Bump

I spoke with a wi dnr warden this morning regarding the use of 220s on crossovers. The 5 foot height retriction is from the water surface, in his view. BUT, he warned against rapidly rising waters in creeks. As soon as the water rises and the 220 is not 5 feet or higher above the water, it is a violation. Just thought I would share.

If you look at the INTENT of the law, vice the LETTER of the law.....it should be from the bottom of the creek. It may not be, but I think it should be. Then again, what's the law trying to accomplish? If it's to keep dogs and cats out, it fails by being on a log to begin with. That's a good one......

USMC47. The intent of the law is to avoid giving trappers a black eye. I trap on other people's property, and the last thing I want to do is hurt one of their pets. So I'll stick to 160's and other lower threat methods, but that is my personal choice. I am personally fascinated by the difference of opinion on the subject from warden to warden, and was looking to add to previous posts regarding "water" or "creek bottom" as the measurement point. I intend to ask every warden I meet, just to see what their interpretation is.

By the way, thanks for being a Marine and protecting all of us civilians. I really appreciate it.

is there anything specific about the log to look for?

Exactly my point. If the intent of the law is to protect a pet, what difference does it make if the trap is 5 or even 20 feet above water or a creek bed? It's still at ground level where a dog can get into it. I think the intent is to have it X feet off the ground on a leaning post.....no?

Being a Marine is fun....but it's coming to an end quickly....19 years this December....thank you, good sir.

JJ

I agree with the X feet off the ground on a leaning post or inside a cubby box - prevents anything from accessing the trap opening from the ground, such as dog sniffing out bait in the box.

Do you have to retire after 20 years, or just wrapping up a good career? We have a young Marine hero here in town who encountered an IED in Afghanistan, with lasting effects (brain injury). Tremendous kid and wonderful parents. Can't say enough for all branches who put it on the line for us, nor should we ever stop helping you guys out once you're home.

Don't have my regulations handy right now but does it not say 5 feet above a HARD surface?

Chessie,

I don't have to retire - I can go to 30 if I so choose. It's a tough decision but I want to start a new career as young as I possibly can. It has definitely been a good career - for sure - I've loved almost every minute of it. I appreciate people like you, Chess. I've been subjected to a couple of bangs myself...by chance, is that young Marine in town a trapper?

How do you keep one of these sets operating in snow? It's a good set, but I'm trying to think of a way to use it here in AK.

Log crossings should blow relatively clear if they are suspended above a creek. They should do quite well with a conibear or a snare. I have personally never set one, but I find that around here you seldom see more than six inches of snow on a leaning pole even if the snow below it is 3 or 4 feet deep.

i trap a river that every year floods up and floats away any logs crossing. i want to try this set this year but ill have to put my own log down. easy to do as i always cut wood out of this river. my question is what size tree i just cut to lay across? would six inch be big enough or do you want something a little bigger?

Chessie, thanks for the PM. I started a program back in 2007 where I partnered with this organization which trains service dogs for wounded warriors. I thought this was worthy of everyone seeing. And, for your friend.....I recommend you stay in touch with me..

www.caninesforservice.org

My two daughters and I took a trail hike into Bankhead National Forest a couple months ago. A few miles in we stopped to rest, near some deep ditches washed into the hill sides. I heard something running thru the leaves up the hill from us, and only then noticed a small five or six inch log laying across the ditch, about fifty feet from where we were sitting. Soon two coyotes came straight to the small log and walked across to the other side of the ditch. My point is, this was a very small log, and the coyote sized animals never hesitated to use it.

Also. I have trapped many animals on logs that didn't cross a stream or a ditch. The animals naturally jump up on a log and walk the length of it. I've done it many times on logs laying parallel to a stream, or even on logs just laying out in the woods. My main target on such sets is grey fox in the woods, but these sets catch a lot of coons and I've even caught mink in such sets. Add a little lure or urine, and bed your traps just like you would on a stream crossing.

Really neat sets, have to try this this season.

Bumping this up. Saw a fox the last two days out deer hunting that crossed this log both days. Placing a foothold tomorrow, any ideas on anchoring? All I have is cable stakes and some wire I think 14 gauge. If I double up the wire I can anchor on a drag or something. Some chain and a grapple would be nice but I don't have any. Maybe I'll grab chain tomorrow

Charman,
Did you see where he stepped off or climbed on the log? I'd set there on the ground
if all I had was cable stakes. They usually approach and get down in the exact same
spots almost every time. Attach trap chain directly to the cable stake. I wouldn't trust wire.

Great post, when I was a kid that was the first set I learned. Notching a #2 double spring with a hatchet and covering with moss from the bank. In regards to fastening one word of caution. I at first nailed the trap to the log and it sprung of my thumb. With one hand out of action in the middle of a #2 Victor Doublespring I couldnt get my feet on the springs. Lucky enough my partner was within earshot so he got me out. Live and Learn. From then on I would cut a long sapling and slide it through the ring and stick it in the bottom next to the log and set. When it make a catch it would fall off and slide down the pole and drowned. Caught a lot of critters in this set up.

I carved the notch for this one with a chain saw in the off season. There's actually three logs here. The largest one that I thought would be the best only produced possums and squirrels. The other one caught one coon. This one caught the fox the first day and later a small beaver which I let go. I just staple to the log with a 2 inch fence staple on these solid logs. I have a old spongy log on a smaller creek that I get coon on every year, just use a grapple there.