloves and was able to slide my thumb to the side that had the spring compressed and pull it out. I took off my glove and stuck my hand in the creek to make it go numb to stop the pain.

When dealing with BG's now, the safety is the first thing on and last thing off.

I bet that throbbed for quite a while. I've been caught a lot but never that bad. OUCH!

Oh many times. 110, 220, #2 coil plus #3 coil a couple of times. Just bruised fingers mainly.

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

How does " 32sissy40 " my new screen name sound ? I think it has a ring to it...........no more grabbing traps for me......

Haven't you heard...man purses are cool nowadays.......especially with shoulder strap.....glock fits real nice and easy to access.......had to lose the holster......the spare tire around my waist was causing problems....hope you guys never loose the sense of humor.........every body is so serious these days....

Caught ?? No. Hit ??? Yes.

Was cleaning debris from a 330 in moving water at a culvert. Apparently.....as I was nowhere near the trigger...... a stick musta flowed through and fired the thing. Hit me across the meaty part where my thumb conneccts to the rest of the hand. Blew my hand outta the water up over my head. I was past elbow deep in the water with no gauntlets. Just rolled up sleeves. Air temp was like 5° or something. But the pickup was running with the heater blasting 6 feet away on the road. I re-set and finished. Got in the truck. Drove 1/2 mile and my hand started to warm up...... Gad-freakin- ZOOKS !!!!!

For 6 months or so, any time I'd raise my right hand above shoulder high, my hand was like it was on fire. Some kinda nerve damage or something.

As far as hurting yourself goes, the old adage about "if your gonna do dumb things, you better be tough" applies to trapping, I mean come on.....the guy setting the trap knows it is there and how it works. I have a Jake trap that is pretty hairy, I have to tear it apart and see why sometime. It bit me again this week, but I keep setting it, and it keeps doing it's thing and I keep setting it.

Those Jake rubbers sure do hold onto a finger or thumb good don’t they.

I had a bad experience with a 330 Belisle about a dozen years ago that I’ll never forget. I was back in about a 1/2 mile from my truck on a frozen over flooding and was pulling a “swinging Susie”. The ice was snow-free, glare ice, and I’d splashed water on the ice I was standing at. I went to step back from the hole and my feet went out from under me causing me to fall backwards. The trap went up in the air as I was falling and as I hit the ice on my back I threw my left arm across my face. The 330 landed `on the arm in front of my face, clamping across my wrist & just above the elbow.

I carried a safety rope in a pocket and it was a struggle to get it out because I was laying in water on that slick ice so I couldn’t get a purchase very well. Between the rope setter and me wedging myself against a couple of willow bunches while laying on my back I was able to set the trap and get out but it took long enough that I had to stop and rest a couple of times. Let me be very clear, that incident scared the living bejesus out of me because the trap was going to hit me in the face/head if I hadn’t thrown my arm up to block it as it fell.

I have a steel bar that extends from the back of my left hand 1/2 way to my elbow and it’s not far under my skin. The Belisle left an imprinted mark right to the bar right through my coat sleeve.

Seldom, I've often thought of how one would get a 330 off if you fell and it managed to go over your head onto your neck. Way I figure it you're a dead beaver if that would ever happen.

Those were my EXACT thoughts BP. An experience I’ll never forget!

Scary story. I’m glad you reacted quick enough to protect yourself. That would been really bad if you hadn’t. It really hammers home the idea that we aren’t playing w/ toys. Personally I’m glad my grandkids were there so they could see how quick things can go wrong if you don’t give traps the respect they deserve.

I still rarely use the safeties though. I hate it more when I get home and can’t find my safety anywhere in my bag, truck…nowhere. Then you look at the pics you took of your sets 40 miles away……lol

Now, my traps are 90% Belisle and just leave the safeties on until I’m almost done, the odd time when I’m by myself I’ll forget to swing em off.

Some guys put their safety device on a rope/string and tie it to themselves.

I've never used a safety device. Never saw a need. I can hold the jaws easily in my clenched hand and that's safe enough for me.

I do the same thing if I have to mess around with one that's set (cleaning debris off the trigger or whatever I'm doing)

Yes, they can really get a grip on ya. That Belisle necklace would be worse. Glad you avoided and survived that one.

I wasn't paying attention last year and got myself caught in a 220 Belisle.

Earlier this week I went to brush a leaf off of a fully modified #3 Bridger regular jaw that I had just bedded. Put more pressure on the pan that I realized and snapped it on my hand. Had gloves on, made me cuss mostly because I had to start over and it was already dark.

