By Gord Follett
Any time we notice fluorescent tape markers indicating rabbit snares in an area where we plan to hunt rabbits with our beagles, we move to another location. If we see or hear that hunters and dogs got to an area ahead of us, again we move on. And on the handful of occasions over the years when we noticed posted trappers’ signs, we were outta there faster than we got in. No discussion is needed. We’re gone!
A dog caught in a rabbit snare is not always serious, but if our beloved hound is caught in a coyote snare or spring-loaded trap, that’s a completely different story.
Such was the case this past season – twice, that we know of – within 10 days, which again brought up the decades-old question: Should trappers be mandated to clearly post signs in areas where they are working?
On December 30, 2024, Merl Eastman made a post: “in memory of a fine dog, Baylee…
“Gavin (Butt) and I were hunting in the Thorburn Lake area with our dogs Cassie and Baylee, when Gavin’s dog got caught in a spring snare and was instantly killed,” Eastman said.
“These snares are designed to instantly kill so animals do not suffer, but they have a spring that cannot be released by hand. They should be outlawed! I am trying to get these kill snares banned before more families lose their precious pets (and hunting dogs).”
On January 9, Gord Gushue was enjoying a day of hunting with his two beagles near Colliers when one of them – named Loona – was killed in a fox snare.
“I’m sick to my stomach right now,” he posted on the Rabbit Hunters of Newfoundland Facebook page. “A wildlife official told me a while ago that trappers don’t have to put up signs, though some trappers do.”
Reaction to Gushue’s post was swift, with the majority offering condolences and/or demanding that trappers be ordered to post clear signage in any and all areas/lines where various types of traps are set.
Group member Mike Norman wrote, “Trappers should be MADE to mark the areas; not their actual traps, but general area. They had to take a trail/path to get there, so why not put a sign up to the trails leading in?”
Frank Sears suggests an “Active Trap Line” sign at the beginning of an area.
“That’s it. Any hunter with dogs would turn around and go somewhere else, rather than chance the life of their hunting buddies… Is that so hard?”
When the discussion branched off to the number of trappers across the province, Peter Emberley commented, “Soon won’t be fit to run a dog.”
“At least mark the start and end of the trapping area,” commented Doug Pynn. “I know these traps are expensive to be stolen, but a dog is not only a hunter, (they are) a big part of the family.”
It may not be as simple, however, as nailing a sign to a tree.
Many years back, as editor of the Newfoundland Sportsman magazine, I spoke with the province’s wildlife director at the time, the late John Blake, about this very issue. The problem some trappers have with posting signs, he told me, was that it was basically giving directions – or advertising – for people to find and destroy trapping gear, or even steal their trapped animals/furs.
Ken Griffiths usually marks his traps with as many as 10 signs!
“My signs are placed at the beginning of the line and the end. I also put them in the middle of the line and any other path that leads to the line,” he said, adding, “I did so many signs to help out anyone rabbit hunting…I also put up trail cams for anyone stealing my gear or cutting it up; it’s a federal offence to do so.”
Shawn Reid gave a realistic account of the situation from the standpoint of a trapper and trapper’s education instructor.
“With the loss of two hunting dogs in little over a week, I thought I would share this,” he began.
“I have been trapping for 24 years. In them 24 years I have gotten a number of dogs; only two have died.
“Trappers are not required to mark any snares or traps with signs; only a bear snare has to have a sign. Like many other trappers, I mark the roads or trails that have snares on them. If we marked individual sets, experience has proven that those sets will go missing or be destroyed…Every person that runs a dog, either hunting or for pleasure, should carry a pair of cutters,” he continued while providing a photo.
“Your regular Canadian Tire or Princess Auto pliers or side cutters will have a difficult time cutting the larger cable. As for the spring-loaded snares, they can be released without cutting the cable if you never had cutters with you.”
Reid then offered his services: “If someone wanted to organize a group of rabbit hunters, I could give a demonstration on how to release a dog from a snare… No one that traps wants to catch someone’s dog.”
