Dispatching trapped animals without a firearm

[Smossy]

There is a guy on youtube (cant think of his name) who has not several videos of him dispatching all his game with a co2 powered pellet rifle, which does the job perfect with one shot everytime.
Considering how incredibly hard it is getting to find and purchase any 22 ammo, I am really thinking about buying an air rifle for trapping this year. I believe you can still use and carry an air rifle if your a felon. 

I can. Even a .22 cal pellet rifle. Really not a bad idea, Im just not one to get a kick out of watching animals suffer, so clubbing one over the head is not gonna be ok with me. Neither is drowning.

[Humptulips]

First off I consider strange you would be allowed to use an air rifle. If you haven't already I would really investigate that before I bought, used or carried one.

OK, On to humane dispatch. There are basically four ways to humanely dispatch animals according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. WDFW sites their guidelines but they are just that "guidelines" and there is room in their guidelines for other methods because sometimes the best is just not doable.

First one is by gunshot to the head. See what I mean. In field conditions this not always possible or hunting would not be possible. You can't use it anyway so I'll move on.

Second method is a blow to the head. Does that sound better then clubbing? Properly executed it really is very humane. Not sure how you could ever do this to an animal in a cage trap though so I don't think this is in the cards.

Third is asphyxiation by use of gas. A lot of nuisance trappers use this. You basically have an air tight box your trap will fit in and a bottle of Co2. Trap goes in, give them some Co2. They can breath but they don't get any O2 so they die.

Fourth is lethal injection. Many trappers use this on Skunks but technically  AVMA calls for chemicals only available by prescription so you need to be a vet in order to follow the guidelines to the letter. Again though they are guidelines and an injection with a skunk pole is pretty humane. Most Trapper Supply houses have them.

Drowning while not an approved method by the AVMA is recommended by WDFW but not in writing. They will not stand up for trappers but in private this is what they will tell you and completely legal. Most water animals get drowned and a lot of science shows that water animals don't drown like a human or any land animal would. They simply can control their breathing to the point they will not suck in water. What happens is they succumb to Co2 narcossis and pass out. After they are unconsious water then gets in their lungs but not quite the same way to go as we think of drowning.

In the AVMA guidelines they talk about kill traps which we can't use and they are not a preferred method but it does say they can be acceptable when circumstances dictate so the guidelines are more for lab and farm conditions. I think in addition to the methods I mentioned they also talk about captive bolt guns and cervical dislocation but again those are not really applicable.

My advise would be to maybe look into the injection poles for land animals and water animals use drowning. We'll talk about it at the Trapper Ed class.

[Smossy]

First off I consider strange you would be allowed to use an air rifle. If you haven't already I would really investigate that before I bought, used or carried one.

OK, On to humane dispatch. There are basically four ways to humanely dispatch animals according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. WDFW sites their guidelines but they are just that "guidelines" and there is room in their guidelines for other methods because sometimes the best is just not doable.

First one is by gunshot to the head. See what I mean. In field conditions this not always possible or hunting would not be possible. You can't use it anyway so I'll move on.

Second method is a blow to the head. Does that sound better then clubbing? Properly executed it really is very humane. Not sure how you could ever do this to an animal in a cage trap though so I don't think this is in the cards.

Third is asphyxiation by use of gas. A lot of nuisance trappers use this. You basically have an air tight box your trap will fit in and a bottle of Co2. Trap goes in, give them some Co2. They can breath but they don't get any O2 so they die.

Fourth is lethal injection. Many trappers use this on Skunks but technically  AVMA calls for chemicals only available by prescription so you need to be a vet in order to follow the guidelines to the letter. Again though they are guidelines and an injection with a skunk pole is pretty humane. Most Trapper Supply houses have them.

Drowning while not an approved method by the AVMA is recommended by WDFW but not in writing. They will not stand up for trappers but in private this is what they will tell you and completely legal. Most water animals get drowned and a lot of science shows that water animals don't drown like a human or any land animal would. They simply can control their breathing to the point they will not suck in water. What happens is they succumb to Co2 narcossis and pass out. After they are unconsious water then gets in their lungs but not quite the same way to go as we think of drowning.

In the AVMA guidelines they talk about kill traps which we can't use and they are not a preferred method but it does say they can be acceptable when circumstances dictate so the guidelines are more for lab and farm conditions. I think in addition to the methods I mentioned they also talk about captive bolt guns and cervical dislocation but again those are not really applicable.

