280 or 330?

I was thinking of getting some 280s and making some wolverine boxes. I never tried boxes before but I like that they are somewhat weather resistant. I would also like the box to catch any lynx that go by. Would I be better off with a 330 that is a bigger opening or will the 280 be just fine? Have any of you that use 280s have refusals from lynx? I understand that any animal can refuse lynx or otherwise.

I’d go with 330. 280 is good for wolverine and fox but I havent seen a lynx stick his head in one yet. Just my opinion.

I second what Ryan said

I would go with a 330 and you should consider using 5 gallon buckets. I catch both wolverine and lynx with this setup.

I use 330s. And have even had a young wolf stick his head in a box.

330 and a pen works good.

Got this guy with 330 and a milk crate last week.

330s work good in milk crates for me for both.

Same trap.

There should be a thread on how to cut a 5 gallon bucket to hold a 330. Wouldn't work with a 280 I bet. If you make your own boxes then 280s might work. Do you already have 330s? 330s would allow either critters body to get part way in, sometimes, before triggering. 280s would only get the head. Maybe more of a chance of missing the animal.
I would wager you are more likely to get the incidental, rare, wolf in a 330 than a 280.

https://youtu.be/ltZeWEqQzO8?si=CeAu5_tnxooqrsZA

I used to use milk crates but after switching to 5 gallon buckets I'd never go back. Hope this video helps........

I set mine with the trigger in the back so the wolverine/ lynx is farther into the conibear when it fires and I also use a conibear safety while snapping the conibear into the bucket.

Thank you Victor

Sounds like the consensus is to use 330s. I appreciate the input!

How well do buckets hold up in the cold weather. The buckets I have seem pretty brittle when the temperature drop below zero. I like the idea of buckets but don't want to replace them every time the trap fires.

Every area is a little different. My trapping partners and I haven't had success with buckets for wolverine.

There used to be species specific threads. Can't find them so far. Pretty sure there was a different way to cut a bucket shown in the wolverine thread. Victors link looks good. If you have old buckets that have been out in the sun they may be brittle. Otherwise most buckets won't break when the coni fires. Now, if the wolverine doesn't expire quickly...............

Found it:
https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/30747/1/wolverine-thread-archive

I've been using some of the same buckets for a number of years and we get temps down to -60 so I don't think that is an issue. You can usually get free buckets from restaurants, bakeries, and construction sites. I prefer white buckets because they blend in but in my area I honestly haven't seen where color makes any difference. I put my bait in the bottom of the bucket and pour some water about half way up the bait. I then put it in a garbage bag and let it sit in a warm space for about 5 days. Once it's fermented I put it outside to freeze, the funky soup and bait will be solid in the bottom so small animals can't make off with your bait. As some have said buckets may or may not work in your area but it's worth a try and if it does you'll have a cheap, quick, and easy wolverine set.

Great idea to use "frozen soup" to avoid losing bait to other little creatures!

Pete

Thanks everyone! Now should I go with Belisle or Bridger?

I have been using Bridgers but think I will be switching to the Belisle due to the better design of their safety's.

Hate Bridger con's.
Belisle all the way.

X2 what Viking said

X3. I’ll take belisle over any other brands. I also have zero complaints about the savageau traps. The 2001-8 is a perfect wolverine specific trap IMO. I just prefer belisle for their triggers and the compact size allows me to fit more in my trap bag.

I recommend the Belisles as well

How limited on funds are you? I personally don't like the Belisle safeties because I set the traps by hand and with both hands on the springs I can just tilt the trap or give it a little flip and put the safeties of the other brands on. But I know I am an outlier on that and pretty near everyone else prefers the Belisle safeties. If you are limited on funds the Bridgers will catch everything just fine, just not as user friendly as some of the other brands. I haven't used their 330s but I believe they have small spring eyes like the other Bridger conis that can be a pain when setting. If you are limited on funds the Duke 330s are not a bad trap to use as long as you don't mind a rectangular trap that is a different size than all other brand 330s. I only use them for beaver and otter, so it doesn't bother me, but they may not fit right in boxes made for other brands.

Just get Belisle and be done. Best coni traps no mater what size!

Not even a question belisle all day long specially if your after wolverine

From experience, Bridgers will kill wolverine and lynx. Maybe somebody can explain what's wrong with them?

Not made in Canada.

The Bridger 330 has large spring eye openings so no issues there. Nothing like the small eye openings on their 110's and 120's which are a total pain in the rear.

Well I ordered six Belisle 330s. Undecided on buckets vs boxes. I have a lot of scrap lumber and not very many buckets on hand. May try both and see what I like.

Thanks everyone for the input!

It seems like results really vary among trappers on this issue! I have had a ton of refusals with buckets and to date not one has committed suicide in one!
I have had good luck with open ended boxes and natural cubbies.
Good luck with your experimenting!

Either size trap should work well. Personally I run 330’s, my only consideration between the 280 and 330 is that the larger trap gives the marten a bit more grace as far as room to miss the trigger coming and going from the wolverine set. I can’t catch all of them in boxes and they invariably work the bait.
I don’t make lynx specific sets, but have caught them at wolverine sets.

Here’s a Bridger. They work but it’s not my first choice when loading the trap bag full of traps.

Just can't go wrong with Belisle 330's if you are buying bodygrips for wolverine.

That said, Caught 4 wolverine so far this season, even split between 280's and 330's. We don't usually set 280's on purpose targeting wolverine except on "pole" type sets sometimes, and I have a hard time imagining an advantage to a 280 over a 330 in almost any situation for wolverine. However, have quite a lot of 280's set on trails in blind sets for otter and picked up two bonus wolverine in those so far this season (30 otter so far also). Both dispatched quickly. It's a lot like catching otter in a 220. Using a slightly undersized trap tends to insure perfect strikes right behind the head if you can still get the critter to go in. My 280s are mostly pretty old, cheap ones, at this point for that matter. Have maybe two dozen 330s set for wolverine right now, mostly belisles but a few Bridgers. The Bridgers are much newer and significantly stronger. I GROSSLY prefer the belisles and it has nothing to do with killing effectiveness. They are just better traps. Killing effectiveness is mostly strike placement which is just a combination of trigger configuration and then factors mostly outside of your control. The only reason I don't own 300 belisles 280's and 330's and instead mostly own dukes and bridgers is the same reason as everyone else. They are cheap. (and used to be even cheaper) Bought 4 doz of the Bridger 330s for an absolutely ridiculous price years after I had decided I grossly preferred the Belisles. heh. That said I will reiterate that cheap traps kill stuff just fine, the issue isn't with spring strength at all in my experience.The Belisles are made with much better steel, and hold up markedly better over the years (this is why if I could go back in time 20 years I would probably only buy them), the safeties are better, and they are MUCH easier to set with my hands. I do not carry setters of any sort and have set and taken critters out of thousands of big conibears with just my hands. The fact that Belisles simultaneously easily pass over the center hinge but also do not ever jump around the corners is just SO SO SO SO nice. Wasted 10 minutes the other day with a wolverine in a Bridger 330 and a fair bit of snow because the second spring kept jumping around the corner (due to critter in my way etc) had to unhook the trap from anchor to get critter out.

That is well worded and even I could understand ,thank you

I'd go with 330. They open wider plus they are overall a pretty reliable trap if you know how to use them!

I use them both, and have caught both lynx and wolverine in 280s. 330s are easier to set.

Boxes work well; bears like to bust 'em up in the summer, though. I use buckets more than any other set.