Cable Restraints in Wisconsin

1 CableRestraintsin WisconsinWisconsin department of natural Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707 PUB-WM-443 2004A Guide to Responsible UseCableRestraintsin WisconsinCable Restraintsin WisconsinA Guide to Responsible UseBy John F. Olson and Rick TischaeferSponsors includeWisconsin department of natural ResourcesWisconsin Trappers Association2 Wisconsin department of natural ResourcesThe Wisconsin department of natural Resources provides equal opportunityin its employment, programs, services and functions under an AffirmativeAction Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal OpportunityOffice, department of the Interior, Washington, publication is available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audiotape, etc.)

2 Upon request. Please call 608-266-8204 for more publication includes much of the informationprovided in a previous report entitled the Assessment ofCable Restraints to Capture Coyotes and Foxes inWisconsin. We sincerely thank the numerous individualsand key organizations from Wisconsin and elsewhere whocontributed and participated in those efforts. TheExecutive Council of the Wisconsin ConservationCongress has supported our efforts throughout theinvestigative and rule-making process. Numerous fieldand supervisory wardens and wildlife biologists of theWisconsin department of natural Resources (WDNR)prepared, approved and worked with the ScientificCollectors Permit needed for this project.

3 Our WDNRW ildlife Health team and the Stoughton VeterinaryService assisted us in pelt studies in 2001, and Williams, University of Wyoming, conductedall necropsies in 2002. The Missouri department ofConservation completed all data importantly, special thanks to the WisconsinTrappers Association (WTA), its officers, board ofdirectors, individual trappers and their families whosacrificed time and effort during the entire process. Theyspent long days on study trap lines and in the WDNR FurShed. In addition, countless hours were spent by WTAmembers at meetings, conferences and fairs presentingstudy results, answering questions and explaining howresponsible use of Cable Restraints will benefit citizens thank Natalene Cummings for the excellentillustrations throughout this publication.

4 Her skills haveallowed us to more easily depict the tools, components,and recommended uses of Cable Restraints . We also extendour appreciation to the many cooperating landowners whopermitted this trap research to be conducted on theirproperty. They have made a significant contribution to thefuture of furbearer management in Wisconsin . BruceKohn critically reviewed the first draft of this finally, special appreciation is extended to thoseindividuals who provided us with advice on study design,protocol, and methods including Tom Krause ofWyoming, Scott Huber of South Dakota, Rally Hess ofMinnesota and Hal Sullivan of Ohio.

5 All contributedsignificantly to our study and/or development of thisguide and Wisconsin owes them a debt of :John F. Olson, Furbearer Specialist, Wisconsin department of natural ResourcesRick Tischaefer, President of North Dakota Fur Hunters and Trappers Association; Past President of WTAE dits by Bruce Kohn, Wildlife Research Specialist, Wisconsin department of natural ResourcesIllustrations by Natalene CummingsGraphic design by Georgine Price, Madcat Studio PRINTED ONRECYCLEDPAPER3 Cable Restraints in WisconsinTable of 2 Furbearer Management in 4 Snares, Past & 5 Cable Restraints , A New Tool .. 5 How Does a Cable Restraint Work?

6 6 The Wisconsin Cable Restraint 6 Regulations for Cable Restraints in Wisconsin .. 8 Responsible Use and Placement of Cable 9 Handling 10 Components of the Cable 11 Relaxing 11 Ferrules and Swivels .. 12 Loop 13 Trap Tags .. 14 Breakaway 14 Deordorizing & 15 Cable Restraint Loop Size and 16 Fastening and Stabilizing Cable 17 Non-entanglement THE KEY .. 19 The Future of Cable Restraints It s Your 204 Wisconsin department of natural ResourcesFurbearer Management in WisconsinThe focus of wildlife management is to perpetuate and ensure thehealth of wildlife populations, not individuals within those popula-tions.

7 Conservation looks at the long-term protection and enhance-ment of the population which is much longer than the life span ofany individual animal for the seventh generation as many nativepeoples believe. If we want furbearer populations to remain healthy,viable, and self-sustaining populations within the context of humanpresence, we need to address population management, nuisance, anddamage control. To protect and enhance our natural is the foundationof the Wisconsin department of natural Resources (WDNR)mission and the guiding principal in furbearer management inWisconsin. Management of our furbearer resource occurs throughbiological research, population modeling, intensive surveys, harvestregulations and most importantly, education.

8 This is done through ateam approach that includes various department functions such aswildlife management, endangered resources, law enforcement,fisheries, and wildlife research. Several other partners comprise thisteam including the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, Great LakesIndian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Wisconsin Trappers Associa-tion (WTA), US department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, theUS Forest Service and the University of Wisconsin system. Annualmeetings result in recommendations and agreements that givedirection to the , the natural Resources Board endorses and promotesthe concept and principles of professional wildlife management.

9 Itconsiders scientific findings to be the primary foundation of soundwildlife management programs, and supports research and surveysnecessary to provide the technical information needed. In addition,the Board affirms that furbearers are significant from an ecological,biological, recreational, cultural and economic standpoint. Theirstrong support enables us to work as a team with partners such asthe Conservation Congress and WTA that make our furbearermanagement program respected throughout the , regulated trapping is an important tool in Wisconsin sfurbearer management program. We have found that mandatorytrapper education is critical to building a successful, highly re-spected trapping community.

10 Through a cooperative program withthe WTA, all new trappers (and many seasoned ones as well) learnabout the history of trapping, furbearer management, and basicbiology of furbearer species. They also receive basic training inresponsible, ethical trapping methods, and landowner respect. Wehope this publication contributes to their continuing primary goal of furbearer managementanywhere in North America is theconservation of furbearer populations. Assuggested in Trapping and FurbearerManagement in North AmericanWildlife Conservation, 2001, Nativewildlife populations are natural resources biological wealth that must besustained and managed for the benefit ofpresent and future generations.