|
Dogless Traps, Thoughts on the Alpha and NO BS Jr
#8441049
07/22/25 10:37 PM
07/22/25 10:37 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2015
New Hampshire
Forest
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
New Hampshire
|
I am not happy with my MB 550s because the coyotes bend the dog post (not the dog, just the post) and the tension is often totally messed up, or even completely unsettable. I’m also not a fan of my 650s because you can’t lift one of the jaws.
So I want to switch over to dogless traps. I like the #2 size. I picked up a few NO BS Jrs. And they seem like they will be good. But I am open to experimenting with others.
Are the FB Alphas worth a shot? They are $60 more per dozen. Are there any advantages over the NO BS Jr.?
Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
|
|
|
Re: Dogless Traps, Thoughts on the Alpha and NO BS Jr
[Re: SNIPERBBB]
#8441072
07/22/25 11:10 PM
07/22/25 11:10 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2015
New Hampshire
Forest
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
New Hampshire
|
the alphas are a bit more stable for the more conventional style of trap bedding and a slightly bigger jawspread. especially across the frame. theyre a bit lighter too if you gotta walk a lot. cons for me are the cast jaws and the round jaws. i like square jawed trap for my bedding style over round. plus the no bs comes coated
on the 550s i dont get how the pan tension is inconsistent? only way for that to happen is something hot bent or you got crud in the night latch. Yeah, I’m not sure what to call it, but the post that holds the dog gets bent. I’ve had it happen enough times that I had to carry that tool with me. It gets bent inward so far that the pan doesn’t sit level or even rubs against the base of the trap and it can’t be set anymore. I’m not sure how else to describe it. But making those adjustments at the set is just not practical.
Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
|
|
|
Re: Dogless Traps, Thoughts on the Alpha and NO BS Jr
[Re: Forest]
#8441074
07/22/25 11:11 PM
07/22/25 11:11 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2015
New Hampshire
Forest
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
New Hampshire
|
I’m surprised others do not have this issue all the time. May be it’s just the big coyotes we have in the northeast.
Also edit to say that I wasn’t really talking about tension I guess. Just pan level.
Last edited by Forest; 07/22/25 11:13 PM.
Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
|
|
|
Re: Dogless Traps, Thoughts on the Alpha and NO BS Jr
[Re: Bison88]
#8441128
07/23/25 12:13 AM
07/23/25 12:13 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2017
West Central MN
20scout
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Nov 2017
West Central MN
|
Never had a 550 damaged by a coyote. Tractor yes, but never a coyote! X2 even caught a few wolves in my 550's with no damage.
Common sense is a not a vegetable that does well in everyone's garden.
|
|
|
Re: Dogless Traps, Thoughts on the Alpha and NO BS Jr
[Re: Forest]
#8441281
07/23/25 09:19 AM
07/23/25 09:19 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2009
South Ga - Almost Florida
Swamp Wolf
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Apr 2009
South Ga - Almost Florida
|
Id take a look at the #3 Bridger dogless fully modified. They can be purchased with all the mods professionally done.
Thank God For Your Blessings! Never Half-Arse Anything!
Resource Protection Service
|
|
|
Re: Dogless Traps, Thoughts on the Alpha and NO BS Jr
[Re: Forest]
#8441288
07/23/25 09:40 AM
07/23/25 09:40 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Craigmont, Idaho
marty weatherup
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Craigmont, Idaho
|
I have a couple dozen No BS Jrs and Extremes in with all my other 2s and 3s. I like them. Last year was the first season using them and I think pretty highly of them.
If I was buying more coyote traps I’d go an even split between the JRs and the Extremes. They bed well in the majority of my soils and I don’t recall a single toe catch in either of them.
I haven’t tried the Alphas. I have a pretty broad cross section of traps. Everything from old Northwoods and Montgomerys to Victor and Duke round jaw and Bridger 3s both dog and dogless. Some MB 650s but no MB 550s. All laminated and four coiled. The Bridger 3s, modified, are a very close second to the No BS traps. I still like my Victor round jaws, mostly because I used them for so many years back in the 90s and caught a lot of coyotes with them. But, they seem to me to be more difficult to bed solidly than the No BS and Bridgers.