My advise would be to maybe look into the injection poles for land animals and water animals use drowning. We'll talk about it at the Trapper Ed class.

How is it strange that Id be able to use an air rifle?

I know for a fact that I can have, own, transport, and carry one legally. The guideline is that it cannot be a propelled projectile by use of an explosive powder.
Air rifles are fine. I've been pulled over a few times with air rifles and had no problem with law enforcement even with my background.

I like the asphyxiation with gas method. Think that's what I would wind up doing.
Thanks for all the information and explaining everything.

[BiggLuke]

Best method for dispatching trapped animals using live traps.... Drowning.
Most of the good critters (otter, beaver, racoon, mink etc.) are trapped around water.
It's pretty simple to just have a rope tied to your trap, and chuck the sucker in the lake/pond.
It's also good for getting rid of fles and ticks.

My friend catches a ton of "vermin" right next to his garage. He told me once that he used to use a 55 gallon trash can that he just let fill with rain water from the gutters, he'd set the live traps up right next to it, in the morning before work, he'd just plop the whole trap in the filled up trash can. Fit perfectly.
Now he mostly just uses a pellet gun.... unless they're covered in fleas.

[Fl0und3rz]

Carry a copy of this with you.



 

It also scares small children during Halloween and keeps them off your lawn.

[Machias]

 

[wags]

I could be wrong but I don't think a choke pole or any other type of "snare" or "body gripping device" is legal to dispatch a trapped animal, heck, come to think of it, since a dog is a "non-human vertebrate" it's illegal for a dog catcher to use a choke pole (snare) to capture a dog. Hmm. What do you think of this logic Bruce:)

[fatslinger]

If you chuck the whole thing in the pond, just make sure the trap doesn't have gravity doors. I had a customer last year who thought he would do me a favor and tossed the beaver and trap into the water. You guessed it...the trap rolled over and the doors opened up. Goodbye beaver.

[CAMPMEAT]

I shot a coyote one time. He wasn't dead, so I accidentally ran over his head. Poor, cat killin' predator.

[Smossy]

Im not drowning anything, Id gas it or shoot it with a pellet gun, Those are the only options Id be ok with doing personally. Thanks for the info guys.

[Smossy]

I shot a coyote one time. He wasn't dead, so I accidentally ran over his head. Poor, cat killin' predator.

Some of you guys are harsh lol

[3nails]

 What critters do you want to trap?

[Smossy]

What critters do you want to trap?

Everything. Mostly Beaver, I know some good spots where they are destroying the timber everywhere.

[3nails]

What critters do you want to trap?

Everything. Mostly Beaver, I know some good spots where they are destroying the timber everywhere.

Beaver are fairly hard to get into a dry ground cage set. The easiest way to trap them is in their runs with a swim through trap. Like it or not, this involves drowning them as they will die shortly after entering. I would NOT want to try and dispatch a beaver with a pellet gun! They have hard heads and small brains. It could turn ugly very quickly. Moving a live beaver around in a trap could be a rodeo as well. 50+ lbs of beav racing back and forth in a cage can be difficult at best. I carry a .22 revolver everywhere I trap. In your situation without being able to carry a firearm under water sets would be best. Also if you run dry sets you may find yourself in the poorhouse checking them everyday. All that to say, drowning may be your best option.

[Smossy]

What critters do you want to trap?

Everything. Mostly Beaver, I know some good spots where they are destroying the timber everywhere.

Beaver are fairly hard to get into a dry ground cage set. The easiest way to trap them is in their runs with a swim through trap. Like it or not, this involves drowning them as they will die shortly after entering. I would NOT want to try and dispatch a beaver with a pellet gun! They have hard heads and small brains. It could turn ugly very quickly. Moving a live beaver around in a trap could be a rodeo as well. 50+ lbs of beav racing back and forth in a cage can be difficult at best. I carry a .22 revolver everywhere I trap. In your situation without being able to carry a firearm under water sets would be best. Also if you run dry sets you may find yourself in the poorhouse checking them everyday. All that to say, drowning may be your best option.

Ok well that's a different story. I wouldnt be around for that, set trap, come back - dead animal in trap.. Ok great, I dont think I can conciouslly take an animal inside a cage and throw them into a garbage can full of water. That just doesn't seem right to me.