Perspective on Swim Through Comstock Beaver Cage Traps, Comparing them to Other Devices

Yes, we do make and sell beaver cage traps, but most important, we use the same traps we sell year round in our ADC business, not because we have to, but because they are superior.  In ADC work it's not about making a point, but about getting the job done quickly and efficiently.

There are 5 "cage trap only" states and other states that do not allow either foot holds, conibears or snares in various disallowed combinations.  Cages are the only way in some states, so the new traps have been a big asset.  In NY, where we operate our ADC business, we are allowed to use virtually all trapping devices available, footholds, conibears(body grippers), snares under permit, both Hancock and Bailey live traps and even shooting to control problem beaver.  I own and have used all of these devices for many years and will of course continue to use them when necessary.  However, now that we have the new swim through, wire triggered, swing bar, cage traps, all of the other devices are merely used as fill ins for the odd occasion when something other than our cages are required.  Due to the nature of these traps, they exhibit more versatility and instill more confidence than any other device we have used, while offering methods and ease in setting never scene before.

In just under 3 years the take is now at 351 beaver taken in our cages by us with a small percentage taken in other devices, the cages accounting for in excess of 90% of our catch.  A few were shot, a few were taken in footholds, while a handful were either snared or taken in body grippers.  All of the rest were caged in Comstock Cages.

The biggest enemy of the ADC trapper is a sprung trap, the creation of an "educated" beaver.  These cages are sensitive, yet the most stable cage traps available, running an extremely high success rate, rarely fired without a catch inside.  Once captured there are no escapes or damage to the traps.  Repeated catches will not damage a trap, even hundreds!

Other wire trigger cage traps using body gripping triggers taken from existing body gripping traps do not compare to the swing bar trigger we specifically developed for our swim through beaver traps.  Not only do our traps hold up as well as or better than any others, they are more stable, function better, more user friendly, lighter in weight and cost less when comparing similar models.  We know what our competition makes because we also created the powered door traps and triggers they make.  We call them a generation 1 trap as we have now moved on to the swing bar generation 2 trap we now have.