These threads facinate me Greg. I've never considered trapping until now. I know I have a large yote population around the house, heck my dogs have killed 6 in the past few months. I may PM you with some questions after I give this some thought. After all, bow season ends Sunday, then 2 weeks of ML. I'll need something to do.
im sorry, i want to be as respectful as possible... but am i wrong for feelin sorry for the girl? I really appreciate what youre doin with the predators because i know what they do to my pheasants... but i want to pose the question of whether or not it's ethical to have that yote in the trap any longer than it needs to be. I agree, your pictures are neat, but i, myself, would have a problem making an animal suffer longer than need be... call me a pansy and again, i agree with the overall varmint hunting and i want to pose this reply respectfully and i hope it gets responded to respectfully.. also the fact that youre gettin your chillins involved deserves recognition... but every thing that i was taught when younger was to make the most ethical, clean shots to avoid any excess suffering
Good stuff, Greg! It's an awesome sport to fill the void after my serious bowhunting is over for the year. In fact, my wife and I were having that VERY conversation this afternoon as we we were driving home from St. Louis this afternoon. Let me know if you come up with any questions. frepar, you can search through my other trapping threads to see where I've given a very long, detailed and more thorough answer(s) to the questions you've posed about taking the time to take some pictures before the dispatch. I'll REAL quickly do a recap here for you, but like I said, I'd direct you to my other trapping threads if you want real in-depth on the subject. Modern-day traps do NOT place the animal in a significant amount of horrendous pain -- far from it. Leghold traps today are all manufacturered with smooth jaws, and a lot of trappers (myself included) run jaw lams along the face of the trap jaw to widen the holding surface even further, which serves to spread the pressure of the levers over a wider surface and minimizes the possibility of paw damage. I know, and almost anyone with significant experience on a trapline can tell you, that the animals I catch are initially surprised and spend most of their energy right after the catch attempting escape; once they see they cannot free themselves, they'll settle down and relax. I have walked up on animals that were asleep when I arrived to check a set. I know for a fact that the 3 - 5 minutes it takes for me to capture the images I do does not subject the animal to any unnecessary cruelty as someone who's not familiar with trapping may suppose. Most of the guys on this and other forums have known me for the better part of 15 years now... and could tell you from associating with me either online or in person that I care as much about an animal's suffering as the next person; like most on here, I'll be the first to lay my bow and arrows down and rescue a stranded animal, forsaking that afternoon's hunt to rescue the very animal I pursue with intent to kill. I would think most of us on here take to the woods with that mindset. If I felt an extra five minutes in a trap would mean an extra five minutes of excruciating pain, I'd be the first to tell you. It simply isn't the case. In fact, if I felt my traps placed animals in excruciating pain from the get-go, I probably wouldn't trap in the first place... But as I said, I know first-hand it doesn't. And yes... that means what you think it does: I -- like any trapper in due time will -- have caught my own hand in one of my traps.
They don't suffer. Yes they will try to escape as does a deer/coyote or any critter you have shot with bow. I have also walked up on sleeping fox, coyote, coon and mink in my traps. I've released fox when coyote trapping as there numbers are low here. There was no damage to the foot. Todays traps and trapping methods are much better then years back. Most serious trappers are very picky about picking the right size trap for the animal they target. They are very picky on trap placement. We've modified our older traps by widening the jaws and using 1 - 2 swivels in the chains. It is much better for the animals we trap and also benefits us with better holds. I checked my traps every day as I am sure Greg does his. Just like bowhunting most serious trappers take pride in doing things right when running foot hold traps. Trapping is a lot more effecting in controlling predators then hunting ever will be. Controlling the predators means better waterfoul hunting, upland bird hunting and bowhunting...but especially the first two as skunks, raccoons and feral cats are caught even though they are not the target animal for the most part when trapping coyotes, fox and bobcats. I like trapping coon so they were targetted. I use foot holds, conibears and live traps. I've had numerous people ask me to trap their occupied farmsteads as coon are very destructive. The live traps were used if there was even a remote chance catching dogs or family pet cats. I don't want animals in my trap any longer then neccesary. I've also taken pictures which takes a minute maybe two. I wouldn't deem that as cruel or causeing unjust suffering. Hopefully Greg's and my post shed some light. Tim
first off, i appreciate you guys coming at this the way you did, and i must say.. that my ignorance in trapping might have shown through. The traps i remember setting would snap a 2" diameter stick, no problem.. but it sounds like they're a little more efficient these days. It's good to hear some die-hard trappers fill me in on the correct way to do it.. all the "trappers" that i grew up with may have been the inspiration for my question.. they took a pride in makin the animal so stressed that they'd defecate all over the set (they said it was their bread and butter) that, even at a VERY young age, sent shivers up my spine and just turned me the wrong way... so, thanks again, hope you could see where i was comin from (it looks as though both of you did).. good luck trapping!
I've trapped for 34 years. I've never pruposely stressed an animal nor do I know anyone that did. The set was already scented up with the catch before you got there. To stress an animal even more would be a complete waste of time. Plus the longer you are messing around your set... the more damage you are doing by putting you scent in the area. Defeats the purpose of keeping a clean trap set. That is a bit disturbing and don't blame you for your insight of trapping. Like Greg said... " like any trapper in due time... have caught my own hand in one of my own traps ". Trust me... I have pretty much caught myself in almost every sized trap. No broken fingers, hands or arms. Greg has a ways to go to catch me !! LOL Here's my trap list of self catches... Long springs foot holds... # 0 # 1 # 1.5 # 2 # 3 Coils spring foot holds... # 1.5 # 1.75 # 2 # 3 # 4 Jump traps... # 1 # 1.5 # 3 Conibears # 110 #120 # 220 This one is a pain... not that it hurt but trying to get it off with one hand since it was clamped behind my other wrist and on my arm. I got careless when refreshing the bait in a cubby set and hit the trigger. Tyler was pretty small when I did that... I can still remember him laughing. #330 only fingers and only once!! I have a lot of respect for that trap. I know how hard it is to get out of a 220... a 330 would be worse. LOL Tim
When I was 16 (back in the stone age) I put my hand in a new, stock Victor #2 double longspring - in front of the village board of Carpentersville. They were going to ban trapping within city limits because of the supposed danger of the traps. So I gave a speech on the truths and importance of trapping and I set the trap to show how even a good sized trap couldn't begin to hold onto my size 7 shoes. Some anti in the audience yelled "why don't you put your hand in it?!" So I did. I continued with my speech with the trap clamped on my hand. They didn't ban trapping. :D I've caught myself numerous times in traps on accident. Got both my hands in a magnum 220 once. Had to have help to get out of it. I treat my 330's like they're unstable explosives... and haven't (knocks furiously on wood) been caught in one yet.
Great job!! That is definitely going the distance for trapping. I would have loved to see the anti's face when you put your hand in the trap. Mucho respect for that !! Tim
