Akula wrote on Nov 26^th, 2010 at 4:48pm:

Mad_Mat wrote on Nov 26th, 2010 at 2:00pm: "And before you experiment with those snares, read your hunting and trapping regs to be sure it is legal - I'm pretty sure it would be illegal to snare a rabbit in Colorado, for instance. <snip> I was under the false impression that a guy could trap on his own land in Minnesota without a license, so I'm glad you brought that up! I have been reading about snaring methods (and rabbit recipes, yum) so I will put some of them to test over the winter. <snip> I marked my deer stand "trails" with so-called Trail Tacks, basically a reflective button that you pin into trees to mark a path. <snip> I'd be willing to bet that these reflective tacks could be seen from the air as well, and provided you had a good quantity of them, could be arranged on open ground to form arrows, messages, etc. <snip> Leaving detailed notes with whomever you trust before heading out, detailing your intentions and with instructions on who to contact if you don't return

Trapping/snares illegal or restricted?  For me, this could be over-thinking the problem.  If it is a survival situation, I'd gladly pay whatever fines are involved.

I've followed Trail Tacks back in the day when I was doing night geocaching.  True enough, you can see them from some distance when the beam of a flashlight hits them ... nice reflection ... and they are difficult to spot during the day.  However, I have my doubts about this being spotted from the air (at night).  And I doubt the pilot will be shining a flashlight toward the ground.  ;D

I've left notes behind (with wife and grown children) when I head out.  I often even keep Jimbo in the loop, since he has been to the areas where I'm canoeing ... and he knows my meager skill levels.   I've even been known to put my route plan into the self-service envelop I've used on occasion when entering Quetico pre-season.

dd