Trapping, not for faint of heart
Trapping season is underway in Wyoming and now is as good of time as any to make sure you know what you’re doing, ethically and legally.
In short, trapping is not for the faint of heart. To manage a successful trapping season you must endure the weather, hike into areas of land that go untouched by human interaction for a good majority of the year and then harvest the trapped animal. However, the end result is not guaranteed and can end up being quite the headache for most.
Legally, you must check your traps regularly. As “quick kill” devices, snare traps must be checked at least once per week, according to Wyoming Game and Fish, to ensure the probability of the animal’s suffering or having to endure the cold temperature is slim. However, ethically and morally, most trappers check these types of traps every 24-48 hours. The most commonly used traps are foothold or “restraining traps” which require a 72 hour check.
Each trap must be labeled. Your information, name, address, phone number, must be present and/or your trapper identification number on each individual trap. This is required should Game and Fish have to contact the trapper.
Additionally, you must obtain a Wyoming furbearing trapper’s license and educate yourself on the areas in which trapping is allowed.
On the other side of this sport, it is illegal to tamper with traps of any sort and could result in a fine.
Trapping does uphold a good bargain. For your time and effort, which are required, you could walk away with a decent paycheck. Again, not guaranteed. On top of that, wildlife conservation comes into play. Trapping plays a part in predator control and helps maintain the balance of the system throughout the year.
Though trapping is not respected by many, it is a way of life for a number of people in our community.
As we all live in an area that is heavily trapped, we should take the time to educate ourselves on the dos and don’ts of trapping, the impact it has on our wildlife and why it’s needed in our community.