What would be your take on the definition of jaw spread on a body grip trap. Here in Missouri we are limited to 5" on dry land as stated here:

(3) Use of Conibear® or Other Killing-Type Traps. (A) No Conibear® or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread greater than five inches (5") shall be used in any dry land set. (B) Conibear® or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread not greater than eight inches (8") may be set six feet (6') or more above ground level in buildings. (C) Conibear® or other killing-type traps of any size may be set under water. Conibear® or other killing-type traps having no food, scent, or visual lure placed within one foot (1') of the trap may be partially exposed above water provided the hinges are fully submerged.

Full Trapping code here: https://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/3csr/3csr

Just curious if these traps would qualify for dry land. Or would there be zero advantage to these. I'm thinking trail sets in and out of a small rocky creek. Its a 5x7 body grip.

https://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/animal/WCSBG57.html


Thoughts.......

Guess you're at the mercy of the game warden the way I read your rules. I. Ohio, the jaw spread is measured in the set position from the inside of the trigger jaw to the inside of the opposite jaw. We've been using 5x7s for years thanks to fellow TMan member Ack.

I thought 5 x 5 was max in Ohio.....what number is 5 x 7 in a belisle ..........I learned some things off your coyote video....thanks

5" is indeed the max on land...vertically. you can make a trap a mile wide as long as the measurement from the dog to opposite jaw is under 5" . Same thing with footholds, you can make one a mile wide jaw tip to jaw tip as long as you keep the measurement across the dog under 6

Thought you didn’t use conibears and footholds? Belisle dosnt make 5x7s, WCS does

People asked this type of questions in Iowa enough that the DNR defined the way you have to measure them and that took away the use of several body-grippers that were being used. Some questions are best left un-asked.

Good point!

Texas regs:

Take fur-bearing animals with body grip traps with a diagonal opening greater than 10 inches set on land or in less than 6-inch deep water

Coyotes are not considered furbearers here so not sure the legality of setting a 330 in a crawl under but seems to be a gray area. Not the best choice for sure and like a snare, nondiscretionary kill device

Ours is defined well and with a picture in the rule book

here is a good little book on trap sizes from all the mfg
https://fur.ca/wp-content/uploads/2...CAPTUREtraps_JANUARY2024_withnewlogo.pdf

We used to measure ours that way which made the 250 Northwoods legal, as well as I think one or two manufactures 280's. But people bugged them to define it and now this is the result and anything bigger than a 220 has to be completely submerged.

ADC I have lost all respect I had for you. Now you're a "Swifty" That is just wrong.