This is an old story, 2017. The trap in the picture is an M-44, it’s spring loaded so there would have been no bang. The Older models were replaced by the M-44’s a long time ago. The older model used a primed pistol case to disperse the cyanide. They used to have them on every ranch here in west Texas. Every gate had warning signs and pictures of the device. Never liked them or allowed the state trapper to use them on our ranches. Now we don’t even allow the trapper on the ranch. Varmint calls and a good rifle is all you need, I call early in the morning on the days I feel like it and always have a rifle in the truck for those I just bump into during the days. I’ll average 70 to 90 Yotes a year depending on the weather.
I personally don’t like traps of any kind other than a live trap where an un-targeted critter can be released. I don’t shoot fox or bobcats and traps or snares don’t discriminate. I’ve seen fawns and javalina’s caught and killed by snares.
I hate having to kill animals but sometimes you must. Snare traps are simply cruel. The live cage traps that you can check at least once a day are the only ones I ever use then if you get a dog or some other animal you don’t want to kill you just release. With these traps the animals might be scared but not harmed until the lead poisoning between their eyes get them and they never know about that.
The worse thing about live traps is when you get a skunk in them. This has happened to me a few times. At first I just tried shooting from a safe distance to down the critter but invariably you end up hitting a piece of the cage doing damage to it. I have found the best way is to walk out to the cage with a sheet held high so the animal can’t see you. you drape the cage with the sheet then using a tiny hole off the critter. They never know what is happening, they get curious but never act afraid and the good part is they don’t spray.