WI colony trap sizes?

[rk660]

What are the size restrictions in WI? Plan on building a bunch to sell up there. thanks

Also, does someone have Jason Dusfrense #?

[thorsmightyhammer]

If I am not mistaken no bigger than six by six.

[thebeav2]

6X6X36
If you would have called me back I could have told you LOL

I would build some 5x5s also.

[bblwi]

Measurement is critical, be sure to contact someone that has the correct size. Similar to our 160 and the square inches, as some 160s were actually not legal nor is putting bars on the insides of the jaws of 220s.

Bryce

[jwr64]

www.customtrapmodification.com/

jasons site

[longbow]

From the Wisconsin DNR website:

Colony Traps

Note: This version of the colony trap regulations is effective July 11, 2011, and supersedes a previous version of the colony trap regulations which contained an error in the description of legal trap dimensions.

Colony traps became a legal method to trap muskrat in Wisconsin on February 1, 2011. A colony trap is an enclosure type devise that allows for the capture of one or more muskrats in a single set. The trap design functions with one or more one-way entrances that allow muskrats to push through and enter, but prevents exiting by the mechanics and/or design of the door or opening. These traps are called by other names, but will be referred to as colony traps in the trapping regulations and related articles.

Colony traps are commonly used in many Midwestern states for the regulated harvest of muskrats. The states of Michigan, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Ohio, and Missouri allow the use of colony traps, but regulate them based on variables such as: overall length, door or opening dimensions, placement in relation to culverts, whether bait can be used, and placement with regard to water (i.e. 100% submerged, 50% submerged, etc.). Each regulation is based on different variables that may influence non-target capture and welfare of trapped
animals. For example:

- Restricting trap opening dimensions reduces the chances of taking incidental beaver, otter, and other
wildlife.
- Culverts tend to force/funnel all animals, including non-target species into colony traps. Requiring traps to
be a set away from culverts reduces this possibility.
- Prohibiting the use of bait reduces the risk of attracting fish or turtles into the trap.
- Requiring the set to be underwater at all times assures complete submersion and humane dispatch.

During the review and spring hearing process here in Wisconsin, these variables were taken into consideration by members of the Public, Wisconsin Conservation Congress Fur Harvest Committee, and the Wisconsin DNR’s Technical Furbearer Advisory Committee. This committee includes representatives from the WDNR Bureaus of Wildlife Management, Research, Fisheries, Endangered Resources, and Law Enforcement; U.S. Forest Service; Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Commission; County Forest; Wisconsin Conservation Congress, Wisconsin Trappers
Association, and USDA Wildlife Services.

Based on this review, the following regulations were suggested and approved for colony trap use in Wisconsin:

1) Overall length can not exceed 36 inches and height and width cannot exceed 6 inches. If using a round trap, the diameter cannot exceed 6 inches.
2) Colony traps can not be placed within 3 feet of any culvert.
3) Artificial or natural materials can not be used to funnel animals into the trap.
4) Bait may not be placed in the trap or at the set location.
5) The trap must be completely underwater at all times.
6) Colony traps may only be used for muskrat but mink that are incidentally captured can be retained
Starting this fall (2011-2012 season), colony traps can be used beginning on the opening day of the regulated
muskrat season.

Contact(s) John Olson [phone] or Shawn Rossler [phone]

dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/trap/Colonytrap.pdf

[calvin]

Too bad about the size and within 3 feet of a culvert deal. Would a bridge abutment be legal (BE set)? Guess they just want them limited to runs. However, doesn't say anything about putting 2 (or 6) side by side at pinch points.

Well, its better than you had. They work.

[thebeav2]

From what I was told all the restrictions were added after It left the fur harvest committee. In other words the restrictions were added by the DNR.
I heard they were all concerned about catching and killing turtles. What a freaking joke how many turtles are we going to catch In Nov Dec Jan and Feb.

Yes you will be able to block off the whole stream If you want to. You just can't use any guides to funnel the catch Into the traps. Bridges aren't culverts so I wouldn't hesitate to set any bridge abutments.

[calvin]

Yep, if Turtles was the reason, someone wasn't thinking there. In places that I can't keep turtles out of the beaver traps in the summer I/ve never caught a turtle in the fall fur season...this far north anyhow.

I too think a culvert is different than a bridge abutment. I just never looked up the definition. I think of pipe when I think of culvert.

