I have it here in Illinois. One positive thing I can say it does is that I do not have and never had very many circle shy coyotes. If I am picking them up every day fewer coyotes have less time to interact with a coyote in a trap.

I do wish I could legally leave traps longer especially drowning or kill sets. It would save gas money.

So you never watch any trapping shows from up in Alaska. They must shoot them first then film because every one I have seen them check the animal is frozen unless freshly caught.

Never lived in Alaska.

My opinion is just like everyone else’s, it is what it is.

There are vast differences in east coast and western trapping. But that wasn’t the OP’s question.

I have trapped in 6 different states.

Removing options for trappers is like being anti trapping.
Nowhere I know of that has an extended check time stops anyone from checking however they deem necessary to their operation.They still have the option to check once even twice a day if they so choose.
Explaining stuff on here is like trying to educate a jar of heinz pickles.
Like I stated earlier-i wont leave an animal in a live holding set longer than a day if I can help it.Two days in modern live holding equipment would not be too long but my choice is 1 day.
I prefer lethal sets for many reasons over live holding traps,one being it allows an ethical extended check and more efficient buisness operation.
Some others may have a different method of operating and they have the option to do it however they want without unneccesary burdensome oversight.

Agreements:

Not everyone that obtains a trapping license isn’t equal in ambition and motivation, they should, but they aren’t and there would be no need for regulations if they were.

There are many variables that should dictate the best practice for Trapping and one size does not fit all.

Can we let it go now?

Agreed just hate to see the antis feed the idea it would be good for all, my guess the OP is maybe going to deal with this in the future and is loading his quiver ahead of it.

Nobody here goes off the deep end do they?

Someone asks what are the benefits and some one answers. All of a sudden we are trying to change everyone’s laws. And of course anyone that has a different outlook in an anti - trapper.

It wasn’t even a outlook it was an answer to a simple question.

Nobody said that Alaska and NC and Texas should have the same laws.


There are a lot of current laws I don’t like much, trap size limits in some states are ludicrous but if I mentioned that I guess I’d be ostracized.

Letting it go now.

We have had 24hr check regs all the year I have trapped so I am used to the rules and set my lines and traps accordingly. I especially feel the 24 hr check is good one the first check as that is when there is the most activity say with coons and the more days the trap sits the lower the coon numbers most likely, however that allows more incidentals to get caught so checking more often works for me. Also with a 24 hr check here in WI we have a very large,(2 million rural residents) in a small state that almost all commute an average of 23 miles one way to work. With most critters more active at night and caught then with an AM check many of the catches are never noticed by all the commuters. I can see in other areas where distances are much, much greater and commuter travel minimal that other options may be very workable.

Bryce

I'm not sure that has anything to do with it.We have a 48 hr.check here but for most of my sets I do a 24 hr. check.And our coyote are as circle shy and spooky as they come.

Regarding people seeing catches I will leave you with this discussion that got heated.

I’m pulling a beaver up from a set at a big ditch on a curve. Focusing on what I was doing I missed a jogger that was on me. I didn’t want to cower so I said hi and dragged the beaver up the bank.

Her: What is that?

Me: A beaver.

Her: Is it dead?

Me: Yes.

Her: Why did you kill it?

Me: It’s the law.

Her: That’s a stupid law. Why can’t you take it somewhere else?

Me: How would you like it if someone scooped you up and dropped you off in the hood in that sexy spandex jogging outfit.

Her: You think I’m sexy?

Im not a fan of set check times.

It’s a fluid thing in my opinion, dependent on animal population density, weather, species, why I’m trapping, etc.

I check rat traps twice a day.

If I was in good fox or coon country, and fox or coon were actually worth something, bet your butt I’d be checking every day.

I’ve checked coyote lines in 24 hrs, 48 hrs, 72 hrs depending on the situation.

I check late season coyote dispatch snares every 7-10 days once the local populations been smacked down hard.

" Let those who ride , decide "
A common term amongst motorcyclists who fight / disagree with helmet laws. ( I'm all in favor of wearing a helmet when I ride , but against any law that forces you to wear one )

A 24hr trap check should be decided upon by those that trap/understand trapping etc. Not by those that have no clue of what is going on.
I live in a very urban environment. Trap checking here is under a 24hr mandate. (state regs) A good thing as there are too many people to spot a trapped animal. A drowning set will not be seen by 99% of the public and could have a longer trap check time IMO.
What works in my state , may not work in your state/area. " Let those who ride , decide "

To give you an idea what urban populations of animals are like , if I really put my head to it and busted my hump with every trap in the field during trapping season with massive numbers as the goal I could fill the smallest size Uhaul box truck to the roof with raccoons. Not trying to brag or BS anyone on here. During a normal year of handling nuisance animals I will catch 100-200 raccoons. I get sick of catching them.

Anti's will make you think they need protection , far from it. They need population control.

Other than PR gains in certain environments like I operate in as an urban nuisance trapper I see it as a bad compromise allowing the non participants to dictate to those that do. Even here in the urban landscape 24hr checks have serious negatives resulting in reduced ability to service clients, constant demand on the trappers time for those who trap year round.
Truth be told this is probably the most violated rule in all of trapping due to the undue demand on time.

I would say continue to fight to protect and extend trapping rights. We were able to fight off reducing our check time from 48- 24 hours. No evidence was presented as to why this was necessary. In addition our game and fish started an otter season and expended our Bobcat season to the entire state. The latter resulted from a petition to the GFP from a trapper! Of course having a pro trapping Governor has helped a great deal!

I understand the perceived idea of a 24 hour check by urbanites and law makers, but it puts an unfair legal burden on a trapper. What happens if you get stuck mid line, break down, get a heavy snow, flood, wind storm, or family medical emergency? Any of which could easily put you over the 24 hour check, due to no fault of the trapper. Most trappers aren't driving new trucks, the average age of a trapper is something north of 50, and that would put their parents in the upper age class, and which requires most medical attention. Younger trappers have kids at home and school sporting events it would be nice to support their events on occasion. Tough decision to make whether to pull a hundred trap line, to attend a football game.
But what really riles me up, is that those making these laws are working 40 hour week jobs, with a benefit package, and currently working from home!

Hey why draw me into this Rally
oh wait you broke up the characters in the name. you get a pass this time...
and that working from home is the phone in their back pocket, and they are sitting up a tree stand with the audio turned off and on the government pay cheque keeps rolling in.

Sure hope that ear plug in her ear was not recording your conservation.......or it ain't going to be a good day in court for you then...