More trapping of dogs...

[jparrucci]

Sounds like a reasonable compromise to me. No changes for any private land or water sets, and removing baited bucket sets for much of the Oct thru Nov months would drastically reduce risks. I also think the season for Martin and fisher could be moved back a week or two till Dec 1.

[swamptiger]

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Sounds like a reasonable compromise to me. No changes for any private land or water sets, and removing baited bucket sets for much of the Oct thru Nov months would drastically reduce risks. I also think the season for Martin and fisher could be moved back a week or two till Dec 1.

+1. And end the grouse season at least by Dec. 1 or sooner.

[walleye101]

Sounds like a reasonable compromise to me. No changes for any private land or water sets, and removing baited bucket sets for much of the Oct thru Nov months would drastically reduce risks. I also think the season for Martin and fisher could be moved back a week or two till Dec 1.

Hey, now we are talking about reasonable rational solutions, rather than just finger pointing.

[swampman]

I would agree with most of your idea's walleye I do use some baited cubbys this time of year on wma's and wpa's but there is nobody else out there. I also think the northern zone seasons could be adjusted some to prevent overlap of hunting/trapping conflicts. I don't think most trappers are unreasonable but alot of the disscussion on these threads swung far to the left right away, instead of reasonable talk we got alot of" we need to get rid of these things" and the trappers dug there heels in. IMO

[walleye101]

Digging the heels in and insisting there is no problem is one strategy. I just don't like the odds of convincing the majority of dog owners and the general non-trapping public that there is no problem. I am a trapper who uses 220's frequently and it is hard for me to convince myself there is no problem.

[Recon]

My main problem with these sets has always been that "game bird parts are used as an attractant or bait," by some trappers! I have yet to see a trapper suggest outlawing game bird parts as a lure or attractant to these sets! Too me this would be a very reasonable step in the right direction and my encounters with these sets would probably have never happened!

[Trapper J]

This is reasonable and most responsible trappers are doing this already.Lets not forget what the under-lying issue is: to end trapping.I believe most hunters and trappers would think walleye 101's ideas are acceptable and very do-able.GOOD POST !

[swamptiger]

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When fisher season closes get the baited cubbies off public land. Continue to run them on private land with permission, but it is really not fair to tie up public land for a month and a half for trapper use only. For late season cat trapping lets give trappers a three day check on leg holds like most of the western cat states. A dog stumbles into a leghold set and it is just unpleasant experience not a lethal encounter.

I could live with that, but I'd rather see the cat season and the fisher/marten season run together, maybe lengthen the fisher/martin season and shorten the cat season a little, and allow 220s for the full season. Not typically many people with dogs running around in the woods in December anyway. This year was an exception due to mild temperatures and very little snowfall.

[swampman]

Digging the heels in and insisting there is no problem is one strategy. I just don't like the odds of convincing the majority of dog owners and the general non-trapping public that there is no problem. I am a trapper who uses 220's frequently and it is hard for me to convince myself there is no problem.

Again not disagreeing with you I am just saying that alot of talk on here went to 5 ft off the ground , totally submerged , get rid of them on public and private land,etc. It would'nt even occur to me to set a baited bodygrip on public land during the hunting season in the pheasnt zone.In the northern part of the state I think there might be a few more options. Nothing will be perfect for everybody.

[grousehunter]

+1. And end the grouse season at least by Dec. 1 or sooner.

That's crazy talk right there...grouse season should be extended to Jan. 31st like in Wisconsin....or maybe they should just outlaw dogs in the woods to make sure none end up hurt. I mean there are wolves, thin ice, porkies,roadways, traps etc....the woods is no place for hunting dogs. Keep them indoors where they are safe. Man we are becoming silly with all the micro-managing and fear driven actions.

[swamptiger]

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That's crazy talk right there...grouse season should be extended to Jan. 31st like in Wisconsin....or maybe they should just outlaw dogs in the woods to make sure none end up hurt. I mean there are wolves, thin ice, porkies,roadways, traps etc....the woods is no place for hunting dogs. Keep them indoors where they are safe. Man we are becoming silly with all the micro-managing and fear driven actions.

On a normal year in the northern zone, it really wouldn't make a dime's worth of difference, because it's not uncommon to have a foot of snow by Dec. 1.

[grousehunter]

I always hunted grouse through December when I lived in Duluth and Ely(1ft is nothing and when deeper the snowshoes come out)...so yea it might not make a difference for the masses, but there is no real reason to end the season before December either. People can factor the risks involved and make up their own minds if its worth hunting or not. I've had some really good grouse hunting in December.

Then again I really have no problem with leaving the trapping rules as they are. I think some trapper education courses might not be a bad idea for the trappers and public awareness. Where was the outcry before this year though? There is no protecting everything and everyone from something bad happening.

[swamptiger]

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People can factor the risks involved and make up their own minds if its worth hunting or not.

It's always worked that way in the past, but obviously, that isn't acceptable anymore..

But as I said, this particular season was an abnormal year, especially in the north.

[Random guy]

Some good posts with some great ideas. Another thing that happened as stated before the baited cubby on public land in the southern more "upland" area pose to be the main concern. I feel that single problem held some merit and I as a trapper was willing to see something worked out. Then what happened with this is the groups pushing it got greedy. It went from cubbies and 220's on land to ALL body grippers, on ALL land and then it even went to ALL water sets. That’s when the trappers dug in their heels and pulled back into a defensive position.