ditch trapping

[CavinJ]

im looking at setting some weasel boxes and 160 in buckets for skunks in between my coyote baits, is it legal to set them in ditches or do i have to get a WA19 filled out for the quarter section?

[norma mag]

good one

[bill9044]

If you want the legalize... well the way I read it is you have to be on private property with the wa19 form signed.
I M O it would be irresponsible for anyone to tell you to trap the ditch. A friend of mine ditch trap's but he had written permission from the county that is in control of the roads ditches and culverts. So I'd ask the county or get permission and trap on the proper side of the fence.

Also if you set just on the right side of the property line on private land with a good bait or lure it shouldn't be a problem with the ditch critters finding your sets.
Bill

[KegRiver]

Ditches are in effect, private property. That is, they are considered the property of Alberta Transportation.
What the actual legal status is I do not know.

What I do know is that when I worked highways we were able to obtain a damage control permit that allowed us to trap or shoot beaver within the right of way of all highways we maintained.

However, that permit was only usable by employees of the highway contractor, and no other species could be hunter or trapped under the authority of that permit.

It may be possible to obtain permission from Alberta Transportation but I suspect that it would depend mostly on the Local MCI and SRD officer.
If either objected I doubt you would get a permit.

I most certainly would not attempt to trap within any right of way without clearing it with F&W unless that right of way passed through a registered trap line which I was licensed to trap.

[qbochar]

The ditches on gravel roads are the property of your local county or MD.
You should ask them for permission on the WA19.

[Marty S]

And definitely please keep it to hidden sets if you are legal to go.