A5 Sweet 16
Well-known member
A bucket? Please elaborate. Thanks.
Dogs caught in SNARES!
- Thread starter prairiepork
- Start date
A bucket? Please elaborate. Thanks.
Haretrigger
Active member
I don't have any personal experience with conibears in the field. I did have a friend show me how to release I believe a 330...not easy...not sure I could get it done in the field.
I have been told by this friend and others that for a dry land set, a bucket turned on it's side works real well. The animal sticks it's head in a stinky bucket and kaboom...that conibear smashes around the head in a perfect kill zone. Conibears are meant to kill...not restrain.
I know conibears are used for underwater sets a lot. Can't really say how much they are used on dry land.
I do know the 330? that my friend schooled me up on is used for wolves in AK, and a year later I was hunting up towards the interior and came across a very obvious posting saying lethal traps were set in the area. I assumed they were conibears and moved on...
Maybe someone with more first hand experience can weigh in on this topic ?
Bob Peters
Well-known member
I think they set a conibear trap in the bucket, usually with bait behind it. The bucket would be laying down so the creature could stick its head in. The other big one I always hear about conibears are placing them in culverts or water pipes. I am always vigilant about this and call the dog away from any I see or suspect. I carry a giant industrial zip tie to release conibears. Also a leash can work if it'll fit through the rings on the trap. Lots of videos online. I borrowed a conibear from a buddy just to get hands on understanding of the mechanism and how to release it. Many snares have a small clip that can be pressed on and easily release the snare. Of course you carry the cutters in case a dum dum is placing them without the quick release. I once had a dog get in a snare. She just stopped, it stayed loose, and I easily removed it.
Bob Peters
Well-known member
I did buy a giant channel lock side cutters. I do need to test it.
Tomahawker
Active member
I’ve set many a trap and snare. Still do. Carry cable cutters always.
remy3424
Well-known member
I am assuming most snares do not have a "release lever", the "cam style", I have never actually seen one of them. You must get to the same metal piece that is locking the cable from releasing..it will be hard to get to and even harder once the animal struggles bit...the cable cutter would definitely be the quickest and easiest way in a situation with your dog. Longer furred dogs would be even more difficult. Not a situation any of us ever want to encounter. 330 conibear encounters will very likely end badly. They are not legal to set on land in Iowa, the last I knew.
KEOutdoors
Well-known member
I have seen them set in painted buckets with fish behind them almost every year for the last 10, all on land in Iowa. Not a single one had a tag. Ive set every one of them off with a log and left the log in there, and they were gone the next time i was in the area.
remy3424
Well-known member
Those deserve a call to a CO to see if they would stake it out, maybe even a trail cam, to catch that guy. Are they still illegal on land?
KEOutdoors
Well-known member
8" dia and over are water use only. Thats why i set them all off before they killed someones dog. The fact that the buckets were spray painted and no tags anywhere means the guy knew it was illegal. Dont know how a coon is worth that ticket, but to each their own. CO knows about it, he asked me to not set them off or touch them but thats not happening. I asked if it was illegal for me to set them off, he said since its an illegal unmarked set that technically it would not be illegal to interfere with them but he would have liked to have found them set as its easier to build a case. I said sorry but im setting them off, its not worth my dog.
Its also illegal to set traps including snares in road ditches, those will never be marked or tagged either so keep an eye out. Never ever let your dog around a culvert with or without water.
Haretrigger
Active member
This thread and discussion reminds me why I like to try and keep a visual on my dogs, even though I use a garmin alpha.
At least the alpha will alert me when they are stationary.....can I get there in time is the question..
gimruis
Well-known member
Never seen a snare or a conibear or a leg hold trap in 25+ years hunting in central MN. Not to say they don't exist though, I'm sure they do.
My Grandfather used to be a licensed trapper. That was actually a large part of his income at the peak of the fur trade, so he showed me traps in person several times before he died. He rarely used snares but he used a lot of leg holds and conibear style traps. The conibears were always set in or near water for critters like otter, beaver, or mink. Their pelts were worth more than land dwellars like coyote and fox. His traps were always marked and properly labeled with personal information.
My Grandfather used to be a licensed trapper. That was actually a large part of his income at the peak of the fur trade, so he showed me traps in person several times before he died. He rarely used snares but he used a lot of leg holds and conibear style traps. The conibears were always set in or near water for critters like otter, beaver, or mink. Their pelts were worth more than land dwellars like coyote and fox. His traps were always marked and properly labeled with personal information.
Man... This is something I've never thought of, but a pair of Felco snips is getting delivered to my house today. What an awful way to have a dog pass. I am very hopeful those snips never get pulled from my vest, but I am glad I read this and had it brought to my attention.
gimruis
Well-known member
Ya, I agree, would be just about the worst way possible to lose a dog. Having them suffocate or their neck broken right in front of you. Would scar me for a long time.
Hopefully never happens to either of us.
Haretrigger
Active member
Wish all trappers were like your grandfather...
gimruis
Well-known member
Is trapping still a thing nowadays? I'm not talking about illegally-set traps. I'm talking about trapping as a side gig or even just a hobby, like hunting or fishing. I honestly don't know a single person that still sets traps.
wingsnfins
Well-known member
Also had heard mention of some guys carrying a lithium battery operated dremel tool with a cutting wheel......
KEOutdoors
Well-known member
Sounds dangerous with a struggling dog covered in fur.
Bob Peters
Well-known member
That sounds like a dumb idea.
wingsnfins
Well-known member
Ya not sure it'd be in my kit......just heard of some guys carrying them.
Haretrigger
Active member
Speaking of leg hold traps...
One of the more interesting "catches" that I've seen in a leg hold was a chukar. It was a double set and the first one had him by the foot, while the second got him by the wing. The leg appeared broken, along with the wing.....frozen stiff as a board, not surprising seeing it had been -20 the night before.
The covey was in the area still and I had some pretty good shooting....
I pulled a trap out of a badger hole ONE time.....won't ever do that again.....lol