Is there a setback rule for traps near trails?

This situation is common here. People don't stay on the trails, walk their dogs (non hunting) off leash and the dog gets caught. I caught someones dog my trap was about 100 yds off trail.
I have been hunting and had dogs that were hiking ruin my hunts. I had one dog running full speed barking at me I drew my arrow back then comes the owner. I told the owner get the dog back now or they will get it back with an arrow wound.

At the trapping rules regulation proposal meeting I went to recently (posted about it) I mentioned that the common denominator with this is 2 fold...... It is people walking their dogs off leash off trail and 2) people here have no idea hunting trapping and fishing may be occurring and that signage at popular areas (especially in areas like the ones being proposed to be closed) stating something like "warning, hunting trapping and fishing may be occurring please keep dogs on leash,It is illegal to interfere or harass hunters, trappers and anglers. I gave several examples of dogs off leash ruining hunts getting caught in traps as well as dog feces all over the place. The meeting had about 2 anti's to trappers.

Another thing that was brought up was educating the public

This isn't being tried in a court of law, rather being viewed in the court of public opinion. There are less than 200,000 licensed trappers in the US and there are 90 million dogs with owners that vote. There is no furbearer on or near public trails worth risking my or fellow trappers legal right to trap.

Like it or not, in this day and age we HAVE TO be very careful where we set traps. Legal or not every dog that gets caught is one step closer to having our right to trap taken away. I am very fourtunate in my state to have vast amounts of BLM and NTL forest land to trap where I don’t have to worry about catching pets. And anyone else that has opportunities to trap places that are dog free or at very least low risk, must do the same. As trappers we need to educate the public about how to easily release a dog from a foothold trap and snares unharmed and teach people that these traps are not what they think. Fair or not, legal or not, DO THE RIGHT THING. As trappers we need to be proactive. The only way to save trapping is to educate the public on the reality of trapping, not what the antis would have them believe. It is up to us as trappers to save this tradition for future generations to enjoy. Period. Every time you set a trap where someone’s dog could be you are jeopardizing trapping as a whole. We need to educate the public, make smart decisions, and save trapping. Either trap smart or don’t ruin it for all of us that do.

This isn't the same story
Is it


Can't post the link,

Rye what did the NTA say when you called them?

I understand your frustration BUT ... Whenever a local story makes it to Fox News it seems they run with the original. So in this case the story quoted SD DNR. I seriously doubt the original paper called NTA for comment??? Sooooo....how would NTA know?

It is a simple thing to pick up the phone and call an NTA officer or Rep.

Like it or not, in this day and age we HAVE TO be very careful where we set traps. Legal or not every dog that gets caught is one step closer to having our right to trap taken away. I am very fourtunate in my state to have vast amounts of BLM and NTL forest land to trap where I don’t have to worry about catching pets. And anyone else that has opportunities to trap places that are dog free or at very least low risk, must do the same. As trappers we need to educate the public about how to easily release a dog from a foothold trap and snares unharmed and teach people that these traps are not what they think. Fair or not, legal or not, DO THE RIGHT THING. As trappers we need to be proactive. The only way to save trapping is to educate the public on the reality of trapping, not what the antis would have them believe. It is up to us as trappers to save this tradition for future generations to enjoy. Period. Every time you set a trap where someone’s dog could be you are jeopardizing trapping as a whole. We need to educate the public, make smart decisions, and save trapping. Either trap smart or don’t ruin it for all of us that do.