Hello, I've wanted to get into trapping for a long time. I bought a bunch of used traps for what I believe to be a good price (65~ stretchers, 35~ footholds, 17~ bodygrippers of various sizes). The fellow passed away suddenly, and his cousin was offloading them.

There are a lot of bodygrippers but I think I am going to start with the footholds for safety reasons to start.

I'm trapping on about 40 acres of woodland next to decent conservation land. Hoping for coons, coyotes, and fox. I have looked into the proper applicable laws for trapping private property.

I didn't get any stakes from the person so I think I am going to make a bunch of rebar stakes up as I have a lot of it laying around already.

I'm just confused if I need to add any swivels, springs, chain, or special stake holders to this trap before I stake it down.

I've watched about 100 trapping videos but I am just confused if I need anything else special or it is just good to go like that. I included pictures of the haul (stretchers, bodygrippers, footholds), and two close ups of two different traps. Looks like mainly victor traps.

Thanks so much for any tips

I see that you're in Canada. Hopefully one of our northern neighbors can weigh in but I believe y'all are regulated under the AHITS(?) on just which traps by brand and model can be used. Or at least that's my limited understanding.

The guy I got them from trapped for the railways (government owned) so I'm sure everything was regulation and appears to be so.

https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/980667/v5

Dont know your rules in Canada, but in Michigan I have used all those traps at some point in time and still like some of them over the new modern versions.

Looks like you will have a good start. Many of the traps you have there will work for many different species. Don't be worried of the body grippers. Looks like the ones you have are the average size you will need. It all depends what you are going the chase and what you can use according to law. Looks like the stretchers you have there are older ones that are used for rats. You can make them work. Ask a lot of questions. Good luck!

https://fur.ca/certified-traps/

Do you really think you are free?

That's also one of my questions. Looking forward to the replies!

Boco should get in on this

Are those Jumps 1 1/2s? I trapped a lot of mink,rats and coon with 1 1/2 jumps.

It looks like I am just going to order some double stake swivels and some MB crunch proof swivels to get these going if that makes sense. Then just make rebar stakes myself. Thanks



They are! I'm new to this all and never even seen them before.

awsome.....welcome aboard lots of seaoned trappers here willing to help.

Be sure to check the archives for a LOT of good info.

I'd also join your providence's trappers association I'm sure there will be a member who lives close by you who you maybe able to tag along with to learn the ropes so to speak .

On your body grip traps I'd rub any rust spots with steel wool then spray paint them mainly the square and round spring rings be careful on the triggers , I'd carry 12' of derby line with a bowline knot tied on one end when you catch yourself and you will at some point in time ha ha

I'd also dye and wax the foot hold traps but never the body grip traps they are fast enough without it .

All those traps are legal in Ontario under the aihts for certain species.
Fox are not an aihts species,but the provincial regs state you have to use a foothold smaller than a #3.Also Ontario regs state staked footholds on land have to have no more than a foot of chain.if you use drag or clog no chain length reg applies.
For coon you cannot use a foothold except for the encapsulating type.

if you want to sell fur you will need to take the trapping course to get a commercial licence.
Like any other jurisdiction there are regulations you need to be familiar with.
Ontario, being such a huge land mass, has different regs in the North and the South.I believe there are 4 different divisions in the province.
Where in Ontario are you located?

This is your best bet!
Can't hardly have too many swivels.

Thanks for weighing in. What's legal from state to state, country to country, province to province is confusing and rarely makes sense.

Boco got it right, best bet is to go to a USA convention and see what some are selling for. Then sell and up-grade.
Use as a muskrat trap is the only alternative.
Best bet to convert those wire forming stretchers into some fixed sizes for the muskrats

Just make sure when you cross you say you are up-grading with the traps you have, and NONE ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD or they are then fit into the antique class and everyone is "valuated " based on what has gone in auctions lately, and duty can be pricyyyyyy

I thought ks had some ridiculous regs, but sheesh! Any regs on bgs or water sets Boco?

Lots of regs for trapping all over North America.
Obviously southern Ontario will have lot more restrictions similar to the USA because of human pop density.
In the North not much.