I'm mostly a beaver trapper. Some landowners that let me bow hunt have problems w/ beavers so I try to keep them thinned down in exchange for hunting permission. Makes for Good landowner relations! I picked up another property That has a major beaver issue. I'm it is also ideal bobcat country and I know for certain that there are a bunch coyotes in the area as well. I figured I give both of them a run as well since I'm gonna be out there anyway. It'll get me out of the house this winter. Anyway, I picked up 2 Doz. NO BS Canine Jr. Extremes.w/ laminated offset jaws. These things are built solid. I'm busy getting them tuned and ready to go out in the field. What pan tension do guys like? I'm mostly trying to get a Cat but if I get a Coyote I'm not going to complain. Plus I have a Coyote and a Red Fox on camera at the house. I'd least like to get rid of the Coyote. The fox I will let go if I get him. a trapper buddy of mine likes his traps hot. Like 1lbs. Says I'm going to miss Cats if I set higher. I'm thinking 3 Lbs.

Coyotes i like to run 4-5. You're only going to miss the pawers or half-hearted steps that retreat. Unless you're trying to catch kit bobcats, even bobcats(assuming 20#+ cat) will put at least 7# of pressure on the trap when they move forward

Bobcats I run 2.5-3 pounds and have never had any problems, coyotes I run 4 pounds at the least.

… I run # 2 bridger dogless 4 coiled with a loose pan … figure I’m around 3 lbs

I’ve upped my pan tension for bobcats (when I can) dramatically.

5-6 lbs easy.

For exposed sets especially.

I like about 4 lbs for coyotes. Much less than that you start getting non target catches and snapped traps.

When I test a trap for yotes and cats, if it falls 3 to 4 I call it a day.

Most of my trapping is for anything with pointy teeth. I run a floppy pan.

I try to get mine as close to 4 pounds without going over for coyotes and usually always have full pad catches

Thanks for all the reply's. It helps rookies like myself make good decisions. Anyway, I've got them all tagged, tuned up and ready to go. Not sure what they are firing at exactly but for sure it's less than 5lbs and more than 2lbs. I have a 5lb box of screws that I use for testing the Beaver Extremes. Those go off right at 5-ish lbs. The Canine Jr's are going off instantly when I let go of the box on the stick. The 2lb box of screws doesn't even move the pan. I Kinda figured 3-4lbs would be ideal. I asked a buddy about pan tension and he said if you ask 12 different trappers that question, you'll get 14 different answers ! LOL . He personally sets then as light as can be. Another buddy said the same thing. I think I'm just gonna try 3-4 lbs and see what happens. Picked up a new ranch the other day so I'm gonna scout it out this weekend.