That's what I do. When I 1st started, I watched a video of an old time beaver trapper. Very informative guy. His name escapes me now. I figured that if any one who is going to know what to do and what not to do it would be an old time beaver trapper. Anyway, He said putting it on is the 1st thing he did and taking it off is the last thing he did. He also said he always kept it tied to himself because sooner later he would get out of his routine and forget. I have been following his advice ever since. He was right.. I use the bright yellow safety. Visually it reminds me. Plus I can't walk away.

I won’t set a body grip unless l have my rope setter with me. I carry the locking setters with me but l won’t even throw a 110 in the truck if l don’t have my rope with me.
I remember years ago I went to see old varmitshooter and he’d got snapped on by a CDR that morning and l could not believe he could move his fingers. One finger was split from the middle joint to the tip and flat as a pancake. He’s way more tougher than l ever was or ever will be.

Of course out of concern, l think l told him l had seen animals hurt worse that got well. I wondered why he did’ t just wring it off.

I've only caught myself with a #1 but that's it, I guess I'm that good.

I've caught myself with: a #1 once, and a #0 a zillion times, and I think a 110 once...

dude im 14 and catch myself all the time it dont hurt in footholds, 110s aint bad either but i had a brand new out of the box bridger 155 and i lost feeling in my thumb for a year and a half because it snapped me so hard. if you pay attention to what your doing yo will be fine.

anything over a #4 scares me a little

Caught in a 330 belisle had to unwire take to dry ground and use my setter to get out , glad I had a rubber glove on. It hurt for a year.

Like the one it comes with?…lol. It was too short so I took it off, but any longer and I’m tripping on the dang thing. The savague works on Belisle but a bit of a pain. On the ice or near a road/trail there’s always setters close by, but I always a looped rope in one of the pockets of the trapping cloths I might wear. The old saying “safety first on and last off” holds true, but you still forget. Then there’s the flip safeties, the beaver educators….lol

Good thing you had a Conibear "setting" rope with you for that Conibear mishap? A 4-foot-long rope with a Large Foot sized loop on one end is much Better than "Tongs" in my opinion? When the ropes Not in use, I just Tie the Rope around my Waist, out of the way. Walaa! LOL. All you Beginning Trappers out there "NEED to KNOW" about Setting the Larger Conibears with a Rope, instead of Tongs? YouTube should have a Video showing the Technique? And Always, Always Remember....To Work Under/Behind the Loose Jaw (usually the jaw of the trap closest to you while being set?) of a Leg-Hold Trap, while Holding the Base of the Trap Frame while Setting/Adjusting the Trap Pan......And you'll NEVER Pinch your Fingers in a Leg Hold style Trap! Nearly Impossible? Your Finger are NEVER Between the Jaws of the Trap. How Could you Possibly Pinch them? It's NOT Rocket Science? LOL.

Here's what you do 14 years young dude........Always Work Under and Behind the Loose jaw of your Leghold Traps when Setting them, and you'll NEVER, EVER, Snap and Pinch your Fingers in a Leghold Trap! Impossible? How can you "Snap" your Fingers in a Trap, when your Fingers are NEVER Between the Jaws of your Trap! (Nothing is Impossible, I figure, But?). Listen, if "You" aren't already doing THIS on your Trapline(s), 14-years old dude?..........Start using more Trail/Blind Sets. A #1 1/2, a # 1 3/4 or a #2 trap (I prefer Double Coil Springs, myself), with 3 feet total of chain (Check your Ohio Trapping Regulations on that Chain Length, OK?), with 2 good quality swivels in the chain. (1 swivel connected to the trap, and 1 swivel about a foot away from the trap, in the chain. Use strong J-hooks with the swivels to make the connections, dude.). Then using a tree branch for a Drag, will Catch most Every Red or Grey fox, Racoon, Mink, Muskrat and Maybe even a Coyote traveling down that Trail! Place a "pool-cue" size stick or tree branch across the trail on either side of your trap placed in the trail, so the Animal has to step over the "obstacle" across his trail while traveling down it........and Whammm! You'll have an Animal in the Morning. What kind of Animal? (A Grey fox or a Mink, when it should've been a coon?) Who Knows? That's part of the Thrill of Trapping, dude. No Bait! No Lure! 2 less EXPENSES for your Trapper's Budget! (Go down to your local waterway, pond or lake and catch yourself some Suckers, Carp and Chub minnows, chop them up into chunks and freeze them for Bait if you need bait for some Dirt Hole sets. They're Free and Work for any furbearer, Right!). Purchase a few more traps with that Money Saved? A couple of #330 Conibears for those Pesky Beavers though the ice, that are pretty Good Money, RIGHT NOW January 2025, 14-year-old dude! OR, take that Saved money OR go out and Shovel the Snow from a few Driveways or Sidewalks for your Neighbors and buy yourself a Good, Rabbit Distress Predator Call (about $20.00) and buy yourself a 5-shotshell box of 12 gauge, #1 or #4 Buckshot shotgun shells (about $15.00. Your Parents might have to purchase those shotgun shells over the Internet for you? You must be 18 years old or older to buy ammo over the Internet?) and find yourself a good spot "Down-Wind" from, or, in brushy, woodsy or a wetland areas and Waste yourself some Unwanted Coyotes with that 12 gauge! Oh yaa. LOL.

