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Post by bchunter on May 18, 2007 6:21:43 GMT -5
I've been on just about all the trapping web site's and alot of people (trappers) put the Duke Trap down. Are they really that bad or do alot of folks dislike them because there made in Korea ?
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Post by wheelers on May 18, 2007 6:56:32 GMT -5
I use alot of the 1.5 coils 120's and 160's and I've never had a problem .I use all drowning rigs with my 1.5's as far as the larger coils I haven't used any.I think the earlier made Duke traps had some issues but I've had good luck with the newer ones.
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Post by cajunbill2 on May 18, 2007 7:23:19 GMT -5
yes and no ...you get what you pay for....the older ones were junk when they first came out but have improved them a lot..i have caught a lot of fur with them and i still use a lot in a high thief area....in my book they are better then a tin can victor...would i buy them again yes .would they be my only brand of trap no....now i am going to open up a can of worms ...not one trap on the market is made that don't need some kind of work to them...some major and some minor...two traps that i use is my first choice is bridger and second choice is a duke....if it was me i would buy two traps one duke 11/2 and one bridger 11/2 and compare them ..what you will fined that the bridger is a better built trap and not much more of the cost
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Post by bchunter on May 18, 2007 7:41:54 GMT -5
I hope there a good trap.I recently purchased two dozen #2 Duke Traps and a dozen 110s and some 280s.Heck I like there prices so well I went ahead and purchased there #1,#4,#5 and #6 wire stretchers.Im doing a few mod's to the #2 traps.Im changing the chains out with straight link chain and adding new j-hooks and putting on 4-way swivels.With a few more mods done to them they should be coyote proof... i hope.
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Post by huckleberry on May 18, 2007 7:46:38 GMT -5
There is not much wrong with a duke trap. Sort like buyin a chevy instead of a Buick.......same thing.....one's just a little less "fancy". They both do the same thing in the end.
I use alot of duke CS's, and have never been disappointed in them. Some guys I know have modified the #3's and love them for cats and yotes.
I just can't see paying 35 a whack for a fancy trap, when a 15 dollar trap will do the same thing just as well. Even if I have to "fancy" it up some myself. At least this way I have them the way I want them.
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Post by cajunbill2 on May 18, 2007 7:59:14 GMT -5
bchunter they will do the job....now bill is a good friend of mine and i don't think he would sale you some thing that was junk...like huck said some people drives a car and others a truck..i have used duke traps straight out of the box with very little work...think about this and use good common since ..would duke trap company still be in bussiness today if the traps did not do the job....one thing that you need to do to them is put a bubble at the jaws so they don't pop out because they will and thats a fact..i had to pull three dz a few years ago because out of 36 traps 12 popped out....but when i put the bubble on they never gave me no more problems... they will catch and hold coyotes...
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Post by bchunter on May 18, 2007 8:07:05 GMT -5
I've taken a good hard look at the Duke Trap and they look like a good trap.The springs are strong and the jaws look good and with a little adjusting of the pan here and there with a few mods they look like there going to do the job intended.
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Post by cajunbill2 on May 18, 2007 8:14:01 GMT -5
bchunter ....use them they will work just put the bubble on the jaws...i will say this if duke ever came out with a square jaw 4 coil trap that would be my number one choice of trap...
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Post by bchunter on May 18, 2007 8:15:37 GMT -5
Im goig to bubble the jaws for sure and put a spot weld here and there.
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Post by cajunbill2 on May 18, 2007 9:22:10 GMT -5
if you need any advise .please ask thats what i am here for.
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Post by bchunter on May 18, 2007 9:32:01 GMT -5
Cajunbilll2,I do have a question...should I tack weld the cross frame or base plate ?
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Post by cajunbill2 on May 18, 2007 10:20:58 GMT -5
that depends on the base plate if its the type that you put on with nuts and bolts i tack weld the cross plates but if i am using the type of base plates that you spot weld on. then i tack weld the base plates..i have never had a duke trap to snap at the cross plate but they will bend with out a base plate if you are planning on four coiling them...now if you are not four coiling the traps and just using the base plates for placing the chain on a d ring ..then just take the plate and put a small thin pair of vise grips on the plate and trap to hold plate and trap in place and put four beads on each side of plate....
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Post by bchunter on May 18, 2007 10:35:55 GMT -5
I don't plan on four coiling them because there plenty fast and the springs are good and strong.It's all I can do to set them by hand.So your saying you don't need to base plate unless you four coil them ?
