I was just out in the shop replacing a few 220 triggers and it occurred to me that if we could ever get a 48 hour check on snares and footholds during the cat season, I would never set another 220 for them. Does anyone else feel the same way?

I agree. Is it legal to check with a cell camera that you can make take a picture when you want it too?

Honestly, I am not sure. I am low tech and I have never had great luck with trusting electronics in the cold.

I’m not sure what it’s like in MN but if you had a live cat in a trap for any amount of time during season, a dog hunter will kill it for you.

Oh I am sure that could happen here on state land. Chances are you would loose the cat also.

I have set 220's for them but I have never caught one. But I will try again this year.

I have caught quite a few in them over the years. For everyone I catch, I get 5-10 refusals where they just circle the box. You finally catch one on a 2 day check and the next one along eats the belly out of it. 220's are my least favorite but in many places, the extended check on them makes them the only option. Cages are my favorite way to catch them just for the excitement. It sure is easy to just roll them over to release a female or kitten.

I’d love a 2 or 3 day check on snares, I don’t set a body grip for cats, and I don’t try to hard to catch them, but snares are how I would like to do it.

Or a two or three day check on cages would be alright.

I agree.

Osky

I suspect the grouse and pheasant hunters would support this as well as it would result in less 220's in the woods.

I use 220s for trails and in the water, but never in a cubby…

I don't catch many cats anyway, but I agree with you 160. A two day check would make it a lot easier to fit in with my work schedule, and I've always had much better luck with footholds for cats.

If we had extended checks on snares (or footholds after the start of cat season for that matter) I would 100% never set another 220 for them. They are the least efficient gear choice by far. But, for those with 8-5 jobs (all of the daylight hours), you really don’t have any choice but to run body grips. I would love to see this pursued with the DNR, or if they won’t listen, the legislature. It would be a big win for dogs. I was told by the DNR that they won’t support an extended check in an area because it would dramatically increase their use. So what? Why is that a problem? Certainly less of an issue with dogs than 220s.