I haven't tried the smaller 6x6 as BE sets along bridges. The big ones work though.

[mustelameister]

Aug 22, 2011 19:08:40 GMT -6 @thebeav2 said:

I heard they were all concerned about catching and killing turtles. What a freaking joke

Seriously?

[thebeav2]

Seriously. From what I was told It was all about the turtle. How many beaver or otter do you think would be caught In a trap like this?

[blackhammer]

Turtles?What a bunch of mental midgets your DNR has.They get payed to use their brains and show the common sense of a two year old.

[thebeav2]

Yep they have a way of screwing up a wet dream.

Coon season closes Feb 15th Rat season closes Feb 28th. You know how many coon I catch In that 2 week closed coon season while I'm still trapping rats. Just hate to waste a resource.

I harped and preached to the DNR about the opening of coon season(Oct14) And the opening of fox season (closest Sat to Nov 1st) I normally catch around 10 reds In my body grip trail sets. Turning them Into the DNR Is a huge waste of the resource. But they finally got It right and opened them on the same date. So there Is still hope.

[captaine]

Would a bridge abutment be considered a form of guiding or funneling to the trap?

[thebeav2]

Not In my way of thinking. The law says you CAN'T add anything to the set to Guide the animal Into the trap. If the structure Is already there your not adding any thing to guide the critter Into the trap.
The whole thing doesn't make sense. We can fence off the whole freaking creek to guide a otter through a 330 but we can't guide rats into a colony trap.
It's like they give you a car to drive but they don't include the wheels

[mustelameister]

But wait . . there's more.

6x6 collapsible colony traps are not legal to use in Wisconsin this year.

Add that to the growing list of traps that will be used by trappers not "in the know" this year and we've got a cluster$#%# in the making.

Here's the deal on the collapsible colony trap:

It is illegal to "Set, place, operate or possess while trapping, any trap other than a steel jawed trap, enclosed trigger trap, cage or box trap, body gripping trap, colony trap, snare or cable restraint for the purpose of taking, capturing, or killing furbearing animals. Cage or box traps shall be constructed so that after an animal has been captured, no additional animals may enter the trap until the captured animal is removed and the trap is reset."

So unless it meets the definition of a steel jawed trap, cage or box trap, body gripping trap, colony trap, snare or cable restraint below, it would not be legal. If it does meet the definition of one of these other 6 legal types of traps, then a trapper would have to comply with the rules on use and placement of that type of trap.

The definition of a colony trap can be found in NR 10.001(5v)

"Colony trap" means an enclosure device designed to allow the capture of one or more fur-bearing animals in a single setting as a drowning set. Entrance to the device is gained by one or more one-way entrances with overall dimensions of the trap not to exceed 6 inches in width, 6 inches in height and 36 inches in length.

If the trap exceeds any of the overall dimension restrictions it would be considered an illegal trap. Colony traps that "...exceed 6 inches in width, 6 inches in height and 36 inches in length" are illegal. Restricting the entrance would not make the trap legal in the scenario you described as the maximum overall measurements are greater than 6"x6"x36".

I've got a whole mess of 'em made 6x6 collapsible that when set bow out in the middles from 6 1/4" to 6 1/2". And it's not legal to narrow the openings.

So I've got a little job in front of me cutting an inch off the length of each side and rejoining two sides, not to mention the 1/4" rod will need to be straightened, rebent, and reset.

[calvin]

Agreed, Beav. Sounds like someone from within really didn't want them so they made ridiculous restrictions on them just to appease that side or something. Not being able to guide them into a 6x6 will really decrease your catch other than run trapping. They will work real well (and really shine) in the runs, however.

Really nice when you get a slight drought in late fall (just before trapping season)where the water drops some. The once deep runs start showing up. Just plop them in as your going by and pick up your 2-4..or even 5 the next day.

[trappnman]

mm- are you talking that "collapsable" is illegal, or just the size of such.

calvin- are you talking "runs" in how a creek flows, or actual cutouts from rat use? cause if the later, not many of those around in what I trap. I was thinking of using them in creek flow runs, or where the current naturally goes on the bottom.

[mustelameister]

The size of the 6x6 collapsible trap becomes illegal when erected. It exceeds 6x6 in the middle of each panel.

Collapsible is fine.

Guess I'll be making 5x5 collapsibles.

[kelly]

Mike-Just make them 6x5 with the 5 measurement the height. Should be good to go then?