Dispatching an animal caught in a cage trap?

[hardkorrhunter]

Got a few questions for you boys it may be a touchy subject for some so if you wish just pm any response you may have if your conserned.Question #1 can you dispatch a trapped animal with an air rifle. i know in the regs it says  that you can not hunt any game animals with an air rifle but once it is trapped its not really hunting is it. Question two can some one please pm me with some good pics as how to build some walk throughs or swim throughs i have built 6 guliteen style traps, three weasel box traps with the rat trap inside and four colony rat traps and have yet to catch anything. which leads to question three what is a good comercial bait for bobcat i know a beaver shoulder is by far the best but if i had buy something what would you choos. I had two cage traps that were getting trip every day by something small that kept steeling my bait (hearing) which lead to the weasel traps that produced no relief to the little thief inturn he one i pulled those sets. I did have something get into one of my colony rat traps but flipped it over and got out which leads to Qestion four, do you guys lay something over them to weigh them down. Thank you for any help im just getting started so i havent go my hopes up to much but it would be great to get some sort of good results. Thanks again, Jessie Korr

[bobcat]

I don't know if air rifles would be legal or not, but I would suggest a 22 rifle with CB's.

They are real quiet, probably quiter than an air rifle, and a lot more punch.

[Humptulips]

Yes, an air rifle is legal, not sure how effective though. The laws are different then hunting. Once you have an animal is in a trap it is considered to be in your posession and you can use whatever to dispatch it. I would have to second the 22 though.
In the forum somewhere there are pics I took of my swimthroughs. All I can say is to do your best using them as a pattern. Ask some questions and I'll do my best to answer.

Best bait you can buy would need to be cheap. That pretty well leaves out the butcher shop but if you could find just about anything you yourself would eat if it was fresh I'd say that would be good. Chicken farms about, ask for their dead ones, save your game scraps. After hunting season I have picked up what others have tossed.

Things that steal your bait: weasels yes but more likely civets and they won't get caught in a weasel trap. You will need a small cage trap with a tight door. They can squeeze out around the door if it is not tight.

[Hawgdawg]

Hetler them in a gas chamber. They fall a sleep and no holes! Garbage sack, hose and don't use a diesel truck. gasoline burning only.  great for skunks, no smell and also tree hugger approved.

[hardkorrhunter]

lol good one hawgdawg and thanks bruce as far as the 22 thats not an option for me but the air rifle i have shoots 1200 fps with a .177 caliber pellet and at 20yds was punching clean through a half inch sheet of plywood

[Humptulips]

I couldn't find the pictures either. here they are:

[hardkorrhunter]

wow great pics bruce thanks.

[huntingfool7]

great pics, lots of good design info there.  Where do you buy the parts (conibear) at?

[pnwmtnmn]

Most of the trapping supply place have a trap parts list, order in the dog and trigger.

[Humptulips]

This is where I order from, online catalogue  http://www.minntrapprod.com/
Coni dog, trigger and springs. I replace the wires in the trigger with 1/8" cold rolled round stock. The upper stop for the spring ends is a link of chain. The c rings for attaching the cage wire are from:  http://klubertanz.com/

[Heredoggydoggy]

Another good outfit to order from is the Fur Harvester's Trading Post www.fntpost.com for everything trapping, predator hunting, hound hunting, calling, etc.  I don't do much trapping (except for feral cats), but they have a good selection of parts in their catalog. 

[huntingfool7]

Thanks, I built a couple box traps for ferals out of wood.  I used a modified rat trap on a trip wire to trigger the door.  It works but the trip wire can be sensitive.  Your's looks a lot more efficient and quicker to set.

OP, you're air gun would work.  I've dispatched a few opossum with mine.  CB caps are good also.  If I remember right, they launch a 32 grain slug at 600 fps and are really quiet out of a rifle.  I've dispatched a few critters with those also.  If you want to try the CB's I could kick a few of them your way to to try them out. 

[hardkorrhunter]

What are cb's?

[hardkorrhunter]

What is the length of these swim throughs.

