front page in Idaho

[pnwmtnmn]

http://www.cdapress.com/news/local_news/article_1f33594a-28f3-57b4-a564-73872a0a3d82.html

Not good but not anti trapping

[JLS]

I'm surprised Idaho still allows dry land Connibear sets.  They might not be legal after this.  Sad deal.

[JODakota]

Not good at all. Does seem a bit anti trapping though. Hopefully this doesn't affect the trapping community at all.

[Humptulips]

I read about a quite a few of these incidents happening especially back east. Mostly it comes up with bucket sets for coon. I'm not sure why these other state trapping organizations don't try and be a little proactive and put a stop to baited conibear sets on the ground. It is giving trapping a black eye and it is not neccesary.
It seems like some have their head in the sand. I tried to start a discussion on this subject over on Trapperman and the thread was instantly axed. Received quite a bit of negative messages also. Apparently I'm an anti-trapper for even talking about it.

[TeacherMan]

I think it's all about your location. Living in AK a 280 in a bucket is the best set there is for wolverine. I run a ton of conibears on land in my area but it's not populated either. I hate to see any trapping or type taken away, it's just one more step in the direction of loosing trapping all together. You can find a black eye in any form of outdoor activity. There will always be people that are just idiots with no common sense that bring the spot light onto the sport. As sportsman we need to stay strong and not go against each other and make the community aware they were just an idiot and we don't condone poor ethics.

[JODakota]

I think it's all about your location. Living in AK a 280 in a bucket is the best set there is for wolverine. I run a ton of conibears on land in my area but it's not populated either. I hate to see any trapping or type taken away, it's just one more step in the direction of loosing trapping all together. You can find a black eye in any form of outdoor activity. There will always be people that are just idiots with no common sense that bring the spot light onto the sport. As sportsman we need to stay strong and not go against each other and make the community aware they were just an idiot and we don't condone poor ethics.

Well said!!

[pnwmtnmn]

 The game dept there did say that under NORMAL winter (snow on ground) very few people would be in that area, but with this light snow year people are still hiking and walking their dogs on these trails and obviously the dog was not on a leash(was the dog required to be on a leash, don't know) The only thing we know is a dog was killed in a legally set trap the required distance from a marked trail and the trap has since been removed..

[ruger357]

It is sad, but people need to keep in mined the is leach laws I don't know ab ID but WA even in the national forest you are required to keep your dog on a 6' leash this is for you your dog and every one else safe and the dog from messing with wildlife. Now do we all do this I know I for one don't I have a electronic leash that works good on my black lab, I keep in mind that this could happen and keep my dog within my site. I think it comes down to being responsible dog owners. I do fell bad for the people but unfortunately because they where not what would consider being responsible dog owners now the trappers of Idaho will most likely face some of the same trapping law we now have in place here in WA.

[pnwmtnmn]

Just found out there are leash laws in Id. the owner was letting the dog run free. She was breaking the law. But the trap was set where people could be expected in good weather and I don't think it was very far from town.

[bob maier]

Im with bruce on this one. Legal or not its just asking for trouble.You kill a dog it doesnt matter if it was on a leash or not all people will remember is the trapper killed the dog period. Now in certain areas  i can see it being OK as in Alaska. If it were to happen to my dog there would be hell to pay! I'll leave it at that.

[boneaddict]

I wonder how many shed dogs are out running the hills as we speak NOT on a leash.

[Skyvalhunter]

Yea or those bird dogs chasing after game birds they should be on a 6 ft leash. Yea right

[ruger357]

I am just saying that is the law and because of irresponsible people on both sides trapping just got a hit in all states. It is the dogs owner responsibly to keep the dog safe it could have gotten eaten just as easily as in a trap. It is the trappers to responsibly fallow the laws as he did. It is kinda hard for any one in WA to get traps where people never go look how many traps get stolen every year and pics of sets from others and ex.

[Special T]

I would think that a good comprimise would be leaving it available on private property, and some kind of conibear size restriction, or use in a bucket/ or tree for safetys sake. I don't trap but would if we had regs that were more like ID. Its sad that when some one Like Humptulips makes mention of this on a trapping forum its flamed.  I think making  new regs is cumbersome to make them clean then Conibears do have thier place...

So it didn't say the size of the trap... IDK but is there a realitivley "safe size that would not kill a normal sized dog? I think i remebered hearing that a 303 would kill a dog, but it sounded like this dogdied because it was suffocated not of a broken neck... So any guesses as to ths size?

[TeacherMan]

In AK Sportsmans Warehouse does clinics on how to release your dog out of a 330 or similar sized conibear. With a piece of rope a person can release a dog in seconds. I know most of my animals taken on land in a 330 are not dispatched in seconds. I know this for two reasons last yr I got a wolverine in a 330 tiger I had a video trail cam on and I was surprised at the lack of efficiency it had (one reason I switched to Beisile conibears, beasts!) and second most my animals still create a catch circle and I've even had them twist 3/32 cable until they break it. I tracked a wolverine two yrs ago almost a mi before I caught up to him and had to shoot him.

I would just recommend all sportsman should know how to release a conibear. There are YouTube videos showing it. I still remember trapping being taken away in WA in '96 and I also remember most sportsman not sticking up for it because "trapping wasn't there thing". Because of that we as sportsman allowed a huge part of our heritage to be taken away in WA. Also sllowing anti trappers to move and focus there efforts and money on other hunting and fishing activities. Remember anti hunters will not be happy until it's all gone. Stick up for your fellow sportsman and make sure the public knows laws and knows when people are breaking them.

I would think that a good comprimise would be leaving it available on private property, and some kind of conibear size restriction, or use in a bucket/ or tree for safetys sake. I don't trap but would if we had regs that were more like ID. Its sad that when some one Like Humptulips makes mention of this on a trapping forum its flamed.  I think making  new regs is cumbersome to make them clean then Conibears do have thier place...

So it didn't say the size of the trap... IDK but is there a realitivley "safe size that would not kill a normal sized dog? I think i remebered hearing that a 303 would kill a dog, but it sounded like this dogdied because it was suffocated not of a broken neck... So any guesses as to ths size?

[Humptulips]

My take on it is it is not neccesary to set baited conibear traps on the ground. Anybody tells me they have to use them because it is the best set, I have to say B.S.
There are alternatives to this set and it is hurting trappers to continue to defend it. If the state trappers organizations propose the restrictions they can basically write the law and be very selective about what gets made illegal. 220s,280s and 330s will kill a dog but not in an elevated set and likely not in an unbaited set. You could continue to allow 160s and under too.
 Let the antis dictate the law and they will ban all traps or at best all land based conibears.

I also don't think this plays good with the public laying the blame on the owner. We may think so but that will not fly with the general public. You just can't expect every Tom, Dick and Harry to know how to open a conibear if that will even do any good. I have had many animals dead without movement in conis. That's fine with a bobcat but not so good with somebodies weiner dog.
And leash laws! Wake up folks! Coon dogs, cat dogs, bear hounds, bird dogs and you're telling me they have to be on a 6 foot leash. Get real! 

[Special T]

I admit that I'm ignorant to trapping. My question/comments only reflect what i see in industry. Some event happens and some BS laws are proposed. The trad association for X industry comes up with a doable plan that makes sense and proposes it to the legislature so that a REALLY bad law doesn't replace it.

I'm not saying that there should be some new law in this case but "getting in front of the issue" goes a long way to steering the path.