We had 3 dogs get caught in a coyote trap this weekend. They had 3 foothold traps set around a fresh deer carcass. Fortunately we were able to free them before they were seriously injured. They were heavy traps and surprised at least one did not break a leg. This was on a parcel that was obvious guys would be running bird dogs through. Has anyone else encountered traps on WIHA?
Trapping on WIHA
- Thread starter Jlbmlb4
- Start date
CharBroiled
Active member
From what I read, the only way someone can trap on WIHA is if they have the landowner's permission. They can't just go throw traps down, if I read correctly.
I'm no warden, but I would guess that is 100% illegal to use a deer carcass.
KATroutman13
Member
Never on WIHA, on a wildlife area twice. Should have had his tags on it. Cattle around anywhere?
fsentkilr
Active member
Snares in fence row aren't illegal unless they are along a road. You can put them along a road on your own land. Using a deer carcass for bait isn't illegal either, it may have been one shot during the January doe season.
From Wildlife and Parks web site:
Snares are prohibited in dryland sets within 50 feet of the outside edge of a public road or within five feet of a fence bordering a public road. Landowners and tenants or their family members or agents may use snares in the right-of-way adjacent to their lands. Snares must be tagged with the user's name and address or Department issued KDWPT number.
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If you're on Facebook - post the question on the KDWPT Game Wardens page or the KDWPT FB Page - They should answer within a day or 2 on the legalities.
I had posted a question 2 weeks ago about the legality of having permission to hunt posted private land via text message and they responded to me.
Several years ago my garmin indicated dog on point on a fence line 200 yds ahead. Called a young pup over to work on a back and we leisurely worked our way to the point. As we approached I heard a raspy sound and found dog in serious distress, caught in a snare on a fence line.
Really efficient set with a log laid perpendicular to fence, funneling critter straight into snare. Heavy winter brittany coat, e collar, tracking collar, made it difficult to find cable and release. When finally was able to release, the dog was semi conscious. Tracker saved a nice dogs life. Since then always have a pair of cutters in my vest, and always have a tracker on, even the short dogs.
Really efficient set with a log laid perpendicular to fence, funneling critter straight into snare. Heavy winter brittany coat, e collar, tracking collar, made it difficult to find cable and release. When finally was able to release, the dog was semi conscious. Tracker saved a nice dogs life. Since then always have a pair of cutters in my vest, and always have a tracker on, even the short dogs.
fsentkilr
Active member
Sometimes I think we forget that others use the WIHA besides upland hunters. I see guys on here complain all the time that the cover on a tract wasn't any good why waste money on it. We forget that a wheat field could be used to decoy waterfowl, the same with corn stubble, a bare pasture may have a draw that holds mulies or coyotes. The trapping on WIHA ground is tricky. More than likely if someone will lease ground to to public to hunt on, they won't tell somebody that ask they can't trap. Remember trapping is removing predators that aren't helpful to upland birds. If you see that somebody has been pulling up the same place and parking everyday or foot prints going in and out that is a good sign there may be traps. I think that people should for sure have to post that they have traps set, especially on WIHA or public owned ground.