Hey folks, loooong time lurker but decided to get into trapping this year.

I have a question about using sight bait in Oregon. The regs confuse me somewhat:

..


"Sight Bait" defined in the regs as:



Can I still use a feather to to flag a cat set? I read this as it would unlawful to use a carcass and if feathers or fur were included it would be worded as such.

Thanks for ya'll help!!

My interpretation is that as long as that feather is not from a game bird it can be place within 15' of a foot trap. If you want to be sure call your local ODFW regional biologist or state police game warden and ask. They'll be happy to let you how they see things.

BTW, getting to know your local game warden is a great idea in my opinion. Show that you're trying to abide by the rules and if there ever is a close call or gray area they will likely give you the benefit of the doubt.

Thanks very much for your input!! I sent off an email to get clarification.. I can't be the only person ever to have been confused by this.

Follow up question: In Oregon, what is meant by "pursuit" season?

Easy Paul, to be safe? I would only use feathers from Invasive Birds. In oregon I think they are pigeon, eurasian dove, starling, and english brown sparrow. Please do as Beaverpeeler advised and check with a LOCAL, ODFW agent. Please let us know what You find out? Good Luck and welcome to Tman.

I think pursuit season is a time period when you can train dogs on game without harvesting any game animals.

Pursuit season is when you can run game with dogs but not harvest. Also in Oregon you have to choose East or West for your bobcat record card. You can only harvest bobcats on the side of the Cascades you got your card for, but you can pursue them with hounds on the other side, you just can't harvest any. I always get an Eastern card (or have for the last twenty years) but used to go to the west side occasionally and pursue them because I hunted over there when I was young and liked hunting there, and it was great training for the dogs.

Got it.. The only trapping I have ever done was some ADC work through state agencies so no dogs.. That makes sense.

I will certainly be opting for the Eastern Card.

I sent an email asking about using feathers in Oregon. I will share their response.

Thanks very much all!!

No such thing as an eastern card anymore. About four years ago what was the eastern card was changed to an all-state card, the limit remaining at 5 cats.

That means for Easy he can trap Klamath county for cats or drop down into Jackson on the westside if he so chooses.

Right. I'll be opting for the all-state card to focus on the cats on the eastern side closer to me.

If you ever get the chance get ahold of copies of Wayne Negus' book: "Wilderness Tales and Trails" and Polly Rosborough's "Marten I have Known" book. I'll bet there be plenty there for you to enjoy and perhaps learn from. They both lived and trapped not far from where you're at.

Huh, I'll have to take at look at mine. The tags are still Eastern or Western, but I guess I haven't looked at my card that closely lately. I know I have to choose when I fill at my license form every year. I would hate to take up some of those 5 slots with coast range orange cats, good to know I could though.

Thanks very much for the reading suggestion!!

Whats the reasoning or thought process behind not using game birds? I use only native wild bird feathers for my eye candy, but I dont know why anybody would think thats bad. Low population of the game birds?

The idea for that goes back many years when it was found that certain individuals were killing deer or other game animals just for draw bait. At least that's how I heard the story.

Incidentally, both of them give details of the trapper line cabins they constructed in the high Cascades for their marten lines.

Hope I ain’t missing nothing in the Georgia regs. I use quail feathers and parts. Used dove parts. Even use release training quail the dogs have mouthed beyond use. Even taken the whites of the Woodie feathers and used them. Caught cats, fox, and coyotes with them all. Got a double one morning with a cat in a flat set and a coyote at the dirt hole with feathers around it and quail parts down the hole.