coyote / fox snares or traps

[Ron Chafe]

 I would like to add a discussion to see how everyone feels about having to identify if there are traps or snares in a particular area. This seems to be a major problem this year as I am after hearing of at least 10 beagles getting caught in these coyote snares this year while out rabbit hunting. It would be great if trappers would post a sign in the area warning rabbit hunters of the presence of traps / snares. This actually happened to my dog just yesterday and it was just pure luck that I found my dog in time before it was too late. Im sure it must be heartbreaking to lose a dog this way and it would probably be just as sad for a trapper to find a beagle in his trap. This problem seems to be increasing dramatically in areas such as long harbour, sunnyside, southern shore, cochrane pond rd. to mention a few and I think it is time we start to work together on this issue. Any ideas?

[silverleapers]

I owned a beagle and a border collie (both great rabbit dogs..actually the collie was far better than the beagle!). I have caught dogs in fox/lynx snares and had mine caught in rabbit and fox/lynx snares many times (and some wild and tame cats too....and my cat lost a foot in a trap)....no easy answer. All dogs lived except one (that a friend owned)...I've cursed trappers and am sure I have been cursed on. Signs might help but there is basically snares everywhere...especially around good rabbit ground. Dog walkers that like to loose their dog (illegally) also curse snarers and trappers. 99% of the time a dog will sit down and not get killed in a snare (not many guys ?any? using power snares). Also not many guys trapping coyotes and foxes (thankfully) and thsoe that do check them regularly or are mean assholes. IF, we didn't have so many idiots in the woods we could put our email addresses on a post at the beginning of a logging road and say "email me if you are running dogs and I'll tell you where my gear is"..but even this won't work as the idiots will wreck it for all. Put a thick deep leather collar on your dog (might help a tiny bit) and he will be fine 99% of the time and will whine loudly until you find him (just call him and listen). The trick is to make sure you check your snares regularly!!!!!! AND reset the snare that your dog gets caught in for he poor trapper....it makes good feelings by all involved.

Signed;

Experienced Dog/Cat/Fox/Coyote/Lynx trapper

[Kim brinson]

I fully agree that there should be some kind of law to make trappers at least have to mark their general trapping area, there is no way one can do it and mark every single trap or snare as there are people that would take them or destroy them for fun.

This is my first year trapping and I do have signs posted clearly visable to inform hunters and the general public ofg the GENERAL area where I have traps/snares.

Thats all I can do as a responsible trapper.

However I also feel that people who rabbit snare should also do the same. I have went out with my two beagles many times and found a pile of snares and just left the area and went somewhere else. But one day my dog did get caught across the muzzle, luckily I was close enough to hear her whimpering.....

We all need to stick together and not let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch....I plan to continue to mark my general area and if it were possible I would mark each snare or trap, but as we know how expensive it is and advertising their location I think woiuld be asking for trouble.

[Manuel Rowsell]

I have been trapping here on the Island (Avalon) now for about 9 years and I noticed right from the get go the high numbers of people, beagles, and pets in the woods. Since I am not trapping to make my fortune, the approach I have taken is if there is a a likely hood for beaglers in the area I don't set fox snares or traps. This is definetly not the best approach if one wishes to catch lots of fox or yotes, as I have walked by some lovely spots that I know would produce fox; but it wasn't worth it to me if there was a chance to catch some person's beagle or pet. Like I said this isn't a solution just what I do and my very small yearly catch of fox reflects this approach.

[Gerard Grace]

I too am a trapper/hunter/fisher. I have friends with beagles and have an idea where dogs would be run. I stay away from those areas and don't set any coyote/fox or rabbit snares. We are hunters and we need to respect that. I am really disturbed that other trappers steal other trappers gear and furs. THAT is one thing that I have noticed on the Avalon

I did notice that there are alot of baits and coyote/fox snares around the TCH just out side of town. I do have a few set out myself. Some are bait setups.

I mostly set water sets for critters that are trapped mostly in water.

I grew up in a area where no one used beagles, just setters and water dogs.

Like some of you had posted, most snares are and will be found on foot and moose trails. If you find one then there is a good chance there are more in the area. When the frost hits and snow comes there will be more and more bait sets and snares.

I have 2 dogs that I like to take with me, but they are trained to stay by my side until I say they can go.

Being trappers means using your head and thinking about where you should and shouldn't set your gear.

As for marking my gear, I would never do that. I have snared rabbits since I was very young and have ever marked my gear because of some peoples tendancy to steal..

This has happened already this year for both rabbits and furs. Bad enouph the furs but they take your gear too.

We all have to play a role in being hunters, and that means everyone considers ALL hunters and what they do. Everyone has to use sense to understand the seasons and what is seasons are open.

I have been lucky that I have never caught anyone's pet and I hope I never do. That would break my heart. I did catch in a wild kitten once in a leg hold. I had that cat for years and years later. One of the nicest cat that I have ever had.

 

 

[Kim brinson]

I am a trapper and a beagler, and I have tried to place signage this year in my general area to make pet owners or hunters aware that the area is being trapped. All I got back was loud mouth idiots telling me I have no business trapping because thats where they have ran their dogs for years! Then the ended up taking down the signs. Im sorry but I tried. I did end up catching someones dog he wasnt hurt and safely released from a snare. But from now on  will not mark no area just because of the negative feedback I received. Any people who live in this area know I trap, I have had several beaglers call me and ask where my snares are and I kindly tell them the exact location and they strike them up and fix them when theyre done. There is nothing else I can do.

But if my dog were to get caught somewhere else I would be very pissed off because there is no excuse for not marking a GENERAL area. No one is going to go in and look for your gear....like get real. There are a lot of idiots around who dont try at all. I have avoided a lot of my favorite rabbit hunting spots this year because now that I trap I know a lot of other people who do and luck should have it my dogs have never gotten caught because I find out now there have always been snares and traps in my favorite area. There will never be a happy medium, somebody will always be pissed off.

[Gerard Grace]

Not sure if this is possible. But we can have a good relationship with the hunters that run their dogs. Pretty sure Ed could do something on the page to allow for a map of NL. There should be a way to somehow point out an area by trappers where they have their gear set (snares, kill traps). Not sure if it will work. We could over the summer think about a safe way of doing this to allow all hunters and HUNTERS only to communicate where is a safe place for dogs.

It could even be possible that a Rabbit Hunter anonymously mark an area of the map where they will be hunting and a trapper could them selves say that it is snared. By doing it this way both hunters remain anonymous and will not give out there exact spot.

Not sure if anyone else could add to this but please do. I am shure we can figure out a FIRST TIME approach for all Hunters to Hunt together safely.

One more thing that could be added are approxiamate hunting dates a hunter will be in the area. This would allow for a shared area by all hunters.