This was my first year trapping (located in PA). Focusing on coyotes. I bought a dozen used Sleepy Creek 1.75 2-coiled offsets. I had very mixed results. I’m definitely looking to go larger this year. I’ve been kicking around the idea of buying a half dozen of each : MB 650 IL, Bridger # 3 Dogless 4 coil, and K-9s IL . My outside jaw spread is 6.5” max

I learned a lot this year and educated some fur along the way. No yotes til the last 8 days of the season. Then 3, but only one in a foothold.

Problems along the way :
# 1 - Freezing: I’m not expecting miracles, but the Sleepys wouldn’t fire with minimal ice. Even lost a red with a clump of frozen peat moss in the jaws. Frustrating to see coyote tracks all over my set. Will I see improvement with a larger trap? I do need to improve on my end next year with waxed dirt/antifreeze.
# 2 Pull outs: May have to do with my inexperience with pan tension. But obviously a larger four coil should help.

In general, if you folks were starting out again, which direction would you go? Looking for a good bedding trap. Would I be better off getting a dozen of the same and getting good at setting/bedding them?

Thanks in advance.

Be prepared to get a million answers. I have some of everything you listed except the Sleepys. I run mostly full mod Bridger #3s....it's just what I have. I have some K9 Extremes and they are just a better built trap. So If I personally was buying new traps I would go with the K9 Extremes...they are basically a Bridger Dogless design but Kendall has corrected pretty much every gripe you would have with the Bridger. I have some 650s and they are straight up coyote killers...but trickier to set and some complain about a dead spot on the back of the pan. I don't know that I would recommend to a new trapper just because there are easier traps to learn on but there is 0 wrong with them. The wire levers help them bed like butter. So if you want my opinion...I would go the K9X route and get proficient with bedding them. Just an opinion...there are a lot of good traps. And the 550 can't be overlooked either...coyote death.

Research the hay set. Im in canada and we get lots of cold weather. So I feel your pain! lol Make a mound with straw and add urine or and gland lure then make a straw bed ( not to thick but enough to make it fluffy. Then place your trap on bed, no need for it to be bedded hard, just loosly lay the trap down then lightly cover the whole bed including the trap. Don't go crazy, just enough to cover trap, otherwise the straw will clog your trap too much and youll get a pull out. Then go back the next day to pick up your prize, and yes you will scratch your head and say " how in the world did this work" kind of defies the logic of bedding a trap solid. I guess the theory is that the bed is already spongy and cracking so the animal doesn't feel the difference.

One of the members in this forum recommended this set-up and I would say its my most productive set it even worked after freezing rain the other night

Give it a wirl!

You're in PA and I'll assume there is a fairly decent risk of domestics finding your coyote sets. For that you need to act like you're a live market trapper.

Id go with Bridger#2 full mod Dogless, or if you go the dog on route the PIT pan and rod dog. If you are willing to spend more, then the No BS K9 Extreme Juniors. Mine are 2 coil for the first year or 2, then I add the 4 coils back on them when I can feel the springs getting lighter.

If you have zero concern about free roaming domestics then you can jump to the full mod bridger #3 or No BS K9 Extreme. Some are reporting the Extremes will hold animals with hooves that do not stay caught in the Bridger's..... be prepared for a rodeo if you've never released a Deer or Bear.

Jakes and Sterlings are the top of the list, but real expensive.

I'd start with a few of the k9 juniors and a few extremes to see which you like better.

mb550's or bridger#2's and wax dirt. youll be good to go all year.

If I was you I would try a couple of traps instead of a half dozen.. I have tried several different traps and I know run only the mb550 or the KO K9 extremes I love both traps I lean toward the MB a little more with go conditions but If I know freezing conditions and snow are coming the 4 coiled KOS get slammed in the ground they to me are a little tougher to bed but whatever steps in it stays in it

I'm with The North. I cannot believe how well they work on fox. I think the hay odor and very nature of giving when stepped on hides the trap. And The North is right - do not put too much hay on the trap!

You cannot go wrong with the extremes or the jrs from no bs lures. Very little fuss in the trap prep, they come dipped already. Just get your stakes or drags and go. When bedding them I put a little trench in the trap bed for the d ring and base plate to set in and this helps with getting them solid. I've had a dozen extremes for about 3 years now and they have caught a countless number of critter, and they are always deep catches. I have not caught anything with a jr yet but I'm sure that they would preform flawlessly. Good luck and happy trapping

I think trying a few of each is a good idea. If some are not as desirable sell them on here later. The heavy traps may not be so good on the incidental coon. If in coyote only locations fine. New guys have SO many options these days.

These pullouts, were the traps shined up?

Pullouts may also.be the result of frozen bedding material. No trap will work properly if they freeze no matter the size. Figure out a good bedding system and I bet the traps you have will work fine. You can always buy more traps but my recommendation is to go to a convention or some place that has a variety of traps and choose 1 brand and size then get used to it. That is my opinion.... I know others will be different, do what suits you..

There is no comparison of these traps to the 650. I've tried all 3.

I'd go with your original thought and test all the traps you mentioned (against each other). Testing traps is really the only way to decide what works best.

I really like the bridger #3 doglesses they are my favorite trap so far. I also like the k9 extreme but it is built very heavey. 650s are awesome too but i like the bigger pan of the bridger. Whatever you do, you wont go wrong with bridgers, mbs, sleepy creeks, or montgomerys. Their all good traps. Once you find what ya like then you can start heading toward 100 traps lol

Here if I am targeting coyotes I have been using #3 Bridgers and Northwoods. I use waxed dirt for cover and don't have much problem with freeze up. We don't have many fox this is why I stick with the #3's. If we had more fox I might drop down to a #2.

The MB's would keep you happy.

I run 550s, full mod Bridger #2s and full mod Duke #3s, all with short chain and 3 CP swivels. BRIDGERS and Dukes with Pit pans and ss rod dogs, pans set at 3 to 4 pounds of pan tension.
In my hay set I use #3 full mod dbls.
Peat and wax is necessary BUT the pipe dream set is a major for freezing condition.
All above traps are equal in holding in my expierence