As a matter of fact yes I have and I hunt with a couple of guys who trap. Yes please lets bring firearms into this thread...............as I said before bunch of libtards..............
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Thought about this last night, and from a retailer's and outdoorsman's point of view, the current regs for trap possession are pretty unique. There are lots of examples of restricted equipment that is available, can be legally sold to the public, and the responsibility is that of the individual, to be aware of the laws pertaining to its use.
eg.
Crappy Tire - you can buy seine nets and spear heads. It's up to the buyer to know that neither can be legally used under the fishing regs. Outcome? - you'll get personally charged if you're using them fishing, and I guess the resource takes a hit. No offence for general possession.
Bass Pro - electronic calls for turkey, fake plastic corn cobs for waterfowl - same deal. It's up to the individual to be aware of the regs. Again, you'll get personally charged, and it may increase your harvest rate. No offence for possession.
Traps - actually quite unique. Retailer is still relying on you to be aware of the laws, as above, but in this case you are breaking the law by merely being in possession of them. eg. you're a crook as soon as they hand you the bag at the till. The end result is the big difference. If you take it further, and are unfortunate enough to actually use the equipment, the implications are major if a non-target animal/pet gets killed in your set. Everyone takes a hit on this, esp. the trapping industry. If it involves a pet, then it usually is no longer a simple provincial offences ticket. You're looking at lawyer fees, settlement, and the stress, loss of income, etc. when you get pulled into court.
Maybe it's time for the MNR to ammend the FWCA, and add some new section pertaining to retail distribution of traps. It wouldn't be any different than what the process is now at most suppliers.
If anyone is heading to Cabelas, maybe let us know if their trap sale policy has changed.
You can be charged with having a spring gaff within 30 m of the water, you do not need to be fishing with it. So possession is enough to be found guilty. regs. page 12.
I don't think the trapping industry will take a hit if some jackass in the city gets his neighbors cat with a conibear trap unless the person is actually a trapper.
I can just imagine the outrage from the trapping industry if the MNRF pulled the names and addresses of "retired" trappers who have not had a trapping license for the past 5 years and started processing illegal possession charges for guys having a shed full of old rusty traps. Heck there are probably a bunch of widows that could get pinched for this as well.
I have seen a few bear traps for sale and know of a few in rec rooms on display?
Week I guess I should be charged than.. stl have my grandfather's old muskrat traps.. haven't been used since 1964.. dunno if they work, but I guess it's illegal for me to have these right?
I imagine if they ever did change the trap regs to require authorization validation by retailers, it would only be able to apply to new purchases from that date on. I agree - there's lots of cases where people have old traps out in the shed, or like previously said, a trapper lets their licence go past 5 years. Re: seine and spear - I need to read the regs more often. I didn't realize you could use a seine unless you were a commercial baitfish operator. Didn't realize you could use them for smelt either. Will have to save my back this spring, and try a seine, instead of trashing my rotator again with the square smelt net lifting. Didn't realize you could spear carp in the Kawarthas either. I can only imagine the hassel you'd get doing this in front of the cottagers ! You have constant resentment going on, even when you're just using the bow.