West Oak, foothold not leghold

Do you want a sense of Humor? How about you take that extra "Spare Tire" you've got circling around your waist and make one of those new-fangled, "Spare-Tire" step-down Hay sets for Predators, and put that "Spare-Tire" of yours to some Good Use! LOL. How's that for Humor? LOL!

WOW! Your so correct, Turtledale from W NY. LOL. I'm embarrassed I missed that.

To Cookie1125. I was so Happy you mentioned spending Quality Time with your Children in your post. Herrah....Good for you! Off the Couch with the Children and Out the Door! Fresh air, Runny noses and Rosy cheeks......That's what I Remember of my Childhood from what seems like a "Lifetime" ago?

Me too. That's a Handful, for sure. Just Remember to Always Work, "BEHIND and UNDER the LOOSE" Jaw of the Trap, and you'll Never "Pinch" your Fingers. Your Trap may Snap in your Face, or in your Hands, but your Fingers will NOT be "In-Between" the Jaws of the Trap when it "Suddenly Surprises" you! LOL!

To Coyote Addict. Ouch!

I did with a 110 once that hurt bad enough that I've been careful since. It hit right on 2 knuckles.

couldnt be more true, i have 110s that i know wont stay set but i try them anyway and they smack me. i always think i can fix them. never do tho

i cant tell if your giving me advice or if your annoyed at me. i use those blind sets with no bs 1.5 dbj and they work great for coons. when setting my traps i have learned to hold it by around the baseplate so the levers wont pinch me and the jaws wont get me like you said. good buisness plan too

Gotten bit by traps before but my worse was setting 220 springs on my bench before season and lost the grip on the setters. Ended up with 2 black eyes and 10 stitches between my eyes.

Haven't caught myself today.

I caught myself twice this year. Once in a 330 and once in an MB750. The MB750 is by far the one that you won't get caught in again. Takes weeks to get over it!

A deep catch on my thumb from a 14 jump

Caught my thumb in a 280. Have always wondered if a 330 hitting someone the wrong way would fracture bone

Caught myself twice in one week in an ALPA #3. My thumb is still black and blue!

That's the one I'm not looking forward to one of these days lol

14s beaver traps right?

In my case, no fractures. Right across both thumbs w/ a Belisle 330. I saw stars for second. No lasting effects other than the lesson learned.

Toothed #4 size jump

Why? Made my whole body cringe.

at least once every year.

worst was in MB550 last year. doesnt hurt but scares the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) out of you.

just last week was checking some snares and was walking. when i got to the end i found a skull from a buck laying on the ground. i was carrying that out and looking at it and caught myself in one of my snares. down i went holding that 12 point rack.
came very very close to sticking one of them horns in my eye.

gotta be careful out there.

Like others, I get caught every year even though it is one of my goals not to. I tune my MB550s every year but still manage to catch myself while setting them out or resetting them at least once every year. This year I only had my pinky in the trap right next to the lever. That hurt a few days.

I also get snapped by a few 110s and/or 1 1/2s muskrat trapping every year as well.

Unfortunately, I joined the 330 club this year and was lucky to get myself out. I still don't quite know how I got caught like I did. I had both hands in a bridger 330 magnum that the jaws go tight together like belisle traps. I had 3 fingers on my left hand (pointer thru ring) and my thumb on the right hand. Luckily my thumb held the jaws apart just enough that after a minute of struggling I got my left fingers slid out the corner of the jaws. Then I was able to use the ground and the left hand to compress the springs and get the safeties on. Ended up with just a little bruising on my thumb and no broken bones. I hope to not do that again.

Schmattz

I haven't made it past page 1, but u win

sheesh, that would suck

I caught my thumb in a NO-BS 4 coiled extreme. Setters were in the side by side 10 ft away, as was my cell phone. Spent most of an hour getting out of it. By that time it was dark and nobody had any idea where I was. Seriously thought I might be spending the night there. Lost most of the skin on both sides of my thumb, as well as the nail. Now I always have my phone in pocket and setters with me at all times.