jump traps

[bhugo]

Hi All,

I am new to trapping and have been doing a lot of reading of books by Hal Sullivan and Hawbreaker (sp?). I have purchased a few #3 coilspring for coyote. I have inherited some old victor #4 jump traps, spring seems very stiff and just a little surface rust. I have a pretty good guide from my books on most traps and what to use them for, but need to know what the old jump traps should be used for. Is a #4 jump like a #4 coilspring? Is there a reference for this?

Any help would be great.

[ottertrapper]

Hi All,

I am new to trapping and have been doing a lot of reading of books by Hal Sullivan and Hawbreaker (sp?). I have purchased a few #3 coilspring for coyote. I have inherited some old victor #4 jump traps, spring seems very stiff and just a little surface rust. I have a pretty good guide from my books on most traps and what to use them for, but need to know what the old jump traps should be used for. Is a #4 jump like a #4 coilspring? Is there a reference for this?

Any help would be great.

The old #4 jump trap is a great trap in my opinion and I am pretty sure Dave Duncan will agree with me on this. I strictly use them for beaver and otter. It has a large jaw spread not sure what it is off the top of my head, but those are the only animals I use it for. I have taken a lot of beaver and otter with them over the years. The nice thing is the jaw spread is big enough to target beaver by their back feet with this trap as well. OT

[multibeard]

The old #4 jump trap is a great trap in my opinion and I am pretty sure Dave Duncan will agree with me on this. I strictly use them for beaver and otter. It has a large jaw spread not sure what it is off the top of my head, but those are the only animals I use it for. I have taken a lot of beaver and otter with them over the years. The nice thing is the jaw spread is big enough to target beaver by their back feet with this trap as well. OT

I will second that. I would rather set a #4 for beaver any time than a 330. Lots more work but gives me more satisfaction doing it the old way. I almost always set for hind foot catches with footholds.

I installed paws-i-trip pans that i bought from Charlie Dobbins on all my big long springs and jumps. It was nice to get rid of those slopp/loose pans that seemed to want to fire to easy.

[bhugo]

there seems to be a lot of jump traps on ebay. Is the size of a jump trap equal to the size of a coil spring? Are 1.5 jumps good for coon like a 1.5 coil? Are #3 jumps good coyote traps? Is there a major drawback to jump traps?

You guys are such a great help!

Thanks for your time.

[David G Duncan]

I do like my # 14 Victor jump traps, which are just # 4 jump traps having a case iron jaw with teeth.

The main problem with the # 4 jumps is the fact that it does not have a pan tension adjustment. I corrected this problem by installing a mouse trap spring under the pan, in order to increase the amount of pressure required to trip the trap. This prevents catching muskrats and also cut down on the number of sprung traps, without any catches.

As far as the small jump traps, I personally don't like them. I prefer using a coilspring over a jump trap for muskrat, mink, raccoon, fox and coyotes.

[bhugo]

Thanks Mr. Duncan,

I have been reading a lot of your posts and you really seem like a great trapper. You are also very helpful. I noticed on one post you mentioned that you might post some picture of the mousetrap spring "trick" you use. Did you ever do this, I would love to see it.

Thanks,
Bhugo

[David G Duncan]

bhugo,

Just call me Dave. I have been trapping for a long time, but I still learn a lot of things from new trappers like yourself.

Like I said the # 4 jump trap is a good beaver trap, which can be made even better by cutting down the pan size and modifying it, so it has some pan tension.

I don't recommend using the # 4 jump trap for hind foot catches, because with out sharp teeth a large beaver will pull its foot out, or slide it down so you just end up with a toe nail in the trap.

A front foot set is a better approach for effectively catching beaver.

Here is a couple photos of how I modified my # 14 Victor Jump traps, to improve their effectiveness.


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/520/medium/Modified_14_003.jpg


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/520/medium/Modified_14_004.jpg