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Post by fowlhunter on Feb 14, 2015 21:35:52 GMT -5
^^ A little harsh and judgemental don't you think? Not all incidental catches are created equal. Should I not be allowed to trap because I am pretty sure I am incapable of releasing a bear, cougar or wolf by myself? A dog/pet familar with human handling is a completely different ballgame from a wild animal. You know nothing about this man except the fact that he made a mistake and was HONEST about it. He could have just as easily killed the bobcat, dumped it and lied to the CO and say he set it free. At any point before the CO had the "proof" in his hand he could have dumped it and probably gotten away with it. With that kind of attitude then no one would ever be allowed to trap, forget teaching young people or women like me or handicap people. We all had to start somewhere. We all screw up at some point and time. Being cocky about releasing animals in traps is how you set yourself up for injury. Not being harsh or judgmental at all just stating the facts. If you are going to trap you need to be prepared it is not something you just go do without educating yourself. Not everyone has someone to mentor them but it's not that hard to find the information yourself. |
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Post by hornzilla on Feb 14, 2015 23:01:26 GMT -5
Not being there it's a little tough to judge... Sounds like this guy is a new trapper and did not plan ahead for this kind of an incident. I would think a bobcat would be the toughest animal in Indiana to release from a trap.. Actually the toughest thing I ever released was a big Husky. He was determined to eat me. |
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Post by ms660 on Feb 15, 2015 11:49:38 GMT -5
Probably not the hardest, but the most scariest was a badger we caught back in the 80's in a fox set. Got the catch pole noose around his neck and it felt like I had it around a concrete block with two inch claws and fangs.When I cinched it down, there was no give at all to him. Ended up using a wash tub placed over him with nothing but the trapped foot sticking out. He calmed down well after that. After the trap was off it was a race back to the cab of the truck, but he actually didn't move at all. We left and came back a hour later and he was gone. Ain't seen one since in Indiana. We didn't even think about getting a CO to help, but the DNR at Sugar Ridge were told about it after it was released.
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Post by firstwd on Feb 26, 2015 16:51:36 GMT -5
The hardest incidental catch I've ever had to release was me...... right thumb in a 330. My brother knew there was a problem when he heard the trap snap but not a word from me. It hurt too bad to even scream.
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Post by remington243 on Mar 7, 2015 12:40:26 GMT -5
The result of letting government get involved in anything. Shoot it and keep your mouth shut!
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Post by remington243 on Mar 7, 2015 12:42:26 GMT -5
Wasn't his fault.
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Post by firstwd on Mar 7, 2015 17:00:06 GMT -5
You will need to elaborate. What exactly wasn't who's fault? |
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Post by span870 on Apr 2, 2015 22:00:13 GMT -5
He decided to trap. He caught a bobcat. He let it suffer for three days. He killed it illegally. Don't see a gray area here. DNR has zero obligation here to get it out. Its his job.
I just love the guys that say shoot it and leave it or the ol S.S.S method. I'm sure these are the same guys that will blow there top at someone poaching a deer. Him killing that bobcat is no different than poaching a deer. Its an illegal kill and should be handled as such. If be willing to add an animal cruelty charge to. Not for the trapping but letting it suffer in the trap.
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Post by budd on Apr 3, 2015 7:03:53 GMT -5
Have released a few bob's, they are much tougher to release then one of these.  |
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Post by budd on Apr 3, 2015 10:15:40 GMT -5
I've thought about this for awhile, there was a lot of wrongs and less rite's in this incident. Myself being someone that traps a lot and used to handling a lot of situations concerning animals, I would have just released the cat and went on about my day, also been annoyed that my trap was down for a night filled with a nontarget animal. This new or unsure trapper done rite by calling his C.O., the C.O. done wrong by telling the trapper he would be there and not showing up, instead of telling the trapper to just go ahead and release the cat, the trapper was wrong for not going ahead and releasing the cat after figuring out the C.O. was not going to show up in a reasonable time....as far as I'm concerned that cat died because two people were to damn lazy to do their jobs.
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Post by firstwd on Apr 3, 2015 11:54:42 GMT -5
I've thought about this for awhile, there was a lot of wrongs and less rite's in this incident. Myself being someone that traps a lot and used to handling a lot of situations concerning animals, I would have just released the cat and went on about my day, also been annoyed that my trap was down for a night filled with a nontarget animal. This new or unsure trapper done rite by calling his C.O., the C.O. done wrong by telling the trapper he would be there and not showing up, instead of telling the trapper to just go ahead and release the cat, the trapper was wrong for not going ahead and releasing the cat after figuring out the C.O. was not going to show up in a reasonable time....as far as I'm concerned that cat died because two people were to damn lazy to do their jobs. Unless of course, the C.O. was doing his job and just didn't have the free time to go do the trapper's job. |
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Post by chubwub on Apr 3, 2015 13:59:14 GMT -5
I would suggest the DNR not post things like this to Facebook then. This kind of gave me the wrong impression that CO's are more than happy to render prompt assistance when needed for bobcat releases. Not trying to diss, but if this truly isn't something the DNR is willing or required to help with then don't promote it maybe?:   |
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Post by budd on Apr 3, 2015 14:02:09 GMT -5
I've thought about this for awhile, there was a lot of wrongs and less rite's in this incident. Myself being someone that traps a lot and used to handling a lot of situations concerning animals, I would have just released the cat and went on about my day, also been annoyed that my trap was down for a night filled with a nontarget animal. This new or unsure trapper done rite by calling his C.O., the C.O. done wrong by telling the trapper he would be there and not showing up, instead of telling the trapper to just go ahead and release the cat, the trapper was wrong for not going ahead and releasing the cat after figuring out the C.O. was not going to show up in a reasonable time....as far as I'm concerned that cat died because two people were to damn lazy to do their jobs. Unless of course, the C.O. was doing his job and just didn't have the free time to go do the trapper's job. For 3 days? Even so he should have called the man back with direction's or at the least some advice....or even called on the second day to see how things went. I once threw a otter up under a bridge out of the sun and called a warden to come pick it up, he said "sure no problem", I went back a few weeks later and there it laid. Called the CO and he chuckled and said "dang I forgot about that". As far as I'm concerned he should have gotten a wanton/waste citation. |
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Post by firstwd on Apr 3, 2015 14:14:04 GMT -5
Yes, for three days. We have a department that is around 20 officers short of a full crew. Those guys and gals get extremely busy in all corners of the state.
