That would be stupid to have to get a license to run cable. Im glad that nebraska has some pretty free trappin laws. Only thing that would be better would be a 48 hr check, and if they got rid of the no exposed bait within 30 feet of a foothold

Hern is a very good trapper, his advice is top notch too. Find trails through goldenrods, those are my favorite places to set cables. (Little to no entanglement to be concerned with)

Possum,if the law requires a separate license to run cables,then you abide by whats required.
Here in MN. we are required to buy a small game license and a trapping license to trap.
Trapre,next time you talk to Hern,tell him hello from Tom Olson.
Tom

Not to be critical, but it's a one time certification course you have to take, not a seperate license you buy every year in addition to your trapping licence.

I didnt say i wouldnt abide by the law because I do abide by the law. I was just meaning that i believe it is bs to have to take a course to snare. Just my opinion tho. Like i said, our laws are pretty free here.
Thats good that it is a one time deal though. What do your trapping liscense cost? I broke down and bought a lifetime a few years back. Was only like $200

Snaring with cable restraints,which is the way you have to go in PA,WI,and MO.,is a lot different than snaring in NE.
The object is all live catch and the course required,instucts the trapper in the correct ways to use cable restraints.
The states requiring the use of cable restraints,had no land snaring till cable restraints were instituted.It is in the best interest for the trappers in those states to get the proper education on their use.
Bottom line--education never hurt anyone.
Tom

I believe it costs like 20 dollars a year for an adult trapping license. No idea what a lifetime costs, but I think you have to be a certain age before you are eligible to buy one.

I didn't realize there was not a whole different license for cable restraint in PA. I haven't looked into much when it comes to cable restraints and snares. How does the state know you took the cable restraint course? How long is the course.

I will say Hi to him from you Mr. Olson!

He certainly is an AWESOME guy!!!

One day course, not even the whole day. You get a card you have to carry with you, similar to your hunter-ed course card. I am sure they have record of them too. There are a ton of laws that you have to follow that are extra to the regular laws. That's why they have the course.

I see. Thats interesting. I am sure one day, we will have a trapper ed course here. But I dont think as many people trap here as in other places. People only do it here when prices are up. Until then, I have most of the ground to myself lol

Thank you Pa_k9_trapper. You gotta love PA laws! lol. I was just curious. I am sick and tired of trying to trap in snow. I definitely need to go to cable restraints as well as footholds but need to learn details first. What is easier, Cable restraints or footholds? Snow excluded.

Possumcatcher: In my area there are about 6 different guys that have 100-200 traps and another 20 guys like me that run one or two farms with less than 50 traps. Trapping in PA is pretty big, at least in my area. I had a guy set some traps under a state bridge on the same property I trap. Setting water traps under state bridges in PA is legal I guess.

IMO, footholds are way easier. I just have a hard time snaring. I can catch a few animals, but always like coons when I try to snare coyotes and cats, or possums when I try to snare coons. But when its snow time, its snare time. It gets old trying to keep footholds working in the freeze thaw and remaking the sets snow after snow. Its easy to just set a crap ton of snares and let em go vs trying to keep sets working. We are supposed to get up to a foot of snow on top of our 8 in already. Most of the 8 has melted so its muddy. Probably around 3 or 4 laying on the ground now. Im gonna pull all my traps, make a few mods, look at the map, and after I get done pushing snow its game on for exposed cat sets. Thats the only way to go when its wet like this for cats. Dont have to worry about them freezing up

A lot of people trap here, but as you would figure even more when the market was high. I know a local guy that built his house with his fur check from one year. As far as ease, cables are easier to set and maintain, if you have good locations to set that are necked down and free from entanglement. But as with any blind set you may have to wait a while before you connect. I started using pipe sets this year and I love them. They are a lot more weatherproof than any other conventional set.

We supposedly have a LOT of snow coming as well. Close to two feet. Not looking forward to this weekend after it hits. I'm hoping to get something before the snow hits. They weren't really running last night. Deer were but not any kind of fox movement.

Pa, I notice you said free of entanglement. So do your cables have to be set free of entanglement? Or is that because they are cable restraints?
With snares, I like to have entanglement like attaching the snare to a y on a tree 3 feet above the ground or so. Then they wrap around and dispatch is faster. But I could see with the cable restraints how they are supposed to be alive, how you wouldnt want entanglement.

You have to be 65+ to get a lifetime license and it costs a little over $100. Here's a list of license prices in Pennsylvania.

Yes they have to be free of entanglement. A good rule of thumb is anything bigger than you pinky is considered entanglement. The whole catch circle has to clear so if you have a 4 ft cable and you have to have an 8ft circle. That's why I like trails through goldenrods and briars, they are necked down but not considered entanglement.

I see. I just snared another cat. #5 for the year

Caught this bobcat at this bobcat, my 4th of the season, at the dirt hole remake where I caught 2 of my other bobcats. Originally used one of TDHP's baits but remade the set with a rabbit leg and caught this tom in an MB-550.


Caught the coyote yesterday at a bone set using rotted down coon brains and Caven's "Canine Force" the trap was a Duke #2 square closed jaws, 4 coiled.

Nice catches. Caught this little red before the storm hit, I should have pulled the night of the storm lol, but I am glad I at least marked all of my sets because it would have been a nightmare trying to find them in the snow.