Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Trapping how often do you check your traps?

When I ran my line I checked everyday, of course it was on a piece of land behind my house. Now that somebody put a house on that property I am going to have to range farther out for trapping. I know of a few spots loaded with bobcat and coyote sign but they are bout 35 mins drive away Should I still be checking them every day

It depends on the check laws in your state. Here in MT we have a 48 hr. check law, this allows you to run 2 lines, checking one each day. I only run one line so I check every day. By checking every day and gang setting every location you increase your catch considerably. Also, if you plan on checking (if legal) every 48 hrs. you should have laminated (offset wouldn't be a bad idea either) jaws on all of your traps to minimize injury to the trapped animals.

B.C. has a 72 hour check for non-killing traps. I usually check every other day.


RO <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Me and a friend check our trapline every other day, sometimes every day depending on the sign around the traps.

About the same, every other day, but I had enough traps that I was checking some everyday. Sometimes I just can't wait.......

tis a charge of adrenalin when awaking knowing your going to check traps...
still got your traps S'head?

Aint that the truth. That seemed to be the only thing that got me through 6th grade was knowing that as soon as i got off the bus I could go check my lines. I think I learned the most about animals by trapping. The most pumped up I ever got was after making a set for a bobcat, In a prime looking location. After checking it everyday for a week I got dicouraged and went to move the trap. When I got there I couldnt find the trap. Looking around I noticed the length of chain on the trap was pulled tight and leading into the brush. I swear the nieghbors could hear my heart pounding.

There wasnt a cat in the trap. There was nothing except a few hairs in it. I figure I made my mistake by chaining the trap fast to the base of a scrub oak. I figure he hit the end of that chain an didnt pull out. But ah man what a thrill.

When I trapped in highschool, I checked every morning,
didnt catch much, but it was worth it.

Every morning and every evening with drain ditch (muskrats) sets and every couple of days with swamp rats. For dogs and cats every 2 or 3 days when I was in school. I would try to have at least a line or two where I could see most of the sets from a ways off with a spotting scope. I believe Wyo state law mandates every 2 days now. Steve