Shock Springs --Yeah or Nay

I'm throwing this out there to see what everyone's opinion is. How many of you use shock springs on your canine traps verses not? I have gone both ways but lately I have been using the PIT spring with good results with the only drawback that I have had is the bedding of the trap. I use a MB 550 standard jaw with 4 swivels , shock spring, 12" of #2 chain and a bullet anchor fastened with a welded S hook. I have never had a problem with the anchor holding but most of our soil around here is clay to clay loam. The reason I am asking is I noticed on the 1000 coyote thread that Robert's set up showed as far as I could tell was just a straight piece of chain or cable or both and wondered if he used a spring or not? It would definitely be faster and easier to bed if you didn't use one. Any thoughts?

Yeah! If you set them up in the middle of the chain, you have some movement when bedding, and I use it to support the loose jaw. I would never put them at the ends of the chain, for obvious reasons.

I was wondering if there was ever a study using shock springs. I don’t know if they make any difference. I am thinking of taking them off my MB 550’s to make them easier to bed

IMO springs have some value in actually reducing shock and damage to coyote feet but probably more value in PR......

By putting them in between the trap chain and the anchor chain you would at least have some wiggle room. As far as making a difference I think a spring definitely helps hold a animal from pulling out especially if their not caught real solid.

Be tough to bury a trap here with a shock spring MJs hold well no problem.

That very well might be the reason Robert uses the anchor system he does especially when time is important.

I don't use them but have never tried them either so cant say whether I think they are worth it or not. My observation seems more of the guys that put up #s dont bother with them. Maybe better traps and better staking systems have lessened the value of them.

This sorta brings up another question...how much chain do you leave for the critters? I use MB550’s offset and pound in the anchor until the last swivel is right above the hole created from the anchor. I’ve never had a loss from what I thought was too short of a chain. I figured the less they have to work with, the less momentum they can achieve trying to escape. I even held a coyote by 1 toe before.

There Is so little give In that shock spring I don't see where It has any value what so ever. In my opinion just more junk to foul up with mud and blood and other debris.

There’s a value there for the live market.

I use them on most of my traps. With a longer check period, they do have value in reducing injury. As for holding value, not much of a difference in my opinion.

With wolves, I use the largest, heaviest shock spring that I can. But, I'm trapping for catch-collar-release, or for the taxidermy market. I've little doubt that the shock springs keep the foot in better condition. For the taxi market, cuts or abrasions to the feet cost me money, so I'm a believer in shock-springs, lots of swivels, and well-tuned traps with jaw laminations. I wouldn't be without the decelerator springs.

Jack

Ditto on Gulos thoughts on shock springs, my findings the same.

Well It might be of some value for wolf trapping but It's just more junk hooked on to the chain and the more weight on a critters foot the more damage can happen. You think a poor little red fox Is going to stretch that spring.

My thoughts on a long chain and then adding a spring in there just adds to a bigger chance of getting twisted up.

My canine traps have always been at a short chain (10-12 inches). A combo of 2 or 3 swivels. Cable staked w/18" or more.

All canines caught were there when I got there. In Michigan its a 24 hour check on land sets.

Less length to let them run and hit the end.

My $.02

I started using shock springs when I was using long chains and really liked them . I now use short chains ( about 8” ) and did not think I needed them . Talking with Ed Medvets ( ? Spelling ) he said the study’s that he has done proved through high speed photography that the shock springs on chains shorter than 28” have proven to stop pull outs . Longer chains have less chance of hitting the end of the chain before the foot with the trap hits the ground and the trap locks up . I can’t quote him word for word but that is the jist of the conversation I had with him .

He also recommended that our eastern coyotes weighing over 40# should get the heavier 75# springs .

I tried it and learned some lessons on bedding correctly

x2

After years of reading the beavs comment on trap setups I’m convinced that anything that would add a single penny to the cost of a trap is just more junk .

I cheat and use a KB has the shockspring built in plus it winds the spring up putting more pressure on the jaws. The ones I use for lions I add a JC shock spring, have pictures of lions bottoming out the springs on a downhill pull. I love these traps!!