Originally Posted By: bigsky_songdogsTrapping with footholds is ethical, and animals caught in them relax and just hangout after they realize they can't get out for the most part.
If you don't want to use them, then don't, no biggie but don't question the ethics of those that do. Trappers have a hard enough time keeping their rights to continue to trap, and we don't need those that are ignorant to the truth of trapping questioning it for all to see. The antis do that enough as it is.
I never once questioned any trappers ethics. In one of my earlier posts I even said I was jealous that I couldn't simply do it. I read in the Minnesota trapping regulations that poisons were legal where permited and I read online about poison traps that were soposed to kill in seconds. So I came on here (with much already admitted ignorance) and asked about poison traps, then all h ell broke lose.
I have killed plenty of maimed animals from rabbits screaming and doing back flips to whitetails that were shot through the leg.
I've seen deer walking around with their lower jaw missing. I've tracked a buddy's wounded deer that had a broadhead cut the front leg to the bone, and when I spooked it from its bed it franticly jumped down a small mound of dirt and broke it good front leg. Seeing it try to get away after that has not and may not leave my memory, it was my worst hunting experience I have had. I killed it with a head shot no more than two minutes later, it was the only part of the animal I could see after it stumbled into a ditch. I could barely talk to my buddy the rest of the day, after making the crappy 60 yard shot that wounded the animal.
If seeing wounded animals does not bother you that does not bother me. Serously. I never once have said anything bad about any of the trappers I know of or any trapper I have talked to.
I know if I started trapping and see another small coyote or a fox in a foot hold with its leg broken and its paw flopping around I would have to sell all the equipment I just bought.
If you think I am less of a man for any of this, I could care less, you are a narrow minded piece of slime and what you think is as important to me as the latest celebrity gossip.
This archery season I passed on a 60 yard shot on the first Boone and Crocket buck I have ever seen. I have a Hoyt AlphaBurner and practice all the time at 80 yards, but I didn't like the shot because I was in a tree and he was down a hill. I never practiced at that angle over 30 yards. My buddies dad shot it with a rifle two weeks later. That makes me a man.
Most of this thread has been misconstrued. I think some people have added emotions to what I wrote when I meant no disrespect to anyone. If this was a face to face conversation we would all see this.
Once again... I don't mean any disrespect or have ever tried to disrespect any trapper or any of you.
