Shock springs

How many use shock springs for. Coyote traps?pros and cons?

I put them on Duke 550/650 and a half dozen NO BS extremes. I find that none of these traps need it to hold our coyotes. I do like the way the traps bed when I lay the spring under one of the levers. It sure doesn’t hurt to have them, but I find the deep pad catches of the above traps are sufficient.

I use them on my 650’s, used them on my #3 victors too, I feel they look good to non trappers when you show them how traps work. As far as the way they work, I find I hold everything even toe caught animals. That can be good and bad. I’m sure that it’s easier on the animals when they first get caught, as far as a big jump or lung. Might tire the animal out faster? Coyotes still have big catch circles though. I guess it’s just a couple more bucks if a trap shows up missing.





wws

Curious what kind y’all are running. The ones I’ve seen you’d need 150# critter to possibly have any use out of them. I don’t see a coyote or bobcat even opening them even a little with a full run, lol.

JC Conner’s, they have several different springs. After waxing you should hit them with a hammer to break the wax bond. I use his rod swivels too with long j hooks welded closed.

wws

I never saw the need. Short chain with lots of swivels and your good to go.

I have all my #4 double long springs long chained and single staked , with a shock spring in the middle. I like the long chain setup better with the springs.

Short chains and 3 swivels are your friend.

Some of my traps have shock springs, some don't. I'm removing them when season is over. I don't like bedding them. I'm becoming a big fan of short chains and swivels for my style of trapping. Nothing against them, its they just don't match my style or sets.

Short chains/good swiveling/no live market = NOT NEEDED.

I use appropriate sized JC Conner springs on my wolf specific traps and MB 650s. 28" chains with (4) wolf or MB heavy swivels (welded shut) and a t-bar spring. Anchor ends set up for double rebar staking or attaching up to twin super stakes or 10' chain w/drag. Shock springs are sized to dampen the energy surge timeframe reducing the huge shock forces caused by the animal's lunge at the end of the chain.

When the shock spring is totally expanded what good does it do? Maybe I should be using them on my CRs. LOL

If the shock spring is totally expanded the spring has absorbed all the force it is capable of. The shock impulse force has been reduced by slowing acceleration over time. Reduced enough to reduce harm to the animal; maybe, maybe not? But it hasn't caused any greater harm.

If the shock spring is totally expanded, the spring has not been appropriately matched to the size, weight, and strength of the animal.

As for use on CRs, our (Wisconsin) state regulations are pretty specific as to what is permitted in construction. I'm not sure if springs would be allowed or in what configuration; but, it may be a good question to ask the Wisconsin DNR.

I’m trying to get set up for live market trapping

How did you get the bear out of there?

Well I had my wife with me, so she is not big enough to open a trap, and hot big enough to hold the bear with a catch pole, so we opted to call the department of fish and game and tell them to come get it out. They darted it. I would had been fine if someone was just able to help me with my catch all pole. I normally can handle the cougars fine. A bear likes to roll more.

wws

I trapped live market fox and coyotes In SC for 12 years. I used 1.65 bridgers with stock chain length with 2 added swivels. I added Inside laminations. I didn't have any buyer complaints.

Was your forest ape secured with an earth anchor?

I use the JC Conner shocks and 3 swivels and a split rings attached to a Wolf fang cable anchors. As I have learned from some guys on the forum here is that the sooner you can get the animals out the trap the better.Run traps Early as you can.Sometimes I am finishing up running when the sun is coming up.

Shock springs don't expand...they compress.

Years ago North woods had shock springs on their 1 3\4 traps that would have expanded. I don't know if a fox could have pulled hard enough for them to work. I quit using the trap because it was just that much more to bed when making a set.

I installed them on a dozen Extremes this year. I’ll be taking them off for next season. I lost two of those new traps. I have never lost a trap before and I don’t totally believe the losses were directly caused by the springs, but a combination of longer chain and unwelded j hooks. I did eventually snare one of the yotes and tracked another for a couple miles in the snow before loosing track of it.

