Brilliant

[stigalla]

buck comes to feed, antlers hit the wire.. big ole pile of bone

[MADMAX]

hmmm

has it come to this ?

[Skyvalhunter]

Wouldnt want to be caught doing this.

[jackelope]

Potential multi page thread warning!!
I'm opposed to these. Biologists have chimed in on here in the past regarding potential health issues with the antlers getting knocked off prematurely. Why bother risking potential health issues to the deer? Do we really need shed antlers that bad?
Geez i just looked at the picture. What happens when a deer gets tangled up in that and dies?
Keep that mess out of the woods.

[Miles]

If you need antlers that bad search on ebay...

[boneaddict]

     Dont mean to be negative to your post Stigalla, but that just SUCKS!

[jackelope]

If you need antlers that bad search on ebay...

Well said.

[pianoman9701]

Illegal in WA.

[PolarBear]

Potential multi page thread warning!!
I'm opposed to these. Biologists have chimed in on here in the past regarding potential health issues with the antlers getting knocked off prematurely. Why bother risking potential health issues to the deer? Do we really need shed antlers that bad?
Geez i just looked at the picture. What happens when a deer gets tangled up in that and dies?
Keep that mess out of the woods.

[h20hunter]

Looks like a perfect spot to find a dead buck that was eaten alive by yotes.

Suggestion for those that think it "will work like a charm". Do this if you feel the need. Put a low, easily hopped over, fence up. Make it about 6 square feet. Bucks will hop the fence and if their antlers are ready to shed they will simply fall off. Not get yanked off.

[pianoman9701]

from:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/elk.html#antlers

Collecting Antlers

Finding the simple treasures of shed deer or elk antlers can brighten up a casual winter hike in the woods (Fig. 4). Although antler hunting season gets under way in late winter, because most bucks and some bulls have shed them then, biologists recommend delaying serious antler hunting to late spring to avoid inadvertently harassing animals on winter range.

Collecting naturally shed deer and elk antlers is legal, but there are some ethical considerations to keep in mind and a few places that are restricted or off-limits. The easiest antler hunting is, of course, where deer or elk concentrate in the winter. But if many antler hunters descend on that area before wintering animals have left, the disturbance can threaten their survival at the harshest time of year.

Public lands across the state may have rules, so antler hunters should do their homework before going afield. By long-standing policy, shed antlers or anything else naturally found in national parks cannot be removed.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Pman it does say that natural she'd is legal.  In no way does it say that the ops pic would be illegal.  Not saying it's not printed elsewhere but what you posted just doesn't say it.

[pianoman9701]

I believe Bigtex may have showed us the regulation last year. Possibly it's considered animal harassment. 

[Smokepole]

This idea is ugly.

It doesn't matter if it is legal or not.  Each of us should demonstrate common sense ethics when enjoying the great outdoors.  You can't trust the law to protect our valuable opportunities.  It is up to us as individuals.  If you fill your truck with antlers, perhaps you are taking more than your share.  If you fill your freezer with wild caught salmon, maybe you should consider whether the resource is sustainable.  Legal or not, if you use bad judgement, the resource will suffer.

Legal has nothing to do with it, so don't be fooled.  Rounding up at Cabela's for conservation isn't gonna help either.  It's our job protect outdoor opportunities, and to promote good stewardship.

[MADMAX]

Well said

seems like everyone wants a shortcut

I have a nice pile of sheds and they took many miles of boot leather to get them and are held in high regard as memories of some great trips of the past

[pianoman9701]

I've written to WildThing to have the regulation cited for us. Will update when I get the response.

[Knocker of rocks]

Pman it does say that natural shed is legal.  In no way does it say that the ops pic would be illegal.  Not saying it's not printed elsewhere but what you posted just doesn't say it.

And you're saying a antler trap is natural? 

[pianoman9701]

Pman it does say that natural shed is legal.  In no way does it say that the ops pic would be illegal.  Not saying it's not printed elsewhere but what you posted just doesn't say it.

And you're saying a antler trap is natural?

He's saying there's nothing that says antler traps are illegal, only that collecting natural sheds is legal.

[PolarBear]

It looks like a torture chamber for the chickens.   

[Knocker of rocks]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,112062.0.html

you make a valid point h20hunter but by that logic if a deer's antler gets caught in my fence and I pick up that shed does that mean I'm harassing wildlife?  Technically it wasn't natural and my property caused it.  I understand what Outdoor Guardian was getting at I just feel like that is an interpretation of the law and not a set in stone answer.

Since outdoor guardian is LE for the DFW, I would probably take him at his word on this one. Thanks OG for weighing in. We appreciate the LE perspective on this.

 

I think what people need to understand is that laws (especially fish and wildlife laws) are different from state to state. I know there are some commercially sold devices which have feed in the center and the deer/elk places their head in the device and the rubber (i believe it is rubber) tubing "catches" the antler and in a way removes the antler from the animal. So I assume in some states it is legal. And while these devices aren't explicitly illegal under state law, the end result is. In order to posess antlers they must have been shed naturally, and creating/placing a device to cause the removal of the antler would not follow that law.

