Recently retired and getting some steel back in the ground after a 10 yr pause, predominately live market fox and coyote in eastern NC.
Previously i ran 150 soft catches for fox and mb550s for the few yotes we had... now its 50/50 fox/coyote so I'm looking a trap that will be kind to the grey fox and still hold a coyote. I believe the MB450 is my best choice but not 100% on which model.... closed jaw, fox version or the 1/2 offset? Again, priority is least amount of foot damage.
If anyone has experience they could share I would be greatly appreciative.

Try the mb450 half Nelson. One the best live market traps there is.

I use the 450 half offset. They do really well.

My choice for land trapping in Georgia is the MB-450FH. Does everything I need it to do from fox and cats to coyotes. Even treats the coons well. You use good lure or bait and good quality urine you can get them to step where they need to.

450 fox

How well does the 450 fox work on coyote?

Thanks,

Mudcat

I think a double coil spring 550 is still the way to go. I used to trap in Eastern NC near Camp Lejeune and took tons of coyotes to pens. Never had a problem with the trap hurting their feet. You could always use rubber jaw as an option as well.

IMO a 2-coil 550 is not ideal for fox. At least the western reds.

450s are a great trap for your situation. I prefer the offsets. I see your location shows blounts creek. I lived on cotton patch road about 12 miles out of chocowinity for a short time 30 years ago. 550s are my favorite trap but are a little much for grays imo. Happy trapping.

I have caught them in the 450 fox with no issues.

What pan tension are you able to get on the ones you guys are running.

Excellent trap for fox and coyotes on the live market

You must not be a novice with a big ego

Do you bed the fox a little deeper than a regular 450?

Mudcat

IMO the majority of the time coyotes are going to be caught with the occasional fox, never an ounce of foot damage with a 550 on eastern reds and Grey's, and it gives u a peace of mind knowing you have the best caliber of trap in a 550 to hold big eastern coyotes just in case. I would be interested to see if you have any pull outs from coyotes on the 450.

i have never used a mb 450 on coyotes but i understand they will hold the nastiest coyotes or thats how tim use to describe them but i have used victor #1.75 for the live market and they worked fine when I was selling to the live market i preferred the 2 coil because did less damage and found that the bigger traps where just too much on the occasional fox

450's are a good live market trap for fox and coyotes alike

Thanks for all the feedback!
I bought some MB450 fox and some MB450 half offsets to try as I already had some 450 full offsets... added a shock spring and chained superstakes. I caught Grey fox in all three versions last night and all three had the skin broken on full pad catch catches... Not sure why my experience is different than most of what I've read here? I may have to go back to my 1.5 softcatches, I was hoping the 450s would be the sweet spot for me for fox and coyotes but I can't have foot damage... wonder if Minnesota would make a rubber jaw version of the 450 like they do the 550s?

Rubber jawed traps will be worse.

The foot sliding back and forth is what causes the cutting.

Use NO offset jawed traps.

Keep very strong springs on the traps so the trap don't move once it clamps on.

1.5s modified or 450 sized traps are your only options for decent feet on grey foxes.

Short chains with at least 2 dbl swivels. In-line springs don't really help with foot cutting but does reduce chance of shoulder injuries......but springs get in the way of bedding.

broken skin isnt too bad as i have trapped the live market before there is three versions of broken skin in the live market trade
#1 no visible signs when caught but breaks open afterwards from swelling
#2 skin broken open from rubbing on edge of trap usually caused by fighting the trap
#3 skin broken and ligaments or bones broken
number 1 and 2 are completely fine a little penicillin and 99% heal up with no problems #3 is unwanted and probably wont heal good enough to be chased by hounds
i have found the bottom side of the jaw actually will cut (usually a little more square) and may require a file to take the sharp edge off back when tim and rob first where testing the 450 they also paid attention to foot damage as they sold some to the live market as well

For your gray fox you want a very well swiveled light weight trap. For both a SMOOTH flat jaw face with radiused corners and strong springs.Foot slippage is you nemesis. My experience says there is NO ideal combination trap for coyotes and G. fox when talking live market.

If I was ever going to trap G.Fox for the live market again I'd look closely at a tuned up #1 DCS with adjustable pan tension