I have seen brands like Freedom, Sterling, Duke, ZTrap, Bridger and Coon Dagger advertised.

Which one is the best brand as far as ease of use and dependability goes?

They all work. I use mostly dukes but also some coon daggers. I prefer the staking system on the dukes and z traps.

The z trap is very nice powder coated with strong springs also. The push/pull trigger is nice too but not entirely required IMO.

The bridger also is made very well and has a nice trigger and spring system. The dagger is the easiest for me to clean out and is well made, I do not like the stake on it though (personal preference)

The key is to set them right on trails, on location and have some edible bait that the coon want to eat inside.

I run about 2 dozen of them. They are fast and very easy to use.

also, the Sterling (lil griz) is really the original.

The duke is just a china made copy of the griz. Great quality trap just a lot cheaper price point than the lil griz.

The Alcatraz works very well and is only $10 you can buy them on the www.wolfernation.com

Clint Locklear (guy who created and sold the Alcatraz) has come out and said the new freedom DP trap is much better than the alcatraz trap on his wolfernation site.

The reason the Alcatraz is cheaper is because Clint is offloading them to get more Freedom brand traps -- which he also advertises on his site.

I would not recommend the Alcatraz based on all I have seen and know about it. Lots of other better options IMO...

Just my $0.02

I don't know enough to comment on the different brands. I've got 1/2 coon daggers that I am still trying to figure out. I DO know, I'll be driving small stakes in the ground, and zip tying the DP's to the stakes when the ground starts to freeze. I had some wring outs last year, because the trap was froze solid. I have enough trouble getting them in the trap, I don't want any getting out, once I do have them in there.

+1 on the pullouts in fozen ground.

that is one big advantage the Z trap has. The end is like a nail and you can just pound them in but the coon can pull the end of the stake right out of frozen ground.

I like that idea. SInce we are suppose to get some bad weather, I think I'll pull all of my stuff, and re-group. Might have to make a few mods to the DP's! Thanks!