I tie solid to a tree. I've already tied to tree drags but it got a little too exciting for my taste, Some snares might have close to 10 feet of cable but things usually wrap up pretty tight. Five or six feet might be an average. The shorter the better.

Some bears hide and others pop their teeth and lunge at you.

I'm just back from checking out the SxS bear site, I modified a few things and with a little luck I'll connect tonight. I saw a video of the bear. It has good size. The lads cut a trail to the trap so the SxS can go down! They may have a little too much faith n my trapping ability. If I get that bear, it is one tolerant animal. Shot at at 8:00 p.m. yesterday. Back at the baits at midnight. Guys using chainsaws around the baits today .....

It didn't step on the aldridge in a blind set and the m-15 was set off. Was it disturbed by the bear? No idea. It has been carrying buckets away in the bush. But I had a hassle with the trigger on the m-15 when I set it. I changed the trigger and location by about 5 feet today. I also added sweets to the bucket. This bear is not touching meat supposedly. I hope they are right because there must be about 50 pounds of meat at the site and a half dozen cupcakes in the m-15 bucket.

I wish you luck! Do you eat bear meat? I never have. Is it similar to pork?

Ron

Here's a "cable foot snare" contraption that I made, 30 years ago. Or so?



It's built similar to an Aldridge. Just with coil springs.

If you look at about the 2" mark on the tape measure, that's just a little hook, to hold the back end of the snare. Forget what size springs I used, 2's or 3's, it's got plenty of spunk to snug up a cable. Kind of made this one for bobcat sized animals, that was back before I had good snare locks and snare cable.

Never actually used it in the field, but it'll work!

Give me an hour in the shop, with a 330 spring, and a couple little rods, I could build a trap.

Musher, not sure of your location in the bush, your lost trap might be hanging the brush. A man looking at the ground, you'd never see it.

Fixed up right, bear meat is very good.

Well the big 'un ain't gonna happen.

As luck would have it, a small sow got caught. It has a very nice pelt with a good white "V" on its chest.

The big one has not returned according to the stealth cams. I guess the neighbourhood was a little too noisy. Or it is gone looking for love. Boars are rutting now.

This sow isn't on any cam photos. It might have been a first timer.

That is the last of my 4 I'm permitted on that line. I could legally catch another 16 if I want to put the miles and effort in.That sounds like a lot but 16 of the 20 have to come from specific lines that cover 300 sq. km.. The other 4 can come from private property or crown land. However, the time/effort doesn't motivate me to go for it. I can't afford to trap them!

I took a few photos that I will check later to see if they are worth posting.

Redsnow: Good point about the aldridge being hung up. The cottagers combed the area again looking and didn't find it. That location also lost a few 5 gallon buckets full of meat. A white bucket can be hard to miss but they tote them away - lid and all.

You foot snare looks great. As long as the spring is quick it will work. I've seen some that used the springs on old truck hoods.

We've eaten our share of bear way back when. We stopped when we had kids due to fear of parasites. The big sow was full of "spagetinni" under the pelt and in the muscles. The meat doers have a good taste but worms just ruin it for me.

Hmmm, never did see any worms in the meat. Yep that would ruin it for me too. Friend of mine killed one a few years ago, it's intestines were loaded with worms. Found out after it was skinned, it'd been shot before, and all messed up. That was a 300# bear, ended up tossing the whole works in the trash.

I saved a ham from last winters bear, still in the freezer. But I gave the rest away.

20 bear does seem like a lot. Also understand about burning a tank of gas everyday, hauling bait. About the only way you'd break even in that deal would be catering to tourists. I'm sure there's lot of red-tape involved, if that's even legal. ???

Years ago I made an all purpose trigger-trigger, no idea where it is today? Still in my head. If I get a chance today, I'll draw it on paper. Similar to a "figure 4 trigger", easier to make, and only 2 pieces, instead of 3.

Thinking about your meat bait, that's a mess this time of year!

For whatever reason the photos won't post.

But at least you got back on line! -- Hal

Gotta love those ERROR 404's.

The last one had a nice"V"

The bent up aldridge.

Nice bright V. Is that the trap that you couldn't find? Just thinking about it now, it wouldn't be a bad idea to tie a piece of surveyors tape to the trap. Sure would make the trap easier to find.