Hello,

I need some recommendations on buying traps to catch fox, bobcats, and coyotes in west texas. My family raises hair sheep and we've kept a half dozen guard dogs with them and are looking to start trapping. Where can I buy a half dozen jaw traps and what brand/type should I buy? I welcome suggestions for bait/lure recommendations. Also welcome Trapping for Dummies books.

thanks,

I'm no expert, but I use #3's for the varmints you mentioned. I trap for predator control and because I enjoy it, thus I dont have a lot of traps. I bought #3's for coyotes and found I catch everything in them. Meaning the occasional possum, coon, and skunk. I do have some smaller traps that I set when I'm targeting the coons, etc., and have caught coyotes in 1.5's, but I dont recommend them for the larger varmints.

As for brand..... depends on whether you want USA made or others. USA made brands are higher priced. All will catch varmints. Traps are a good example of you get what you pay for.

Books..... some of the best reading on trapping is free online. Gutenburg.org , type trapping in the search box, scan thru the books and read what you want. Lots of old trapping stories, ideas, stuff that can be used/applied today. One story was about a sheep herder and what he did to trap coyotes.... maybe that will work for you.

^ ^ I share this opinion ^ ^

I know a lot of people like the smaller traps,
but I find with a heavier more substantial
piece of steel on their foot, an otherwise hard
fighting animal will calm down faster and lay
down .
I can't speak for west of here
In east Texas l have good luck with
squirrel pieces, and the neighbor has
had really good luck with coon parts.
The Locklear baits are top drawer and
any of Clint Locklear's products or
advice or videos will help you produce.


JMHO- I prefer to see an abundance of
game animals and game birds rather than
seeing predator sign

Good Luck

Edit
Check with RP outdoors just across the
line in Loozeanna. They'll send you a catalog
and fix you for trapping goods

A west\Tx trapper I know from Tx. Trappers and Fur Hunters Assn.
catches incredible numbers of lions out there. Check out the website.

Order MB 550’s from MN Trapline products. They are the Cadillac of traps. There website has a ton of tips for you as well and shipping is incredibly fast.

+1 on RP Outdoors being good folks. Randy will treat you right.

I liked the dogless Montgomery step-ins, either a #3 or 4.

Thank you for the information. I ordered a starter kit from Minnesota trap and some extra Victor traps. As luck would have it, I found one of the guard dogs that I thought were all gone Sunday morning....

I always wonder how you manage that the cats step exactly where the trap is waiting for them. There is lots of much safer space around to set a step. I have absolutely no idea.

cats and coons are easy to guide. use sticks, rocks, cow pies and the like....

The biggest size that is legal for land sets. They will catch higher on the leg and you'll catch fewer toes. When I trapped I had #2s and I ended up with more toes than catches.

Keep this in mind..... Trap makers do not use the same numbers for the same sizes. By that I mean the smaller the trap number, supposedly the smaller the trap spread. But, that's not always true..... a #3 Bridger and a #4 Duke have the same size spread, both 6 1/2".

My brother traps 25-50 coyotes each winter in Ks and uses #3. Not sure what brand.

MB 550's are my favorite and I have no issues with toe catches.

I have an opinion based on my personal experience. Buy only Oneida/Victor traps. I made the mistake once of buying cheaper traps, and came upon my coyote set and the trap lay broken apart, and the coyote long gone. The welds gave way. I went back, exclusively, to my tried and true Victor's and still have them to this day. Made in America since 1852, and they last. I use #2 offset for fox and #3 offset for coyote and bobcat (4s are OK too for coyotes) As for lures, alot depends on the type of set, but I started trapping back in the 1970s with Hawbaker's Lures. There are many different brands, and that's what makes it enjoyable. I like to make my own lures using beaver castor as a base ingredient. Castor will draw in anything with a nose.

Hawbakers Widow Maker #800

Clic pic