I know I will have to keep my eye on this thread....

i can understand why it bothers you, and to be honest it's not for me either. i don't have anything against it either and i know it serves a valuable purpose. As long as the animals are not in pain while they are trapped which is true for the most part, then there's no real reason to feel bad for them. i've heard stories and seen pictures of coyotes asleep while their foot is in the trap. i think it's a more humane death to be trapped for a few hours then shot in the head than to bleed to death from a bullet or arrow.

i think quicksilver made a good point too, that if they dont die by being trapped or hunted their probably gonna die a worse death later on. i doubt hardly any wild animals die in their sleep from old age. Also, think about all the furbearers that are being farmed, living in horrible conditions and then have an electric rod stuck up their anus. At least trapping allows animals to live in the wild and then are dispatched quickly and humanely.

I just started trapping this year and the end result is no different then hunting. When you trap an animal such as a fox, coon or coyote, removing that animal will increase the amount of food/habitat for the rest of its species. It is for the benifit of its population as a whole even it the fate of that one animal is not so good.That animal will die,but it willleave more foodfor the rest of the animals to survive, maybeeven saving the life of another animal that would have starved to death.Sosay theres50coons in a hollow and youtake out 20, then the other 30 coons willgrow stronger,,resulting in a healthier population. The same applies to hunting. Its just a matter of whether its for you or not. I do understand why some people dont trap. And as long as they respect my beliefs, i respect theirs.

If you ever want to try trapping, use connibers because they do the dispatching for you. One thing I want to point out about useing foot hold traps is the part on the oposite side of the trap, usually the foot, gos numb from cutting off circulation. Thats why you never see an animal chew on part with feeling still in it.like when you sleep the wrong way and your hand or arm gos numb from no circulation. I know that this might not change your perspective but thought I would say somthing that makes it not as cruel to you. There is nothing wrong with the way you feel though. I feel the same way about those people that do the shark tournaments and gaft them and stab them after they tie them to there boat to let them bleed out. The are some people that should never hunt or trap also, like the people that only enjoy it when they kill somthing and brag about beating or teasing an animal in a trap before killing it. Good outdoorsmen hunt, fish, or trapfor all the right reasons while steel being able to enjoy the excitement of it.

What's the difference if you're killing a deer with a bow or trapping a coyote? You're taking an animal's life either way. Trapping is just as challenging as bowhunting. If you don't want to see pictures of trapped animals, don't click on the link or go to the trapping forum. My dad traps and it's just another way forus to get outdoors and have fun when hunting season is over. Nothing wrong with it in our opinion. You'd feel different if you saw a coyote killing a fawn that had potential to become a respectable buck one day, or any mature deer for that matter. Trapping is another way to control population, like hunting is.

Edit: Sorry, I just looked over your post again, and you said you're not against trapping. I understand that but I was just trying to stand up for trapping because I believe in it.

Read the name, thats how I feel.
You say you don't understand it, OK, not knowing is why alot of people are agaist hunting/trapping(although I know your not), they think hunting is just torture, pain and killing but we all know thats not the case, soooo TRY IT! You'll never know untill you plan out your own trapline, get ready for the fur to get good, and than get your first catch! It's awsome! I had no idea what I was doing other than that I had the right trap size and good stakes to keep them from having to walk with a bridger on their foot[:'(], other than that, it was trial and error, it took a month and a half for me to get my first but it was worth it(by the way it was a silver fox!!!!).

When I was living in Maui, never once did the thought of hunting come into my head, but once I moved here I descided to give it a try and I was hooked.

Quick question furgitter, you said that all of the animals seem scared except bobcats. I haven't trapped until recently, but my brother-in-law is starting a bluetick pup so I trapped a coon (boar) near my house to turn out in front of her. When I went to get the trap (live box trap baited w/ sardines) he acted like he would take my arm off if he got half a chance. (Finally to the question) Are they as vicious as the make out in the cage?

Ive grabbed alot of raccoons by hand.I wouldnt recomend it.Yes,they are meaner than hell.Theyll run if they can,but put your hands on em and they will turn arround inside there skin and shread you.Thats no exaduration.
On top of that,He may be sick.Were not vets.I get pre exposure rabie shots and still wonder.Any animal should be handled like a rabid one,untill its cold,and the virus is dead.
Give that coon a good head start cause they are not fast,and if the dog catches it,he could be killed.

They gave it a good head start. My brother-in-law has done a lot of coon hunting, so he knows the ropes. He said that a big boar like that would have no problem handling his half grown dog. Plus he didn't want her to have a bad experience on her first live coon.

Trapping with cages is fun.You can make some good lure if you want to.Just rot fish for a couple years in a plastic bucket and mix sone veg.oil with it.When its ready you throw it arround the front of the trap and toss some old paper towels and cans in the back of the trap.I have a hard time sharing my lunch with a raccoon.Call me greedy,but i love deeners.