[huntingfool7]

What are cb's?

CB's are a light loaded 22 round.  CB stands for conical bullet and it's the big, little bros. to 22 bb caps.  Which are a round ball loaded in a 22 round. 

They are made in either shorts or longs.  Either way the velocity is the same. 

[pnwmtnmn]

What is the length of these swim throughs.

I believe his traps are 4 feet long.

[hardkorrhunter]

Im assuming bruce that you used 1/4" cold rolled for frame work so i am wondering what size triggers/releases i need to order for that diameter i.e 110,220 or 330 thanks again boss you guys and this forum is a huge help for us beginners. Ps i moved one of my gulliteen cages 12"x15"x36" into a beaver run and there was one in it some how it got back out through the door but he worked that cage over pretty good.

[Humptulips]

Yes 4' long and yes on the 1/4" round stock. I would order cold rolled for all the parts but the 1/4" round you use on the trigger assembly must be cold rolled or it will bend.  Order the 220 trigger but like I mentioned you will need to replace the trigger wires. Stock are not long enough.

If you make them more then 12" wide the trigger will work on the door but I am not 100% happy with it. I have it in my mind for a redesign next summer. Actually a new trap but nothing to share yet.

[70sdiver]

A pellet gun will work on coon for sure. I've dispatched a ton if them without incident.

[whitey]

I don't know if air rifles would be legal or not, but I would suggest a 22 rifle with CB's.

They are real quiet, probably quiter than an air rifle, and a lot more punch.

I agree..
That's a better idea than an air rifle. or a garbage can full of water is also an approved method which has been approved by the US Veterinarians association. Although I have used this method I dont like it. (PS I used it once).

[hardkorrhunter]

I would love to use a 22 rifle but again a firearm and any amunition for a firearm at this time is off the table for me, six years ago i plead guilty to a dv charge through the advice of a rookie public defender that now i believe must have been gun control advocate she never mentioned to me that after being charged with a dv that an individual can never have their right restored on a federal level. I went to get them restored and my lawyer told me i could restore them on a state level but at this point there is no process in which to appeal it on a federal level. I never would have plead guilty knowing what i know now it was just one of those cases where a couple gets into a heated argument and can honestly say they have never got into an argument with there wife any how cops got called and naturaly you get the well cops were called we have to take someone in and the puplic defender and judge told me before i plead guilty that they were only suspended for two years they never mentioned the whole federal level b.s. i was young and scared as i had never been into trouble before and hevent since but that public defender talked me into, so thats where i sit on the use of a firearm cant do it.

[bobcat]

Sounds like you got bad legal advice all the way around. After three years you are eligible to have your gun rights restored, period. The lawyer you talked to must have also been anti-gun or anti-hunting, or probably both.

This is the law that applies: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.040

There is an attorney on this site, actually more than one, but I would PM "Wader." He is an attorney out of Centralia. He doesn't post on here a lot, but I'm sure he would be willing to at least verify that you are eligible for full restoration of your gun rights.

This is his profile:  http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?action=profile;u=1843

[bigtex]

Sounds like you got bad legal advice all the way around. After three years you are eligible to have your gun rights restored, period. The lawyer you talked to must have also been anti-gun or anti-hunting, or probably both.

This is the law that applies: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.040

Actually the lawyer was correct in terms of federal laws. On a state level yes you can get your rights restored, but federally under the "Lautenberg Amendment" (officially known as the "Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban") anybody convicted of a misdemeanor DV crime loses their right to possess firearms for life, there is no restoring rights under this law.

The law was enacted in 1996 and was retroactive, there were military members and law enforcement officers who had DV convictions from their younger times who could no longer possess firearms.

http://www.washrecord.com/MIsd%20DV%20&%20Civil%20Rights.htm

[hardkorrhunter]

what is the legal defination of in posession of or in control of a firearm say my friend is deer hunting can i ride around with or would that put in control of a firearm.

[bigtex]

The lawyer you talked to must have also been anti-gun or anti-hunting, or probably both.

Geez Bobcat jumping the gun a little on the anti-hunter/gun? 

