Trap reccommendations

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supertac45

New member
I'm looking at setting myself up for trapping. I'm pretty sure I'll be going with Minnesota Brand. For the question: I have $400 to spend, what should I buy? This is for Northern Michigan.
 
Don't mess around. The U.P. calls for an MB 750. A little beaver meat in a dirt hole & you will need one. I'd also go with a drag, use your pet dog if you ever have trouble finding the catch. I have seen 'regular' coyote traps destroyed.
 
Start with traps, if your just starting out I would go with a economicaly trap not the the top of the line stuff. A bridger will hold a fox or coyote just as good as a MB. You will need a shovel and a sifter, a bag to carry your trapping stuff in. I use rebar stakes get or make just as many of them as you do traps some 18" some 24" out 1/2" rebar. Get a variety of lures and bates and see which ones work best for you. I carry my lures in a seprate bucket for my shove and sifter. rubber gloves 2 sets one for building sets one for your lures. Salt and peat moss or buckwheat hulls if it freezes alot. A drop cloth or pad to kneel on doesn't hurt either. You will also need strechers and a fleshing beem and fleshing knife. start out with just a few sets at a time and see what works good for you and grow from there. Don't forget trap tags to if the law reqires it there. I'm sure I have forgot something but good luck.
 
I have never been a fan of drags, but I trap in more open country I am sure they work good in areas with heavy cover. I tried some once and lost a bobcat in a snow storm and that was enough for me.
 
The mb650 is fine for coyotes and cats but a little much for fox. The reason that I suggested a more economical trap is that where you are on a $400 budget you will end up using all your money on traps and not be able to get all the other stuff you need. I would start with at least 12 traps, and with the MB's that would about clean you out. Say if you make 6 sets and you have 6 back up it saves time. You won't have to go back and boil and wax your trap if it gets messed up with a none target catch. To remake the set you can just use a back up trap and clean the other up later. But if you have your heart set on the MB's they are about as good as you can get, I have a few and really like them. Just my thoughts on things.
 
if your set on the MB's, then ask Tim Cravens what he would use for the 3 critters you want to trap, he will give you the right answer since he's a trapper and makes the traps. theres a million answers to this question. I think IdahoSawtooth has the right answer, get cheaper traps so you can get the other important stuff you'll need for trappin. personally if I was going after the 3 aboved mentioned species, I would use a #2 bridger, as any trap size bigger is too big for fox, and the #2 will work for all three. good luck and happy trapping.
 
Yes the MB 750 is on the large side. The right deal on some used traps may also be possible. A while back I also didn't have much faith in a drag. Most animals go for cover & when assisting my partner the average coyote may go 20 yrds, smaller animals less. All things have their place & type of cover(if any) is the main factor. It's easy to get a 6-8' chain & drag hung up.
 
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I would really like to buy made in the U.S.A. if possible.



if thats the case you only have a couple of choice in traps.

go with the MB 550, you'll have all 3 species covered. I looked at the 550 at the national convention and they will stand up to a yote while holding a cat or fox.
 
I believe sleepy creek are made in th USA. They are not much more than briger mabey a couple bucks more a trap. Not sure about victor I know they use to be.
 
montanas.... easy to bed solid... good traps... not dog to mess up....

you'll get this type of catch...

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I have 4 MB450's. They have caught 4 coyotes, 2 red fox, and some other smaller stuff (domestic cats, skunks, opposum, and rabbits). I have only had 1 miss fire from them. I have lots other problems with other traps that are not MB, but I am very inexperienced. Based on this I am a fan of the MB450. Two of the coyotes were very large. I also have an MB550 and caught 1 coyote and one rabbit in that trap and had no miss fires.
 
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