I have a couple dozen shock springs on traps, but I have a bunch more dozens without. My live market set up is normally swivel, 2 links of chain, swivel, 2 links of chain, swivel, anchor. I’ve noticed that on traps with shock springs I have less cutting. The cutting that I do have without springs is always a tiny cut, but sometimes depending on weather and the coyote they will sit and fester or the coyote will lick to open it up and then it becomes a problem. So I shoot for no cutting. I bought a bunch of rubber jaws this year and they seem to help tremendously with that little cut, but time in trap is probably number one still.

The guy I bought a bunch of the rubber jaws from likes a chain that just consists of 2-3 swivels attached together. Pretty sure he’s caught more canines than most in my area using that setup

PWC , yes earth anchor.

wws

JIm's stuff is what I use and recommend

What is short chain? Mine are 30 inches with 3 swivels and I think its a really good setup.

With a short chain they have no leverage. Short chain generally just means the stock chain that comes on the trap with maybe an extra swivel added in the middle. The only “long” chains I have are on my drag setups.

Short chain in NC is defined as 8" max. from trap to solid anchor. Anything longer requires a shock spring for any foothold land sets. So we either have to shorten stock chains or add shock springs to be legal.

I tend to prefer the shock springs on my long chain setups ( 30” + ) , but I can’t imagine trying to bed a trap with a short chain and a shock spring.

Shock springs are a plus on any trap chain. Have even used them on my beaver & otter traps with drowners

Most chains on my coyote/bcat footholds are 12" to 15". Most still have a PIT or a Connor in-line spring...that I haven’t removed yet.

What problem on the trapline are the shock springs addressing for you?

MOST people have never had to hold aniamals for days. With extended check times OR places with long check times. A shock spring on a fighting bad Coyote is a good thing. Or you may find just a food in a trap IF you get a true trap fighter. Catch 500 plus a year and see IF a shock spring doesn’t make a difference! I run 4 JC Conner swivels and a shock spring on my MJ 600s

Not really a problem but once in a great while you may get a toe catch leading to an empty trap at the drowning weight.
I experimented one year adding shock springs to maybe not loose that rare toe catch.
Have added the shock springs ever since just for added insurance. Just something i usually do

An empty trap can also be from a chest hair catch. Nothing can save those though if that is to happen.

On a short chain setup I see no benefit to the shock springs. If anything, they’re a pain in the butt in the trap bed.

I do have some of my long chain rigs setup with them. I’m mostly worried about maintaining a hold on poorly caught coyotes.

Jurys still out on how much it helps.

I was told on here that to be more humane, I was supposed to add chain until thay were atleast 20 inches. I do that and now they say don't. Longer chains have the advantage of the coyote not being able to pump up the stake.

In Oregon we have a 48 hour check rule. I run earth anchors, I like that the coyotes are pulling to the side rather than up on those. I run a rod swivel 6 links of chain and a rod swivel to my spring, rod swivel to six more links, maybe 16/18 inches total. 16 inch earth anchors. If I trap in central Oregon the ground is solid pumice they still hold.

wws

Just because you read it on here doesn't make it correct. Just think about how much we disagree on different topics. Someone has to be wrong and someone has to be right. I've learned through experience which guys I chose to listen to on here. If your using single stakes instead of cross stakes or earth anchors longer chains are an advantage. As far as being more humane I'd say that's debatable.

Shock springs certainly aren't necessary but I like them and have them on all of my rigs.

They might make it a little easier on the animal but they definitely cushion the lunge and help with stake pumping. JCs springs have a 75 pound pull, so they take 75 pounds of pressure off that trap and stake every time the animal lunges.

Shock springs definitely help when an animal is toe caught. In the right circumstances they are good insurance just like an extra swivel is.

on wolf traps do you cut the chain and install shock springs or just quick link to chain with a lil slack in chain ? hope that makes sence

Always just quick link to chain with some slack

I used them for two years. I found for me, not worth the cost of the set up and extra bedding issues. I did not find I lost any less of toe caught coyotes with them. I did find a short chain and three swivels was very effective at reducing losing toe caught animals.