I don't normally use cables but was going to put some out this year. Read through the regs and it wasn't clear on dates, called the DNR and the rep couldn't give me a date and said to call the local warden. Anyone know the date you can use them? Plan on calling the warden tomorrow just to confirm

I think you can use them in Jan. Don't know for sure I don't use them.

Used to be around the 1st of Dec, haven’t set any for a few years though

Here’s what I found, never heard of a foot snare for fox, if your setting a foothold why not catch them in the foot hold? What am I missing

Exactly what I read and what the DNR rep read to me, I explained I wasn't asking about foot activated cables just regular cable restraints, like snares except non leathal

Heres the page for cable (non foot activated) restraints



Appears that they can be used all season long (see second bullet point). I seem to remember that being talked about at a convention. I'd call the warden to double check though.

You can use CRs at the beginning of the coyote season. And you can use them on public and private land.

Wisconsin Administrative Code changed for 2023:

NR 10.13; Furbearing animals
(b) Trapping

15. `Cable restraints specifications.'
Set, place, or operate any cable restraint, except for bobcat from the Saturday nearest October 17 to January 31 and fox and coyotes from the Saturday nearest October 17 to February 15, dates inclusive, provided the cable restraint conforms to the following specifications, or the specifications established in subd. 18 if the device is a foot activated cable restraint, in addition to those under subd. 13.
a. Cable length of 7 feet or less, with a diameter of 3/32 inch or larger, consisting of multiple strands of wire.
b. Cable stops shall be affixed to the cable to ensure that the portion of the cable which makes up the noose loop may not be longer than 38 inches when fully open, or less than 8 inches when fully closed.
c. The bottom of the set restraint cable loop may not be less than 6 inches nor greater than 12 inches above the surface. The measurement to the surface is the distance to the first surface beneath the bottom of the set cable restraint where the surface is ground, ice, crusted or packed snow or any other hard material.
d. A cable restraint shall include a breakaway device or stop rated at 350 pounds or less; a reverse-bend washer lock with a minimum outside diameter of 1 1/4 inches; and staked in a manner that does not allow the restraint device to reach any part of a fence, rooted woody vegetation greater than 1/2 inch in diameter or any other immovable object or stake that could cause entanglement


18. `Foot-activated cable restraint specifications
Set, place or operate any cable restraint which is designed and placed so that it can only be activated by an animal's foot except for bobcat from December to January 31 and fox and coyote from December 1 to February 15, dates inclusive, provided the foot activated cable restraint conforms to the following specifications:
a. Cable length of 7 feet or less, with a diameter of 3/32 inch or larger, consisting of multiple strands of wire.
Alert! This chapter may be affected by an emergency rule:
EmR2311
EmR1210
b. Cable stops shall be affixed to the cable to ensure that the portion of the cable which makes up the foot loop may not be longer than 22 inches when fully open.
c. A cable restraint shall include a breakaway device or stop rated at 350 pounds or less; a roller (or barrel) in-line swivel that acts as the maximum opening cable stop; an in-line shock spring; and staked in a manner that does not allow the restraint device to reach any part of a fence, rooted woody vegetation greater than one-half inch in diameter or any other immovable object or stake that could cause entanglement

Yep, that changed for the 2022/23 season that they were able to be used for the entire bobcat/coyote/fox trapping season.

Good to know, I missed that change.