Hi everyone,

I had someone cut through heavy duty chain to steal one of my traps. Not the first time this has happened, and I'm sure you all have had it happen as well.

My question is about paint. Some of my older (but still reliable) traps are powder-coated, but after years of use, its coming off. Some aren't powder-coated-so although they aren't "shiny" they're often visible when I am having to trap in places without much cover-and either no fences, or chain link, often with nothing to chain them to.

I figured if I gave them a light coat of something that kind of matches our soil, it may cut down on theft. What kind/brand of paint should I use? When I've got time I'm going to find someone who can weld plates on everything (and I can engrave those) but in the meantime, I've got to do something about this. Thanks!

Blending cages with paint of sorts or using local cover/brush etc with debris to camo the cage better always helps. It can be difficult in some habitat to do a real good job but we have to do it to reduce theft.

Hi Bob,

The problem as that some areas have no cover to start with- trapping on properties people have scraped all vegetation off of, no shrubs or even weeds I can't even prune to create cover. I'm not sure what kind of paint would be best and I'd rather do this while it's still warm, and I don't mess things up by using the wrong paint. The living dead (tweakers) steal anything they see-truly frustrating and it's getting expensive. Never had issues until a couple of years ago, and it's only getting worse. Rustoleum maybe?

I new a guy that said he camo painted his cages to match the area he was trapping and while the paint was still wet, he drizzled sand. dirt, grass or whatever was around, so it stuck to the cage.

Rustoleum is a good paint. Rusty metal primer is a good desert type shade maybe blended with a tan shade for break up colors would work great in your color scheme I would think. Or buying some cheap desert camo material, netting to cover the traps is another alternative for you. Plus it will help hide your catches as well.

I've been using exterior latex, thinned about 10-20% in whatever color has been MISMIXED that is a natural/brush/ground color...its only $5-7/gal found at Lowes or any paint mixing store.
Use a roller from inside and out and you get great coverage.

Thanks for all of your replies!

I'm going to try all of the above-including the soil idea, and see what ends up working best.

I wish I could use bear sized foothold traps on tweakers...they're truly unbearable. Too bad I can't put something on my traps that burns human skin or never comes off when they steal them. Most of these morons probably don't even know what the traps are, but if it isn't nailed down (and sometimes if it is) they'll swipe whatever they see.

Much appreciated!

Rustoleum camo spray paint works well, it dries fast with minimal odor and the flat camo paints come in 2 shades of green and a sand color and a dark brown, they designed it for duck boats and even has a picture of one on the can.

I've used a mix of Rustoleum and acetone. Paint to acetone ratio 60/40. You can dip, spray or apply with roller/brush. Keep extra acetone on hand as it will disipate into the air as you apply it.

I have painted some of my traps.

Then I ask myself is it worth the effort?


Chuck

I've painted a camo pattern on some of my traps with Rustoleum but I actually prefer to just paint the cover.

I seldom set an uncovered cage so there's really no need for me to paint the trap itself.

Seems like any coating will wear in time. Rustoleum spray or mixed paint with acetone like HV mentions works. The cage wire is galvanized so usually holds up fine. Frames on water traps will start to show rust after a while. I just hit the effected spots once or twice a summer with some spray. We have used a shallow tub to dip or pour paint over traps to speed it up if when doing a bunch of traps.

I used cheap Walmart camo paint on my cages... first buttoned up the sides with galvanized sheeting from Lowes
adds a little weight but well worth the problem of fighting blankets and sheets being pulled into the cage

I've never painted cages for theft reasons. Trap fee is in the original price, and the fee should cover the trap(s) if it were to go missing. If you don't have a fee for the trap the homeowner should be on the hook for the Trap and that should be verbally and in writing and have them initial so that they are aware of that stipulation. Everything you put on someone's property you should have some type of fee for. Saves time and aggravation,because at the end of the day it's still a business. Jmo

I truly appreciate everyone's suggestions, thanks so much! This is a theft issue-and also an issue with either loose or feral dogs, doing whatever they want to do, wherever they decide to do it...and that includes tearing traps up...they're just too visible.

THDP-my contract specifically states that trap security is the responsibility of the property owner---and the owner is also responsible for trap replacement if any other animal (with the exception of the target species) damages or destroys a trap.

I also explain this verbally-without fail. Clients do a really good job of keeping their dogs accounted for/kenneled/going outdoors on a leash while trapping is in progress-it's never a client's' dog, it's feral dog packs (huge problem here) or one that someone lets run amok. I also require trap deposits if I feel theft may be a problem.

The issue is that in some of the areas I trap---they're devoid of any type of vegetation, and often there isn't a home on it, or if there is, its several acres away. Some are industrial sites. I really don't want to have to hit clients up for replacement fees-unless the trap is where they can keep an eye on it-and they failed to do so. Most of my clients are johnny on the spot with immediate phone calls/texts when an animal is trapped. In areas with even half-decent native shrub coverage, I've never had a trap swiped, and only one damaged. Trying to disguise a trap with foliage, etc. sticks out even worse than the trap in an area that's been scraped clean. Frustrating!

Jim, our soil (gritty) really puts powder coating to the test!

I paint all of my traps as soon as I get them, I dont lie rust and do as much as I can to make my equipment last as long as possible.