Yeah, I like the No BS traps. I even have three dozen of the Wolf Jrs. Though the wolves were conspicuously absent on my line last year until two days before I broke my ankle. Which cut my cat and wolf season in half. Oh well, next season.
Trail cameras and fresh snow have broke a lot of trapper’s hearts.
|
|
|
Re: Dogless Traps, Thoughts on the Alpha and NO BS Jr
[Re: Forest]
#8441380
07/23/25 01:37 PM
07/23/25 01:37 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2015
New Hampshire
Forest
OP
trapper
|
OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
New Hampshire
|
I like to make flat sets with a rock, and I often set near stone walls. And sometimes there are just rocks that happen to be in the area. The coyotes are banging the trap against the rock. I’m pretty sure that’s why my 550s are getting bent.
Last edited by Forest; 07/23/25 01:38 PM.
Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
|
|
|
Re: Dogless Traps, Thoughts on the Alpha and NO BS Jr
[Re: Forest]
#8441815
07/24/25 09:39 AM
07/24/25 09:39 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2023
MO
Crappiekiller
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Sep 2023
MO
|
I have not used the Alphas, but have used both the Extremes and Extreme jrs (wire levers). They will hold most anything. I think nly catch a fraction of the coyotes some of you catch, but have yet to lose a coyote with a NoBS.
CK
|
|
|
Re: Dogless Traps, Thoughts on the Alpha and NO BS Jr
[Re: BigBlackBirds]
#8441945
07/24/25 01:34 PM
07/24/25 01:34 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2015
GA
canebrake
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Mar 2015
GA
|
I like Alphas a lot but also got them at good prices. Don’t like current price and not sure I’ll get more because of that. No BS are only ok in my book. Have held too many things that I didn’t want held. Do the Juniors hold deer too?
|
|
|
Re: Dogless Traps, Thoughts on the Alpha and NO BS Jr
[Re: Forest]
#8442560
07/25/25 02:08 PM
07/25/25 02:08 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Oregon
ScottPhillips
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Mar 2011
Oregon
|
I have used the traps mentioned, I have quite a few Alphas, they really take a pounding by big cats and canines. The only draw back is that they are expensive. I like a loose jaws when setting. As stated a modified Bridger work well, All traps mentioned are heavy especially when balled up with mud or gumbo! I still like the OLD Montgomerys fully modified with a 1/4 inch base plate and 1/4 inch laminations because they are very durable but lighter than the others. But as everyone knows hard to find anymore. Today there are so many options and good traps out there "we" really have it a lot better than 50 years ago!
A lot depends on what your check time is or how long the animal is abusing your equipment!
See Us on Facebook: Northwestpredatorandwildlifecontrol
|
|
|
Re: Dogless Traps, Thoughts on the Alpha and NO BS Jr
[Re: 20scout]
#8442601
07/25/25 03:28 PM
07/25/25 03:28 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2014
Wisconsin
8117 Steve R
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Oct 2014
Wisconsin
|
Never had a 550 damaged by a coyote. Tractor yes, but never a coyote! X2 even caught a few wolves in my 550's with no damage. X3
Steve WTA NRA
|
|
|
Re: Dogless Traps, Thoughts on the Alpha and NO BS Jr
[Re: scheide]
#8442721
07/25/25 07:29 PM
07/25/25 07:29 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2018
Hi-Line Montana
Wild_Idaho
trapper
|
trapper
Joined: Feb 2018
Hi-Line Montana
|
I just have to say this....should have bought duke 550's...... I run a mix of MB550 and Duke 550. Dukes are the ones to consistently have the levers bent up. Noting a pair of pliers or a screwdriver wedged in and twisted cant fix though.
Real name Eric The sharpest hammer in the box of crayons.
|
|
|
|
|
|