Over the years I have talked with many non-trappers and the tall tales they make up about trapping is truly amazing. I have heard all kinds of stories like the Minnesota beaver are so big Victor had to make a #440 special trap just so they could be trapped. All trappers in Minnesota use the #440, the #330 are just too small. I thought I heard it all until this year. I heard the #440 story again but with a different twist.

I was trapping on some private property and the owner had a friend in the area. It was early morning and we sat around talking.  His friend started talking about trapping bears with a #330. Now, I have trapped a lot of years and maybe a #330 would hold a 100 pound bear, but I am not sure. I never tried it. I had one monster beaver pull out of the #330 once, so I kind of doubt a #330 would hold a bear. But, again that is my theory having never tried to trap a bear before. So, I started asking questions. Like how in the heck do you do that? The story became better with the first question. Oh, you put a fish on the trigger. Oh now, I know it is a tall tale because the #330 would  hit the bear in the skull. Now, understand a bear's skull has been known to have high power rifle bullets skip off it. So, a #330 would catch the bear on the skull and the bear would then easily pull out of the trap. Again, that would be my guess, never having  tried to trap a bear. Next question, are you sure you put the bait on the trigger?

Friend, "Now that you mention it I think we were using 440?"

Buckshot, "Oh really, where do buy #440 traps from?" Half expecting the answer to be it in Minnesota because the beaver are so big. Victor had to make #440. :-)

Friend, "Well, back in the 70's Victor made #440. My friend ordered some. They were a special order from the factory. Now those #440 would take bears up to 300 pounds."

Buckshot, "300 pound bear? Wow. They must have been one heck of a trap. Were the bears dead?"

Friend, "Oh yes dead as a door nail. Yep got to love those traps."

Buckshot, "Yep, I heard about those #440 before in Minnesota because the beaver are so big. Victor had to make #440." :-)

Friend, "Yep those are the traps."

It was very hard not to laugh in his face. After thirty years of trapping I have never seen a #440. Never have talked to a trapper that owned one. But, you never know I am sure with each telling the story becomes larger. Who knows what it will be next year. Maybe it is going to be a #550. :-)