Accidental catches

[Youper]

This happened to a guy I work with. His wife, her mother, their young child and the smallish dog were out for a walk on a neighbors property with permission. Both he and I don't know much about trapping, so I can't describe the trap well, but the nosed it and it sprung on the dog's head. The neighbor couldn't remove the trap from the dog's head, and brought the dog home. It died.

The name and address on the trap was another neighbor that did not have permission to trap on the land, and the DNR said the type of trap used was a killing trap that is only supposed to be used underwater. The trap was only twenty feet off of the four-wheeler track they were walking on, and it was fortunate the child didn't step in it.

I guess my question is what kind of trap was this, and what restrictions are placed on its use? What precautions do you take against accidental catches?

[Glen]

Youper,

Sounds like maybe a 330 conniber(sp). I would think if it were a 220 he would have been able to remove it from the dog. Although it would have likely died anyway.

It's been a while since I've read the rules, but I believe they are only legal if used in the water or a certain height off the ground or otherwise inaccessible to non-target animals.

All I've ever used are leg-holds. So if a non-target critter is cought it can be released.

If one of my beagles are ever lost to a conibar that has a name on it, somebody is gonna have a VERY bad day!

Glen

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Sounds like a conibear, although I thought 220s were legal for land sets for coon in zone 2 and the UP (I might be mistaken on this). I really wouldn't mind seeing them limited to water sets.....I have similar concerns with snares for coyotes.
One thing to note with conibears: if you try an squeeze down on both springs at the same time, you wont be successful opening the trap....it is better to do one spring at a time, and engage the saftey catch once the springs are compressed.
It is unfortunate that these poor people's dog got caught in the trap.....yes, it was set illegally by a poacher, but the next time a trapping issue comes up for a vote, what do you think there vote will be? :(

[Youper]

Yes a complaint was filed, but I don't know yet what action has been taken. The guy was able to get the trap off at home, but I suspect the difficulty was just a matter of calming down, and that was why he was able to get it off at home. I don't know what the target species was, but where the trap was set it could have been anything.

[Thebear_78]

I believe that you can set up to a 220 in cubby sets on dry land. It is a very effective trap for raccoon, the only problem with it is the likelyhood of catching small dogs or cats. I have used 220 bucket cubbies many times and they are very good for running a lot of traps becauset they almost always kill the raccoon saving time on dispatching or remaking sets. I was always sure to never set them where I thought that house pets might come into contact with them. It is very sad at the loss of a loved pet. I feel for the poor people.

[TrapperJohn]

Thebear_78 is right about using 220 conibear (7"x7") type traps for raccoon is very effective. A new law was enacted this fall that only allows the use of a 160 (6"x6") size and smaller to be set on the ground if not made inaccessible to dogs. Larger sizes must be set under water or 4 foot or higher off the ground. This new law is for public and commercal forset land.
This guy was tresspassing and you've done the right thing to make a complaint.

[Michiganmallard]

These are the situations most of us want to avoid and I'm sorry for the families loss. These large conibears are allowed on dry land on private property which it sounds like it was. If the trapper was trespassing than that's the issue. I use 220 size conibears on trails and it's very effective for raccoon BUT I talk with the land owner about this before I do so. If there is ANY apprehension about pets being out there I won't set them even if I get the OK. The only time I feel comfortable using them is in clear trails that I know are being used by my target animal although it is impossible to stop any other animal from getting in them. 220 size conibears are 7" x 7" so most dogs heads are higher than the trap. 330's are 10" x 10" and although it's legal to use them on private property on dry land I don't know anyone who would feel comfortable using them especially when a 220 will do the job on the target animals. The rules the other guys stated are correct on state lands, underwater or 4' above the ground.
Mr. 16 Gauge, you mentioned having some concerns about the new snaring regulations. Just an FYI, the law requires a relaxing snare and a deer stop or a 350# breakaway. The only way the snare stays tight is if the animal continues to pull. These are not designed to kill or injure the animal and any tame dog is not going to continue to pull on the cable until it chokes itself to death. It would be just like tying a rope to his chokechain it tightens if he pulls and relaxes if he doesn't. The problem that could happen is entanglement (trees, fences, etc) within the reach of the snare. This could cause the animal to get tied up to the point where the snare is tight and doesn't have any slack to relax (just like tying your dog in the yard right next to the fence, bad news). Once again we're back to user intelligence like the person who set the conibear illegally on someone else's property without permission. Bad things can happen in hunting AND trapping when people do things like this. Just like Trout said the man is to blame, not the trap or the sport of trapping.

[yoda]

MichiganMallard, your only partly correct on the snare issue, as long as the snare is equipped with a "Breakaway" S or J hook that will break at or below 350 pounds you DO NOT need to run a relaxing lock...... Also Snares can ONLY be placed on private property..
One last thing, if you start running relaxing lock for Mr. Coyote there will be a whole bunch of them running around with a length of cable around their neck,,,, they'll chew that cable in half lickity split :D