Trappers

[Coasthunterjay]

So does anyone have a picture exactly of what type of traps you can use for trapping? i have never done it and am thinking of trying it. ill have to take the washington game test first but first the traps...........................

[Houndhunter]

its alota work getting into trapping. im starting to do it, but it really cost just to much money for me right now. but im a highschool kid with a part time job, so a avg worker i suppose wouldnt have as hard of a time with money. its just alot more hassal then its worth right now, for me atleast. a guy i know of who is really into it, said he take me up on some of his trap lines some time and show me how it works using only live traps and all

[billythekidrock]

Cage or box traps.
Similar to these. http://www.havahart.com/nuisance/raccoon/raccoon_cage_traps.asp

I am reading the home study book right now.

[sisu]

Personally like the the snare and connibear on beaver. Very effective!

[bearhunter59]

It is one big hassle getting into trapping in this state.  They've made it pretty difficult to even trap anything, and if your a new person trying to get into it, it is one road block after another trying to get anywhere or any answers.  You have to apply to the state; they send you a home study book that you have to study and then schedule to go take a test.

The study book covers a lot of stuff and most of the info on trapping is actually covered using the traps we can't even use in this state.  They don't really cover much on techniques, use or making of any of the box/cage traps, that are the only thing you can use in this state.

They will only give you the test out of their office over in Ephrata, if I recall right.  And even then they hem and haw and pretty much do everything but come right out and refuse to schedule it for you.  They will tell you that the test is usually given by the Washington State Trappers Association, at one of their Rendevous in the Spring or Summer if I recall.  But this is only after you sit through the Associations trapper training program.  Try getting ahold of the Trapper Association to find out which rendevous and where and they don't give you a straight answer either.

With the pretty short trapping season in this state, the initial cost of the all the traps that you'd need, and the major hassle just trying to get the REQUIRED training and testing, pretty much discouraged me from getting into it.

I was really disappointed in the lack of info or assistance by the Washington State Trappers Associations too.  You would think that they would try to get as many people into it as possible to keep trapping alive in this state.  The way it appears to be going in this state, it wouldn't surprise me to see trapping completely outlawed, or at least dead/non-existant within the next 5-10 years.

If you'd like, send me an email, and I'll see if I can find the name and number of the trapper associations president, so you can find out about getting the training and testing.  They didn't have a working website the last time I checked.

[Coasthunterjay]

Does anyone have any pictures? hey scott do they have to be any type of snare and conibear. i thought those were lethat traps?

[sisu]

Does anyone have any pictures? hey scott do they have to be any type of snare and conibear. i thought those were lethat traps?

The traps I mentioned are illegal in the State of Washington. We used them on beaver in Alaska. The snares were least expensive. I like the connibear because of it's nature to snap the neck or spine, but every now and then you get a goof up with either trap and have to dispatch the animal in a humane manner.
Ya, I went to the F&G office in Mill Creek(hahahaha, they looked at me like I wa from another planet) when I first moved here and inquired about a trapping license. There are or at least there were a lot of beaver on Wallace Creek on the south side of US 2 and I wanted to trap some for rounds. Long story short I was told all th above information plus the person in Mill Creek's office said that I had a better chance getting a personal interview with Gov. Locke than getting a license, so I dropped it.

[Coasthunterjay]

thats funny. so then back to my original question. what type are we exctly allowed to use?

[WAcoyotehunter]

box traps- live traps the havaheart.
Suitcase stye...no experience with those, but i've heard they're ok for beavers. lots of $$$
Leg holds, conibers, and snares are illegal...

The trapping rules in WA are a perfect example of wussies running our wildlife laws...just like hound hunting and baiting.  Rules that are not science based.

[FISHBOY]

Unbielevable how this state treats trapping.  I grew up in MN and ran a trap line for muskrats/mink/raccoon of around 200 traps every year for 1-2 weeks, or until freeze up.  That is one thing I sure do miss about back there in the midwest.  Anyone can buy an over the counter liscence to trap in the state of MN and their are no restrictions (leg hold). 

[T-ROY]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hancock-Live-Beaver-Trap-Traps-Trapping_W0QQitemZ7245333875QQihZ007QQcategoryZ71108QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem


 Hope this works   This is the type of beaver trap you can use,

[sisu]

  holy crap, T-Roy  the expense of those traps is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ya PETA and the Humane Society did a number on the trappers in this state. They ran inflammatory ads depicting bad situations with dogs, cats and wild animals to the general liberal ass public and won. Where were the bulk of the sportsmen on this issue. I'll tell ya they were saying, "Well, hell I don't trap and it doesn't affect me, so what the hay I'll ignore the issue." This exact scenario is going to happen to archery someday and mark my word: Archery in Washington will die as a hunting sport if ALL the Sportsmen and Sportswomen don't unit, and this includes all the liberal ass fisher people out there too!

I got kicked off of a fishing site for being a jerk, but it does not bother me because the majority are liberal dinks that don't hunt, don't kill fish to eat(hell I don't kill all the fish we catch either but dam they taste good and I want to eat them)

Oh, T-Roy, I'm not ranting at you I just got my hackles up with the price of the trap and the idea that spawned this law. If I have rattled anybody's sense and sensibility will so be it. I've been guilty of that before.

[Houndhunter]

heres a what a trapping with live traps looks like, on this website
http://washingtonfishingfools.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=3b39de1484ee88b9638f3c1b5cf901ec&topic=4394.0

this guy sounds like he knows what hes doin, i guess the money in trapping is in bobcats

[addicted]

that site is pretty similar to ours. maybe this is an obvious sister site that i was  oblivious to.   

[sisu]

Houndhunter, thanks for the post. I really liked that. That fella has done his homework on those traps. Needless to say I am impressed.