Anyone currently using this trap? Which species as target? With/without mods?

Looked at these traps a couple times because a buddy has some. They seem like a decently made mid size trap. The jaws had rounded edges, nice size pan. Not a heavy trap by any means, but seemed like a possible fox trap, or a good coon trap for water sets. Probably hold an otter on a drowner set for coon. Curious to hear some of your experiences and recommendations concerning them. I won't be setting them for yotes. I'm sure they would work, but I like a bit heavier trap for yotes.

Cliff, the #2 dog on Bridger was the only trap I used for coyotes for about 10 years. They are a great trap and I still run a few dozen every year. I have the offset fully modified traps. I have caught 3 otter in those traps staked on dry ground in otter toilets. I did close the offset on those traps set specifically for otter. I have grown to like the #3 size traps more tho. I will sometime phase out the #2 size to get everything the same size.

If it were for coons or fox I would use the 1.75 it has enough juice to hold that occasional coyote. As far as my limited experience the two works fine for coyote,I don't have the variety of animals that you do. In this part of the state it's yotes, badgers,bobcat and some skunks. I use the two's because they are cheaper and allow me to get more traps out. Maybe you could go with the two's with an inside lamination. I know this does doesn't answer your question but the two's will hold coyotes.

I wasn't a fan on land...but can't say I really tried them for water critters. I'd still pick other traps for either.

When I first saw the Bridger #2, I noticed it seemed slightly heavier than the older Victor and B&L's. The base seemed wider, and the jaw edge seemed thicker. Plus the pan was bigger. These were the stand-out points to me, and I was thinking, pocket sets, #2 on a drowner.

Is my #2 all-time favorite for coyotes & bobcats behind MB550C's. Don't have to worry about frozen ground here & I hate to rassle with hard to set traps, so I never bothered with 4-coiling, but the #2 Bridgers are laminated & base plated with offset jaws. I have no idea abt the # of animals I've caught in them in the past 10-12 years, but it's a pretty fair number. It's a good trap for the price, & if you need something bigger, the #3's ain't bad if modified as above. Either can always be 4-coiled if you need to. If you buy some, you should probably get some extra dogs, coyotes is pretty ruff on them. There are some better traps on the market, but I don't think you would be handicapping yourself too bad with the Bridgers. Just like lure & bait, none of them are magic.

We've caught a lot of coyotes and coon in #2 Bridger coils. Still my avatar pic, too.
Jim

If you're going to use it (and I assume you would for water anyhow) but I had far better results with the stock closed jawed Bridger #2 than the all out modded offsets.

I'm kind-of surprised at the number of you fellas that went after yotes with the #2. Nothing wrong with it, just wasn't expecting yotes to top the list of what being caught in them. I caught my first yote in a 1.75 and know a couple trappers that use them exclusively to trap yotes. So I know the #2 can get the job done. I prefer the 550 for yotes. The #2 could be used if I was in a higher theft area, but I generally just move to another spot rather than deal with that headache.

I run some drown-rigs for coons, and I run a lot of exposed blind trail sets on the high bank trails for coons. I think the #2 could perform well in either of these applications.

Plus, with the fur market continuing to lag with most species, I'm looking for things to improve/expand my line. As some are getting out, I'm trying to seize upon opportunities.

The 550 is a #2 sized trap...and why I use the 650 now. They're just better (compared head to head).

But to each his/her own.

I actually picked up a few 650 cast to try this season. I like cast jaws. I also have fox in my area, so there's part of my preference for 550's. Really never compared the #2 to the #550 as far as size, but they're right there together.

As for the #2 Bridger's, I'd want reg jaws, no mods.

I found less "visible" damage to fox with the 650s Cs than the 550s personally. I let my fox go here if I can. The handful I have caught (rare nowadays) "appear" to be unharmed in anyway with the 650 cast jaws.

Thanks Calvin, I appreciate that input.

#2 bridger os jaws. No mod, fox and coyote and will hold all day long.

I run the #2 mod’d and an equal amount of 550s for coyotes would continue to use either. No advantage of one over the other strong enough to go to all of one.

A good versatile land trap here in Pa. Mine are fully modified, 4 coiled, OS. They’ll hold coyotes and fox equally well, as it will a coon or fisher. A shade small for cats, but that’s a novelty season here.I got a dozen of the Bridget #2 dogless this spring....they would be my choice if I was buying a entire new setup. They’re 2 coiled...but extremely strong.

From what I've seen, the Bridger #2's and #3's are pretty decent traps. They are great traps if you like to modify. They also have the attraction of being a little less expensive, if trapping in a high theft area. I'll probably get a few #2's and give them a try.

I use #2 offset 4coiled,I change the dog to tapered stainless nightlatched,my biggest coyote was 48#.

That's a big yote newfox1!

I've got a deal pending, so I may be able to give some #2 dogless a try.

The #2 bridger dogless has a bigger jaw spread and more sq inchs of pan over the 550