Yes please read the regs and be sensible about making sets under our exposed bait law when setting foothold traps. Bait in “plain site” is one key consideration to the law. Put it baits in a pocket set, or down in a dirthole, then the bait is not out in “plain site.” Cover the bait with something like putting it under a wad of grass, same thing, now it’s not out in plain site. You can wire a wad of grass to a stick and put the bait under or inside the grass wad, you should be fine with that approach. Keep it simple but be smart about sets and stay within the regs.
Be sure to read what’s legally considered “bait” too under the exposed bait and foothold trap rule. (Feathers, fur, flesh, shell, etc are defined as baits). A squirt of fish oil on your stick would not be considered an exposed bait. But a piece of fish wired to the stick not covered up would be considered to be in plain site and that could be a violation.
The other aspect of this reg is distance from the trap for exposed baits. Sounds like you are targeting coon so you need traps close to the bait. Some coyote trappers like me may use a trail set in a trail leading up to say a an old dead dead cow or other “exposed bait.” Such sets must be a certain distance back from exposed baits. In this case you can use a plain site bait but it must be a certain distance from the trap.
Make sense?
That fish stick set is a good set but hide the bait so it’s not just stabbed or wired to stick and placed in plain site so close to a set foothold. Coon will still find your bait just fine even covered with a nice wad of grass.
Have fun and good luck this season. Keep us updated on your successes.
Jim
