Can an MB 450 Trap Coyote, Fox, or Raccoon?
I was recently wondering what would be the best trap for fox trapping. I put out a survey where I asked trappers what fox traps they were using. The number two choice was an MB 450.
The MB 450 trap is a very good trap for coyote and fox trapping. It is one of the most popular traps to use among fox trappers because it also holds coyotes.
| Trap Quanity | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
| One Dozen MB 450 Traps | $$$ | See product listing on eBay |
| Six MB 450 Traps | $$ | See product listing on eBay |
| One MB 450 Trap | $ | See product listing on eBay |
See All MB 450 Trap Prices on eBay
Trappers said that if they were fox trapping and had the possibility of catching a coyote they wanted a trap big enough to hold it. The other stipulation was that the trap was not too big for a fox to injure it.
MB 450 vs 550
The MB 450 is a smaller trap than the MB 550. The MB 450 is usually used to catch animals fox-sized and smaller. The MB 550 is used to target coyotes and has a larger area for a coyote to place its foot.
Another reason the MB 550 is recommended for coyotes is that it will catch the coyote higher up on the foot and get a better hold. Fox can also be caught in the MB 550 but is getting a little too big.
In the survey we did on finding the most popular fox trap, the MB 450 trap received 13.68% of the vote and was the second most popular trap voted for.
The most popular fox trap was a 1.5 sized trap. The MB 450 is a 1.5 sized trap. This means that over 30% of trappers are using the MB 450 or a similar size but different brand of this trap.
If you would like to learn more about the popular fox traps you can visit the fox trapping article I wrote.
How much does an MB 450 Trap cost?
The MB 450 is a higher-end trap because it is a cast jaw trap. Cast jaw traps are harder to make than if they are bent into shape by a machine.
The MB 450 should cost you between $15 and $25 depending on how many you buy and where you get them. The top price I saw was $33.95 and that is definitely paying way too much per trap.
Casting the jaws makes the trap stronger and hopefully makes the trap last longer. This is such a popular trap that Duke Traps has come out with a very similar trap to compete with the Minnesota Brand Traps.
MB 450 Trap Review
The MB 450 is one of the strongest and most popular fox traps on the market. It may cost more than other traps that are the same size and used for the same purpose but it is a cast jaw trap and stronger than many other options on the market.
Types of MB 450 Traps
MB 450 FH (Closed Jaw) Trap
This closed jaw trap is different from the other traps because as you look down from the top of the trap when the jaws are closed there is not a gap or offset between the jaws.
MB 450 FOX (Closed Jaw) Trap
The FOX version of the MB 450 trap is also a closed jaw trap. This trap Is identical to the FH trap except for an extra length of chain and a swivel added to it.
MB 450 OS (Offset Jaw) Trap
The OS trap stands for offset trap. This trap is the same ass the FH version of the trap except when the trap is closed and you look down on it there is a gap in the jaws when closed. This offset gap relieves pressure on larger animals caught anima’s foot.
Rubber Jaw Trap
I have yet to see an MB 450 trap that comes with a rubber jaw but the next best thing would be to get an MB 550. I have seen many MB 550 traps that come with rubber jaws.
Dogless Trap
MB 450 does not come in a dogless version. Similar taps that would come in a dogless version are a Bridger #2 dogless trap.
How to set an MB 450
To set this trap is similar to setting any other leg hold or foothold trap.
- Place the trap so the dog is facing away from you. Make sure your dog of the trap is outside of where the jaws will lay or pointing away from you.
- Press down on the two levers on each side of the trap. You can do this with your hands or by stepping on and compressing the leavers with your feet. This will loosen the jaws and allow them to fall to the set position.
- Flip the dog over the jaw of the trap and hook it under the pan of the trap.
- Lift up on the pan and slowly release the compressed leavers. If you can you can lift up the loose jaw of the trap so if the trap fires while you are setting it you don’t the caught in it.
- With the loose jaw still up, press down on the pan until you hear a click. This will level your pan. This is called a night latch and helps make sure your trap is properly set.
- Lower the loose jaw. The trap is now set and ready to bed in the dirt.
Pan Tension For MB 450
The pan tension for an MB 450 comes preset from the factory and may be harder for you to change. There is not a screw that controls the pan tension on these traps.
When it comes from the factory you are going to want to lower the pan tension to catch fox or raccoons. You do this by bending the dog of the trap ever so slightly so that it curves down.
The more strait the dog the higher the pan tension. The more the dog is bent down the lower the pan tension and the easier it is for the trap to fire. This video helped me understand it better.
A pan tension tester can be very helpful when trying to set the tension of your pan. If you need one or want to learn how to use one, I wrote an article about them that you can see here.
MB 450 Cookie Cutter
A cookie-cutter for a trap can be helpful for bedding your trap in the dirt. A cookie-cutter for a trap is a cutter that is the shape of the trap and you pound it into the ground to cut out the perfect shape for your trap.
A cookie-cutter will work well in grass or where there is a lot of vegetation. It works ok when it is just dirt and is basically pointless in the sand.
It works well when making a flat set when you are trying to make it look like the dirt has not been dug up. This allows you to cut out the perfect hole to place your trap in.
If you need a cookie cutter for a flat set here is one that will work for several trap sizes including an MB 450. You can see the cookie cutter on eBay.
Common Animals To Trap With MB 450
Red fox should be trapped with a 1.5 foothold trap and that is the size of the MB 450 trap. It will hold a red fox very well and lower the chance of foot damage.
The MB 450 is the ideal-sized trap for a grey fox.
Coyote
Coyote trapping tips and tricks
Coyotes are prevalent in most of the United States. They have learned to adapt to most habitats. In many states, coyotes are in season for hunting year-round.
The MB 450 is a great trap for catching coyotes. If you are targeting specifically coyotes, I would consider getting a little bigger trap but the MB 450 will hold a coyote as shown in the video above.
When trapping raccoons with the MB 450 it is good to use the closed jaw version of the trap. Some raccoons can slip out of the offset jaw version.
