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Post by richg072 on Jun 17, 2015 12:16:12 GMT -5
Hey all, was looking into getting into fisher trapping this year with body grips and wanted to make sure I am 100% on regs. Was looking at making a couple running poles and after reading and re reading regulations if using 160s they need to be min 4ft off ground which is clear. I'm a little confused about having animal suspend from air part as well as if bait needs to be covered. From what I get from the regs its un allowed to have animal suspended from air, so I guess the wire/chain needs to be long enough to fall to ground? If the trap is secured to the tree would this mean animal is not suspended? Also I know bait has to be covered using foot hold traps, but I didnt see it say this for bodygrips. Any information is appreciated.
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Post by slyfox74 on Jun 17, 2015 20:06:11 GMT -5
All bait has to be covered always. Just staple some branches over it so birds can't see it. And if your body gripper swings free after being tripped the chain and cable or wire needs to be long enough so that at least part of the animal is touching the ground.
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traps82
#3 Newhouse
Hope is always alive
Posts: 3,208
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Post by traps82 on Jun 18, 2015 15:08:14 GMT -5
If the tip of the tail touches, you are good. You can also use coni cages (on the poles) and then you are good on the bait. Make a dirthole near the pole. You will get a lot more.
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Post by richg072 on Jun 19, 2015 11:47:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the info.
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paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
Posts: 691
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Post by paintedpaw on Jun 23, 2015 14:09:16 GMT -5
The answer regarding the use of bait is not correct. All bait on the ground must be covered, however bait placed above a trap on a running pole is not required to be covered. The trap must be a minimum of 4' above the ground and at least part of the animal must touch the ground. Animals can not be fully suspended. Because the trap is secured to the tree is not enough regarding the suspension. The chain, wire, or cable must be long enough for the animal to touch the ground or remain upon the pole. Most trappers use a system, such as three nails or a conibear holder to allow the trap to fall away from the pole. Remember that driving a nail into a tree on state land is illegal. Also, my own advice, use plenty of swivels. I've had male fisher break chains.
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Post by richg072 on Jun 24, 2015 8:13:49 GMT -5
The answer regarding the use of bait is not correct. All bait on the ground must be covered, however bait placed above a trap on a running pole is not required to be covered. The trap must be a minimum of 4' above the ground and at least part of the animal must touch the ground. Animals can not be fully suspended. Because the trap is secured to the tree is not enough regarding the suspension. The chain, wire, or cable must be long enough for the animal to touch the ground or remain upon the pole. Most trappers use a system, such as three nails or a conibear holder to allow the trap to fall away from the pole. Remember that driving a nail into a tree on state land is illegal. Also, my own advice, use plenty of swivels. I've had male fisher break chains. Thanks. I couldn't find anywhere saying the bait needs to be covered if not used on ground. You think they would spell it out completely.
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Post by slyfox74 on Jun 24, 2015 20:49:39 GMT -5
I stand corrected, bait on a pole can be exposed. I personally think it's a bad idea to leave it exposed due to the Blue Jays and Crows that are drawn to it.
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Post by brushwolf64 on Jun 25, 2015 4:27:38 GMT -5
And hawks and owls etc. I always cover the bait on a pole for that very reason.
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Post by squash on Jun 29, 2015 1:15:52 GMT -5
I stand corrected, bait on a pole can be exposed. I personally think it's a bad idea to leave it exposed due to the Blue Jays and Crows that are drawn to it. IMO since I believe Fisher hunt more on sight and sound than by their nose, leaving your bait exposed on a running pole set attracting birds, would help attract fisher.
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Post by slyfox74 on Jun 29, 2015 8:01:49 GMT -5
I've always covered my bait on a pole. I always catch fisher I'm satisfied with the number of Fisher I catch per year. If I wanted to go after them big time and really pump up my numbers, leaving the bait uncovered would not be my solution. Fishers smell better than you think. They don't hunt mostly by sight. I've never heard that. I've had them dig through 2 feet of snow to get into a cubby that had a month old Muskrat saddle in it. If you leave your bait exposed you're asking for trouble. Just my opinion.
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tmc
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,447
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Post by tmc on Jun 30, 2015 8:43:59 GMT -5
Judging from the number of trail cam pics of fisher at night vs. pics taken in daylight, at least 50% of their hunting cannot be strictly by sight. Unless their night vision is that great; but even then, the only birds on the bait would be owls and/or birds USED as bait. It may not be a legal requirement to cover the bait but it does come down to personal ethics. And sometimes it's not only trappers that are checking traps, if you get my meaning. And then it's also THEIR personal ethics that come into play. Just sayin'... I like it when it's only me or the target species handling my set traps, not the other not-necessarily-benevolent two-legged life forms that are attracted to them.
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Post by brushwolf64 on Jun 30, 2015 19:25:24 GMT -5
Theres many good reasons to cover the bait on a pole and the above statements are the most important. We have caught plenty on poles where you cant see the bait except from the direct bottom of the pole where the fisher would be anyway on our setups. As said fisher smell better than a lot of guys give credit to them.The whole birds picking the bait idea as far as im concerned is way overblown for attraction purposes.Good lure and a bait they want will get them up the pole only if they want to go up !!! If your looking for a pole setup that does have eye appeal try cages wired to poles. Then you can use a big bait without fear of catching anything but your target animal.
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Post by clarky711 on Jul 2, 2015 9:42:44 GMT -5
The answer regarding the use of bait is not correct. All bait on the ground must be covered, however bait placed above a trap on a running pole is not required to be covered. The trap must be a minimum of 4' above the ground and at least part of the animal must touch the ground. Animals can not be fully suspended. Because the trap is secured to the tree is not enough regarding the suspension. The chain, wire, or cable must be long enough for the animal to touch the ground or remain upon the pole. Most trappers use a system, such as three nails or a conibear holder to allow the trap to fall away from the pole. Remember that driving a nail into a tree on state land is illegal. Also, my own advice, use plenty of swivels. I've had male fisher break chains. Thanks. I couldn't find anywhere saying the bait needs to be covered if not used on ground. You think they would spell it out completely. Covering the bait actually only applies to footholds, regardless of where they are placed (ground or up on a pole). It is in the hunting and trapping regulation book under "Use of Carcasses as Bait". I know some folks still use foothold on poles, and then you be required to cover the bait. I always cover the bait anyway, even when I'm using body-gripping traps.
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