[bigtex]

what is the legal defination of in posession of or in control of a firearm say my friend is deer hunting can i ride around with or would that put in control of a firearm.

There is no legal definition, it's all been established through case law. Just don't be alone with the gun.

[Humptulips]

There are  other legal methods of dispatch that do not involve a firearm. PM me if you want to talk about them.

[Hawgdawg]

Sounds like you got bad legal advice all the way around. After three years you are eligible to have your gun rights restored, period. The lawyer you talked to must have also been anti-gun or anti-hunting, or probably both.

This is the law that applies: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.040

There is an attorney on this site, actually more than one, but I would PM "Wader." He is an attorney out of Centralia. He doesn't post on here a lot, but I'm sure he would be willing to at least verify that you are eligible for full restoration of your gun rights.

This is his profile:  http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?action=profile;u=1843
[/quote
 

[Sniper101]

Ive used a pellet gun numerous times for raccoons, and a couple pretty good sized ones. My pellet gun only shoots 1000 fps and it drops them nice and clean.

[huntingfool7]

http://www.adventuresinairguns.com/big-game-c-3.html?osCsid=fb4c97fc25a8b3c782f1edeef35a0664
A high power .25 cal airgun is pretty similar power to a standard .22 LR.  The Korean .25 has adjustable power from 600-1000 fps.
I would be looking real hard at the one of big bores.  A .45 slinging them at 600 fps would be hard on your traps 
Also note, the korean airguns are really loud.

[Fl0und3rz]

Check out the Benjamin Marauder series of rifles and pistols. The pistil can be had in .22 and .177 and the rifle can be had in .177, .22, and .25.

Benjamin Marauder .25 and Pistol .22 Unboxing

The link below contains a 15% off coupon for purchase of marauder airguns at crosman.

http://tedsholdover.com/reviews/benjamin_marauder_25/

It can be pricey to get set up with PCP ariguns, but if it is your only option, PCP in .25 (and possibly .22) would probably suit your needs for dispatching trapped critters.

[hardkorrhunter]

I got the crossman .177 that shoots 1200fps and was punching clean through a piece of 1/2" plywood at 20yds im pretty confident with it my origal concern was the legality of it.

[slayerofthesea]

I don't know if air rifles would be legal or not, but I would suggest a 22 rifle with CB's.

They are real quiet, probably quiter than an air rifle, and a lot more punch.

i agree i use cbs for shooting small game and grouse hunting. I have killed 9 or 10 raccoons 20 plus yards away and lots oof crows and such. cb caps work wonders

[Smackdaddy]

I beleive the pistol only comes in .22

[Shasta Pond]

Just my two cents here, stick with something clean and proven.
For fur trapping, an air rifle let`s say, a famed vintage Sheridan Blue Streak .20 cal pellet rifle. ( My understanding that the new ones don`t even compare to what a vintage is.) These will from experience , explode a noisy red cardinal at about , up to and including five yards. Fitted with premium open peep sights and an offset red dot laser, you can`t go wrong on five pumps and ten feet from a set, clean ear shot to prevent pellet holes. The animal will just lie down. Clean and humane. It`s more in the neighborhood of shooting tranquilizers, no loaded weapon to carry around, carry a shoulder holster for a hide out if you need protection with a magnum snub nose, otherwise an accurate extremely powerful pellet rifle for fur trapping is an excellent choice to carry, the old ones even better, some came in stainless.

A Sheridan Blue Streak will punch a hole through a cottontail at 10 yds. There are also Co2 pistols that are high powered which are maybe strong for five shots, however getting up close and personal on a trapped animal becomes a Mexican standoff at times , face to face it`s very difficult to find an ear shot. Ten feet and peep sights or a red dot. and a little patience especially on larger mammals will take allot of stress out of the work for both.
Cats and Fox are the toughest of all, it needs to be cleanly done, inside the ear or right in front of it, then sit down and let it be for fifteen minutes and don`t go up and disturb it, just let it go out on its own....sometimes it takes a little while, wild animals are tough to the last breath.