[quadrafire]

Why not just do this. Feed him till they fall off 

[stigalla]

I wish we had the technology to type in sarcasm... "brilliant" being the sarcastic remark.. Some of you go from 0-60 in a second, id hate to be your doctor.. Anyways this was a wasted post aimed at being funny @ 3Am not starting a riot or causing a heart attack

[pianoman9701]

I wish we had the technology to type in sarcasm... "brilliant" being the sarcastic remark.. Some of you go from 0-60 in a second, id hate to be your doctor.. Anyways this was a wasted post aimed at being funny @ 3Am not starting a riot or causing a heart attack

Well, since your original post seems to back up support for this contraption, I guess that was your intention. I actually don't see anyone going postal, but you certainly were trying for it if this was really sarcasm. I don't think it was. 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Bad bad idea!!!

[h20hunter]

I wish we had the technology to type in sarcasm... "brilliant" being the sarcastic remark.. Some of you go from 0-60 in a second, id hate to be your doctor.. Anyways this was a wasted post aimed at being funny @ 3Am not starting a riot or causing a heart attack

Well, since your original post seems to back up support for this contraption, I guess that was your intention. I actually don't see anyone going postal, but you certainly were trying for it if this was really sarcasm. I don't think it was. 

 

[Knocker of rocks]

http://burners.me/2014/12/12/how-to-spot-an-online-troll/

[pianoman9701]

 

[idahohuntr]

Interesting topic.  I see some downside to antler traps, depending on how they are designed.  I have seen other designs that seem relatively benign though. 

I think it is a huge stretch to call antler traps illegal under existing state law. Assuming of course you don't have 4 dead elk twisted up in some entanglement 

[pianoman9701]

Apparently, you didn't read the link. The only "stretch" is yours.

WAC 232-12-287 Possession of dead wildlife. (1) Except as authorized by permit of the director or by subsection (2) of this section, it is unlawful to possess wildlife found dead. This rule does not prohibit the possession of naturally shed antlers of deer, elk, or moose.

(2) An individual may remove and dispose of wildlife found dead on his or her property or an adjoining public roadway. Before removing the wildlife, the individual shall, by telephone, notify the department or the Washington state patrol communications office, and shall provide his or her name, address, telephone number, and the description and location of the wildlife. The individual may remove the wildlife for disposal only, and may not retain the wildlife for personal use or consumption. Other laws and rules may apply to the disposal, including rules of the department of health (WAC 246-203-120). Wildlife removed under this section remain the property of the state.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.047. 03-16-087 (Order 03-175), § 232-12-287, filed 8/5/03, effective 9/5/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.12.040. 95-10-026, § 232-12-287, filed 4/26/95, effective 5/27/95; 81-12-029 (Order 165), § 232-12-287, filed 6/1/81. Formerly WAC 232-12-180.]

[idahohuntr]

Lets separate the wisdom/advisability of setting out antler traps and focus only on the legal aspects...

I read outdoor guardians interpretation...I seriously doubt a citation would get the support of a county prosecutor, much less hold up in court, assuming one did not actually kill wildlife at such a trap.  These traps are commercially available...has WDFW ever had one conviction on antler trapping?  Bottom line, I wouldn't call my interpretation a stretch. 

Also, if WDFW wants to look into citing folks for entangling wildlife...lets talk 4 and 5 strand barbed wire fences!  Will outdoor guardian be out citing every private landowner where they find a deer carcass tangled in a barbed wire fence?  And if we use intent to weed out those folks with miles of barbed wire fence on their property I would love to see that proven in the court room...gee officer, I was merely trying to fence the deer out of my corn pile that I put out for the squirrels!    WDFW can write tickets until they are blue in the face...probably not going to result in any thing when it comes to an antler trap. 

[Big6bull]

Even if it worked it would defeat the entire purpose of shed hunting. I worked my ass off for every west side shed I've found and wouldn't do it any other way, Im proud of every one of them.

[erk444]

Even if it worked it would defeat the entire purpose of shed hunting. I worked my ass off for every west side shed I've found and wouldn't do it any other way, Im proud of every one of them.

I kinda feel the same way about shed dogs. I always bring my dogs, but they have never found a shed before me. Seems like it would take away the affect.

[UptheCreek]

It is always fun to find them on your own, but having a dog find the ones you don't see would be pretty awesome.  Wish I would have trained my dog to shed hunt.

[erk444]

I love to find sheds. I have for years. It just seems that people now a days want to see their pile get bigger and bigger no matter what. And as much as I feel the same way, I just think that finding them myself, in a natural way is better than any shed trap or shed dog out there. I'm not knocking shed dogs at all. I think its an awesome way to bring home horns. I would just rather find them myself. As for shed traps, I think if done right, they would work without harm to the animal. I just choose to find them naturally.