Dogs and Traps

The local paper has been writing articles all this week about trapping in the area. Several dogs have been killed in conibear traps locally. The MNRs response has been to remind dog owners that their pet should be leashed in areas with wildlife to avoid harassment. I get that but what about if the dog is accompanying a hunter?

I hunt grouse with a cocker spaniel. She has zero interest in any other wildlife. How do I avoid a trap encounter? I was told by a licensed ttrapper in the Ottawa Valley that conibears are either set in elevated box traps for marten or underwater for beaver and muskrat. I'm surprised to find they can be set on the ground with a marshmallow as a bait.Is this a legal set with a conibear?

Eastern Ontario trappers have attempted to pressure the Provincial Association to adopt their standards but to no avail.

I'm just wondering if other dog owners have any valid methods to protect their dogs. Leashing sure won't work and my spaniel will eat damn near anything. She'd walk right into a trap set.

Conibear can also be set on land in or on beaver runs so you always have to be extra careful around beaver houses. As a killing trap, land sets are quite legal and in some areas are used for coyotes and fox. You're more inclined to run into leg hold traps though. As most people I know walk their dogs in the same area you could always find out who the trapper is nearby and talk to them about the types of sets they're using and just where they are set. They should be more than happy to oblige you with the info because responsible trappers don't want any bad interaction with the public either.

I have only ever had one run in with traps in the marsh. There was a spot along the river that feed into a marsh. Prime rat, beaver and racoon spot. It was also a great duck spot. I would boat down the river, park, and walk into the ponds. Along the river edge was 5 gal pails, laid sideways, with a conibear in them, on the ground. I managed to call off the dog, all was good. I then left a note, saying, Hey, I get that your all legal, however, I am running dogs here until the ice comes in, can you please put them higher, or wait a few weeks. Went back a week or so later, the note was gone, and there was four more sets. Left four more notes, with my name and number. Went back a week latter, notes are all gone, sets have moved a few trees over. Still in place. I tripped the sets, fired the buckets in the river, and hung the traps on a tree. I may have been a douche, but I gave fair notice..

No reason for the big conibears to be set other than underwater IMO. Too much risk for hunting dogs otherwise. Should be prohibited.

Also, why can anyone buy #220-#330 conibears from Cabela's in store or online and they're supposed to know that only licensed trappers can possess and set them. Makes no sense.

from the regs

27. (1) A person shall not possess a body-gripping trap unless the person,
(a) is lawfully entitled to use the trap
(b) was lawfully entitled to use the trap within the five years preceding the date on which the person was found to be in possession of the body-gripping trap;
(c) engages in activities related to the manufacture, repair, sale, transportation or storage of the traps or the conduct of research with respect to those traps;
(d) is a collector of traps and the trap is rendered incapable of being used for trapping; or
(e) possesses the traps for educational purposes in the course of employment by an educational institution or government. O. Reg. 667/98, s. 27 (1)

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to traps in a museum or public display if most of the funding for the museum or display comes from a government in Canada. O. Reg. 667/98, s. 27 (2).

Dog found dead in a conibear trap north of here a few weeks ago. Some mormon set it up on a fence row and local dog was caught in it. You should see the hate in the local newspaper for trappers and hunters that could do this.

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Originally Posted by SongDog

Dog found dead in a conibear trap north of here a few weeks ago. Some mormon set it up on a fence row and local dog was caught in it. You should see the hate in the local newspaper for trappers and hunters that could do this.

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Exactly what will happen and is happening around Owen Sound. Huge backlash! I support trapping and it's certainly a great activity so I hate to see this become an anti-trapping issue. I also assumed the average trapper would be aware of hunting dogs and try to set traps accordingly.

Many test have been done with hunting dogs and traps. In must cases dogs will jump over the trap if set in a legal manor. Trappers are responsible for there traps and dig owners should be in control of the dogs. Most trappers will wait till bird season is over before running land sets .and big hounds will ignore lost traps. I run hounds and trap in season so I know the conflict.