SNARES ON PUBLIC GROUND !!!!!

[steve w]

Househounds check out the regulations on conibears on public ground in MI. There are significant rules already in place. Go to pages 22 and 23. http://www.statehuntandfishregs.com/MIH ... eflip.html

[bigjohn]

Hounds,a conibear CAN be made dogproof with the use of special boxes.These are fastened to a tree so the opening is pointed towards the ground.They are low enough that a dog cannot stick his head into the opening.Boxes that have a smaller opening then opening bigger where the trap sets will also prevent dog catches.After saying all this,let me say I'm not a real big fan of large conibears set on the ground.Too many nonethical people have to push the rules.Notice I didn't say trappers,as most trappers are ethical I believe.You have kids trying to trap on their own,without anyone to teach them the ethical or proper ways and you have a formula for something bad to happen.I know I try and treat every animal I catch in a humane way and direct others to do the same.I wouldn't hesitate a minute to call my GW if I come across something that isn't kosher.If you don't follow the regs,your a pocher in my book.

[madcatter]

Don't run there.if the restraint was set legally they have as much right to trap as you to run

[Househounds]

Househounds check out the regulations on conibears on public ground in MI. There are significant rules already in place. Go to pages 22 and 23.

thanks
I have seen this and like Big John mentioned the box set up looks dog proof but the set up on dry land and the bucket looks like they could easily kill a dog the size of mine and smaller.

Thanks for the good dicusion on this guys and for raising the awareness level of this issue.

I hope you will continue to do this outside of this forum as well. As for me I will continue to run on public land, but cautiously, and where I know others have ran before without problems.

thanks

[Budd]

Househounds, I do ALL my running on public ground with most spots being ran a couple times a week. I have always taken the time to drive round each section to see whats going on with the wolves and trappers. If I see were someone has pulled over and walked in the woods I'll walk out there track and see what they are up to. I feel as though I owe this much to my hounds for as much as they give me. I have on a few occasions spent close to a hour walking wolf tracks out to be sure they have left the section I'm running, or walk out a old blown in boot track only to find out they were going in to take down a deer stand left after season. What I'm saying is with a little observation a lot can be prevented

[bigjohn]

Househounds, I do ALL my running on public ground with most spots being ran a couple times a week. I have always taken the time to drive round each section to see whats going on with the wolves and trappers. If I see were someone has pulled over and walked in the woods I'll walk out there track and see what they are up to. I feel as though I owe this much to my hounds for as much as they give me. I have on a few occasions spent close to a hour walking wolf tracks out to be sure they have left the section I'm running, or walk out a old blown in boot track only to find out they were going in to take down a deer stand left after season. What I'm saying is with a little observation a lot can be prevented

Good advise right there!
Some public ground I run on allows trapping by special permit,but all land sets must be DPs(dog proof coon traps) and water sets allow any trap.There's a river on one side and a fairly large creek that joins it towards the back.I'm trapping private ground across from it for bobcat's.A couple of days ago I ran into the two guys trapping the public ground.They were questioning me about how to catch an otter they were after.During the conversation ,they let it slip that they had caught a beagle dog on the back of the place in one of their otter traps.Now otter traps must be set in the water and this got me to wandering.I keep my GW number on my cell so I gave him a call to give him the heads up on these guys.He told me he would be looking in on it,as he was also curious on how they could have caught it in a water set.I asked the GW to contact me if they were caught doing something illegal as I don't want someone accusing me if their dog comes up missing.I suspect I'm going to get a call from the GW as I'm sure these guys aren't ahearing to the rules.

[underdog]

I founds two coyote or bobcat type leg traps set on public land a couple days ago. They were not snares and were not near any water source. They were actually off mowed trails. I'm not a trapper so I can't give you any details about what type of traps they were or what they were set for. They looked to be about 6 inches in diameter. I found one simply because I saw two turkey feathers hanging from a piece of wire on a low hanging limb and the other one had a squirrel tail hanging about the trap.

I've ran dogs at this place often and never saw a trap. Heck I didn't know that you could trap the area. I called the conservation agent for the area and he said that all traps were suppose to be labeled and the trapper had to have a special use permit. I told him neither trap was labeled. I gave him the locations of the traps and he said he would look into it. I'm just glad that I found the traps instead of one of my hounds.

Be careful guys and keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.

[allniter]

this is where the GARMIN come into play --if your dog stays in the same place for any length of time you better get there --dog is caught or eat gut pile or something dead --like I have always said --if my dog is going to get caught I would prefer a SNARE to a CONIBEAR --I have had dogs in them all -even foot hold traps --the ones in the CONIBEARS didn't make it --