I went to a small farm yesterday. The owner had a small deck next to a motor home. A ghog had a hole under it and was a nuisance. I always approached it slowly glassing the site. He was partially out yesterday, just sitting there as if he was deciding whether to come all the way out. I usually like to get them after they are fully out of their holes, but I shot this one as he lay. I went to check my kill and saw that he was caught by the foot in a steel trap!!! A kill is a kill, but I felt bad about this one, unsportsmanlike? I made myself feel some better by saying I put him out of his misery. Steel traps...not sure how I feel about these...instant death or a trapped animal in distress. This one was tangled in the device, so he had been in distress. All in all, I was ok.
Ghog hunting yesterday, sad
- Thread starter lpreddick
- Start date
Speaking as a varmint Hunter good job
Speaking as a man who made his living trapping fur for many years before the market bottomed out I can tell you that when they are set correctly and the proper size trap is used for the Target animal and they are checked daily they're very effective tool with minimal physical damage to the animal Iv released numerous animals that were caught either out of season or we're not the target species to include cats and dogs with no or very little damage to their paws.
Obviously this one was used incorrectly if the animal made it back to his den and was not restrained where he was caught
Speaking as a man who made his living trapping fur for many years before the market bottomed out I can tell you that when they are set correctly and the proper size trap is used for the Target animal and they are checked daily they're very effective tool with minimal physical damage to the animal Iv released numerous animals that were caught either out of season or we're not the target species to include cats and dogs with no or very little damage to their paws.
Obviously this one was used incorrectly if the animal made it back to his den and was not restrained where he was caught
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^^x2
Why would you feel bad? The farmer got rid of a nuisance animal. YOU were not unsportsmanlike. You didn't know it was in a trap. As long as it was a quick kill, you have nothing to feel bad about.
I love shooting, hunting, even killing every animal I set the cross hairs on. I've gotten soft in my older age. Not sure what it is but I've heard the same thing from others as they get older. I still love this stuff but it's easier for me to pass on shots or even kills. I really don't like it but it is what it is.
Me too...I love hunting and shooting, but right before I pull the trigger I always pause and reflect a little. Maybe like 1-2 seconds but enough for me to recognize it. I'm only 28, but I remember when I was 16 deer hunting, and I had a different set of emotions.
I have definitely passed on shots before too. To the OP you didn't know it was trapped. Its ok, and to feel the way you do is normal.
CaptainMal
Silver $$ Contributor
It was a groundhog. Shoot the darn thing.
You keep up like that you will watch where you walk so as not to crush small animals like ants and spiders. Pretty soon you will morph into a real nut case like oh so many in this world.
Good kill. Now take the trap and use it on house rats.
You keep up like that you will watch where you walk so as not to crush small animals like ants and spiders. Pretty soon you will morph into a real nut case like oh so many in this world.
Good kill. Now take the trap and use it on house rats.
No.
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