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Post by cajunbill2 on May 18, 2007 10:50:56 GMT -5
if you are happy with the chain on the corner then don't base plate them just put the bubble on the jaws...i have used many of them with out the base plates and caught many many yotes with them..the reason people base plate a trap thats not four coiled is because they want the chain on the center of the trap by doing this the yotes foot has a straight up ward pull and a hight catch on the foot and its harder for the yote to pull out but the chain on the corner of the trap it can at times pull out because it want always catch a hight catch of the foot
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Post by cajunbill2 on May 18, 2007 11:01:45 GMT -5
the reason for four coil traps is the speed and the way they come out of the ground..take a double coil when it comes out of the ground it tends to jump a little off to the side but when the four coil trap comes out of the ground it comes straight up which means a higher dead center catch of foot..they work great in snow ,sand and light ice sets...some times you need that extra speed which helps when it comes to cats.
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Post by bchunter on May 18, 2007 11:11:09 GMT -5
I understand what your saying completley.The Duke Trap's I just purchased are the strongest traps I've seen.All the other traps I've used have been Northwoods 11/2 and a few 13/4 traps.They don't even come close to these new Duke Traps as far as spring strength and speed.I can't wait untill im done with the mods and I can dye and wax them to see how fast of a trap I have.
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Post by cajunbill2 on May 18, 2007 11:18:19 GMT -5
duke traps got a bad name when they first came out and like every thing else its a name that is hard to remove...they are improving them and they are a 100 times better now then before.
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Post by bchunter on May 18, 2007 11:40:01 GMT -5
I agree.I need to pick up a few more...may pick up a few dozen #3s next.
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Post by cajunbill2 on May 18, 2007 12:12:24 GMT -5
good luck buddy...remember i am here if you need me
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Post by offshoretrash on May 18, 2007 12:25:00 GMT -5
bchunter if you are handy with a welder i would weld the frame and the bottom of the pan. i have some 1.75 duke and i had some 1.75 victors and the dukes just built just a tuff. i bought the victors used and most had the frame bent because the base was so light. this is the stuff victor lovers won't say. i sold them because of how light they was built.
i base plate everything but i use a 1/8th pase plate so the trap stay light.
i would also smooth the jaw edges out to.
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Post by cajunbill2 on May 18, 2007 12:57:56 GMT -5
offshore you are right most people for get about the sharp jaws on the duke traps which will cause a lot of damage and stress on the animal..
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coop
Rat Trapper
Posts: 74
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Post by coop on May 18, 2007 15:33:19 GMT -5
A few licks with a small file, then some emory cloth on the jaw edges will do all you need. 5 minutes per trap max.....c oop
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Post by tomcat3006 on May 20, 2007 0:29:17 GMT -5
With a little tuneing they are plenty good for anything. Bubble weld the jaw tips is the main thing. Base plate if you are going to catch alot of coyotes. I use all #3 Dukes on cats and coyotes. Last season I used all Rubber jaw and offsets without any mods. and the only problem I had is I lost the dog off of one trap that I caught a coyote in. Thats not bad. I'm not too proud to say I use them and use them by choice. Not saying their the best trap made but I don't see anything wrong with them.
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Post by huckleberry on May 20, 2007 7:29:09 GMT -5
Tomcat,
You use the # rubber jawed dukes huh?
Compared to other rubber jawed traps how are they? Did you catch alot of yotes with them?
I have to use rubber jaws for my adc work and was going to try them. I haven't heard alot of good about their #3's however. I simply do not like the Vic traps anymore so was lookin for others.
Thanks!!!!!!!
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Post by tomcat3006 on May 20, 2007 9:49:36 GMT -5
huckleberry, I didn't catch alot of coyotes I was after cats mostly but caught a few coyotes, coons ,badger,possums and skunks. I didn't have any trouble with them. If going after coyotes I would for sure bubble weld the jaw tips and baseplate them. tomcat..
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Post by huckleberry on May 20, 2007 10:35:59 GMT -5
Thanks tomcat......one more if ya dont' mind.....are they 4 coiled from the factory? I think heard they are making them that way......or maybe it is a new trap model ?
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Post by tomcat3006 on May 20, 2007 14:02:26 GMT -5
No they're not 4-coiled, the #4 dukes are but they're not rubber jawed. I have some #3's that I 4- coiled but I haven't used them yet. tomcat.
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Post by huckleberry on May 20, 2007 14:19:40 GMT -5
awww....ok...as usual I got to many things bouncin around in my head.....thanks for the help.....
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Post by offshoretrash on May 20, 2007 14:51:52 GMT -5
huck i got 6 #3 duke rubber jaws fully modified with 4-coil beefer spring kits i would sale you.
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Post by huckleberry on May 20, 2007 14:55:35 GMT -5
how much OST? PM me if ya want to...or post here either.....
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