WWW.WILDCATARCHERYOUTDOORS.COM
TRAPPING FOR THE BOW HUNTER
By: Bryan Matthews
As a modern bow hunter we are at the forefront of game management. State wildlife officials count on our ability to
take game and spend our hard earned money in the process. It was not too many years ago that bow hunting was
looked at as an outdated method of taking game. Thanks to Glenn St. Charles, Fred Bear and many others for their
efforts that helped make bow hunting what it is today.
As a modern bow hunter we need to use every tool possible when managing for deer or turkeys. By far managing
predators can be the toughest thing to do as a landowner. Don’t overlook trapping as a management tool. Trapping is
becoming a dying art. Long gone are the days of mountain men making a living in the Rocky Mountains by trapping.
As bow hunters trapping can be a great tool to manage predators such as coyotes and bobcats. Coyotes in some
areas take a heavy toll on deer and turkey populations. If you manage property for whitetails and turkeys, then
trapping should in your management plan.
If you’re new to trapping find some books or videos and learn all you can before setting your first trap. It all may seem
overwhelming at first but like I said early trapping is an art. Take is slow at first, just put a few sets out. Remember most
states require traps to be checked every 24 hours. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Running a trap line is a
commitment.
There are many different types of traps out there. My favorite are snares. Body gripping snares are cheap, light
weight, easy to carry and easy to set. You can snare just about anything from raccoons to coyotes. Be sure to check
your states trapping regulations before setting snares. I set snares on game trails not deer or live stock trails. This
makes me scout a little harder but if you look hard enough you will find many trails to set snares on. When you set
snares be aware they will catch just about anything that walks through them. Dogs can some times be a problem. I set
snares in the most remote places that I can, this will lessen the chances of snaring someone’s dog.
I use leg hold traps as well. They are a great tool for catching coons and possums that can’t seem to get enough of
my garbage on trash day. They are also a good tool for catching coyotes, foxes and bobcats. Leg hold traps take a lot
more work to set and re-set. When the ground freezes they have to be re worked with dry dirt. For me it just comes
down to time or lack thereof that’s why I prefer snares to leg hold traps.
The live traps or box traps work well too. You can get them in different sizes to catch anything from coons to coyotes.
I have a few of them and mainly let my kids use them around the woods at my house. They sometimes catch raccoons
and a few possums. The down side to these traps for me is the cost and they can be very heavy to drag around in the
woods.
The use of lures and baits can enhance any set. I use some lures and baits while snaring. The truth is if you do your
home work you won’t need to use lures very much. Snares are set on trails where the game is going to be using
anyway. With that being said I still use lures on my leg hold sets and some snare lines.
Trapping gives me a connection to the great mountain men of the past. I’ll never know the hardships or triumphs of
being a true mountain man. When I’m running my trap line I think about what it must have been like to be free, to be
free as a mountain man.