What is the trap check regulations in Iowa? Been reading into them all morning and not seeing if all traps/snares are 24 hour check or if conibear/killing sets are longer than 24 hour. Thanks

The ONLY extended check allowed here is if the entire trap is submerged and it is designed to drown. IE: Drowning cable and lock or drowning chain or rods. Technically you can set them on day one and check them the last day of season if you wanted. All others are 24 hour check to include all conis and snares. If you are in the row those traps better be at least 200 yds from a building inhabited by human or livestock. LLL

24 hrs, unless underwater, 48 for underwater I believe

REMOVAL OF ANIMALS FROM TRAPS & SNARES All animals or animal carcasses caught in any type of trap or snare, except those that are placed entirely under water and designed to drown the animal immediately, must be removed from the trap or snare by the trap or snare user immediately upon discovery and within 24 hours of the time the animal is caught.

No where does it say anything about a mandatory check for a trap designed to drown immediately. LLL

Thanks guys. I don't know why I couldn't find 24 hours in the regs. All I could find was it said "traps should be cheked regularly".

"within 24 hours of when the time it is caught" is poor language.

I'm surprised a warden hasn't hammered someone with it.

Who says they don't? I have everything on a drowner so I don't sweat it. I have never even been asked by a warden anything regarding that. LLL

No where is there a specific description of what designates a drowning set. This could mean a trap with a long chain and drowning stake, or a trap with a weight fastened near the trap. Its mostly up to the interpretation by the officer.

While there is no description there is common knowledge of what will meet muster or enforcement. A simple long chain or weight will never fly as you well know. If you are trapping out of state, my advice is to speak with the CO from the area you plan to trap. Around here it is standard to have cable with a lock of some kind and two anchors. Anything else will draw attention. Not just from law officials either. LLL

A 1.5 coil on 3 ft of chain will drown just as many rats and mink as the same trap on a slider. With the vague description on the books, not a judge in the state could convict the violation.

Where I trap I get no attention from DNR, or anyone else for that matter.

Wardens are after live animals in traps over 24 hrs, years back I found a freshly shot coon in my snare in ditch on gravel road, went over hill after removing from snare an or re setting, an was stopped by 2 wardens on road, posing an dressed as bird hunters with dog cage back of pickup , check license an tags, when first see them, 1 was
Standing with hands on snare stake of someone else trapping that look like had a catch an left snare an stake. The other warden was take pic of it, this was before prestaking laws started