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Post by budd on Apr 3, 2015 15:29:37 GMT -5
Yes, for three days. We have a department that is around 20 officers short of a full crew. Those guys and gals get extremely busy in all corners of the state. Forgot, CO's are NEVER wrong, and mistakes they make are just that and are always excusable. I say punish the trapper to the fullest, it's 1000% his fault, that's what he gets for trapping pore little animals!!! Wish all factories and company's would excuse their employee's when they forget small things because they are under manned. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Apr 3, 2015 15:54:25 GMT -5
CO or not... don't make an appointment that you cant keep.
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Post by span870 on Apr 3, 2015 19:19:09 GMT -5
I would suggest the DNR not post things like this to Facebook then. This kind of gave me the wrong impression that CO's are more than happy to render prompt assistance when needed for bobcat releases. Not trying to diss, but if this truly isn't something the DNR is willing or required to help with then don't promote it maybe?: Don't see anywhere that it says the officers are willing to offer prompt assistance. All it says is they assisted. Again. Not there job. I will assume that everyone that sees the officer being wrong would be okay if I let a deer lay that I shot if I couldn't retrieve it myself if I called a co for help. Wouldn't that be my responsibility. I've never trapped anything but rabbits. If I put a leghold out tonite and caught a bobcat, I can assure you I could release it myself in less than three days. |
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Post by 76chevy on Apr 4, 2015 12:42:01 GMT -5
Its not the ICOs job or responsibility to turn it loose.
The TRAPPER caught it, he turns it loose.
If you don't know how to do this, or are not prepared to do this, you should NOT be setting traps. Period.
I support the IDNR on this, trapper deserves the violation.
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Post by 76chevy on Apr 4, 2015 12:43:02 GMT -5
 One of the simplest way to remove one. Take a large rubber made tote. Put 20 feet of rope on one end. Walk calmly and slowly to the cat. Place the tote over cat. Lay lightly over top. Take the trap off. As soon as the pressure is removed the cat will pull his foot back under tote. Then back off to the end of your rope. Give a big tug. Tote will tip over. Bobcat will take off when he realizes he's free. Seconds to a few minutes. This set up is always in the back of my truck when ever I have dry land steel set. |
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Post by chubwub on Apr 6, 2015 10:22:11 GMT -5
I will assume that everyone that sees the officer being wrong would be okay if I let a deer lay that I shot if I couldn't retrieve it myself if I called a co for help. Wouldn't that be my responsibility. I've never trapped anything but rabbits. If I put a leghold out tonite and caught a bobcat, I can assure you I could release it myself in less than three days. Tough and unforgiving crowd I see. It depends. Did you have really bad luck and have it fall down a ravine or some one else's land where you weren't allowed to go? Did you get injured in some fashion while hunting that made it impossible for you to carry the deer out? Are you handicapped and have the arrangements that you made to transport the deer fall through? There are just way too many scenarios that can happen where leaving the deer might be your best bet...hence why I really try not to overly judge people's circumstances too much, especially when they ask questions to try and learn and feel remorse. As I have said before even with the best of preparation, CRAP HAPPENS all the time that you have no control over. There are very few black and white circumstances in life. I've made a perfect head shot on a duck that locked up like a hang glider and sailed 400 YARDS onto the other side of the marsh before dropping stone cold dead. We were lucky to find it. I thought I made a bad shot and of course people in the marsh were sneering and jeering at me and probably saying what an irresponsible hunter I was and looking for ways to get me in trouble. Imagine my surprise when we found it, that it's head was full of pellets and an eye was shot out. I did everything right... I waited till it was well within range at 20 yards, I made sure of my target, and I aimed for spot that was most assuredly a lethal kill. Yet CRAP HAPPENED. My fiance almost drowned trying to retrieve a downed duck one time in the spirit of trying to make a reasonable effort and comply with the law. I can assure you that I would much rather see the duck lay there rotting then burying my soon to be husband. It was extremely foolish of him to do so and he was actually LECTURED by a CO next time to just leave the duck where it lay, no ticket would be written. At some point while hunting you may encounter unpleasant situations where you will have to make some difficult choices. It's an animal. Ultimately, my life and safety is more important than an animal no matter how important that animal is to the goverment. I always err on the side of safety for the human. While it is a shame that the deer will not be utilized by humans, I would imagine your safety and respect of other's property is much more important then a dead deer, and I would think going the extra mile to call a CO for assistance after you have exhausted all viable solutions for what would otherwise be a wasted animal goes far beyond the duty and responsibility to make a reasonable effort to retrieve your game. In case anyone was curious I went ahead and looked up the job duties of an ICO and found this: www.in.gov/dnr/lawenfor/files/le-DutiesAndQualifications.pdf"DUTIES Serves as a uniformed law enforcement officer for the Department of Natural Resources to enforce and uphold all federal and state statutes with particular attention to those related to conservation of natural resources. In the course of work the incumbent may perform any or all of the following: - Aid and instruct the general public on such matters as water safety, firearms, boating, camping, fishing, hunting, trapping" Not part of their job???  Confused. |
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Confused.