I trap private ground for land owners. But went to some state ground around here calling and saw alot of coyote sign. I have trapped state ground before, but only ran dps for coon. What is drawbacks for setting foothold on them? Late rifle deer and duck is done. Just really hate to catch someone's dog if they would be goose hunting. Was thinking of just a few sets. Don't know what kind.

I solely trapped my property and State ground this year minus a small beaver job for a friend. This was the first time i have ever trapped public like this. I was actually going to post a thread talking about all that i encountered in just one season.

1. Pheasant season is big here on this land and dogs were running everyday until Dec1 which was the last day of pheasant. No coyote traps anywhere in bird areas. Hunters continued to bird hunt for weeks though even after the season for this specific area. Satewide season ends at the end of dec. So if you know they are there but they are hunting technically illegally what do you do? I set traps by the way.

2. People like to drive out here from their houses in town and walk their animals. I don't know what to think on this. This area is wildlife and hunting habitat. I set traps and even told a few folks i have traps in the area and you are running your dog with no leash be careful.

3. Understand activities that may be planned. There isa big lake on this land and they have a ice fishing tournament every year. I had some cat sets out that i finally found sign and two days into the set when checking i found five campers (RV's) parked within 40 feet of my sets and they were camping fishing drinking with campfires and dogs running around. I pulled those sets. I would have caught their dogs no doubt. I didn't talk to them as it was late and they were drinking. This was a week before the tournament. they were there through the tournament.

4. The local Game Warden decided it was important to check my traps as often as i did. Daily for a period of time he checked my traps. He called me to ask what other sets i had he hadn't found yet and to make sure i wasn't setting any snares which are 100% legal. He jus didn't like the idea of them. Ironically he never said one thing to any of the bird hunters hunting past season. Hmm

5. I had a coon shot by a shotgun in a dp and the trap unhooked from my anchor and 5 feet away laying in the snow. attempted theft or jerk or someone that thought they were helping me out? I don't know. It was a small i would have released.

6. I had two traps stolen both cut by bolt cutters at the j hook and drag respectively. I know who it was but have no proof other than their foot size and dog size. I think their dog got caught in the trap with a drag. These traps were set on the dirt of an island in a pond 100 yards from the road. Apparently they were walking on the ice with their dog and he got caught. Then they took my traps? Game warden as mentioned above did nothing in response to me alerting him of the theft.


Now with all of this i had a good year running a small line. Animals were there and had a blast. Next year i will trap public ground again but in a different capacity. The more i know the area th ebetter i know where to go. Plus the coyote population just was not there where i was trapping. There were a few but no numbers.

Always a higher risk of losing traps/catches when trapping public lands. Either find a way to make it work or move on is about the only suggestion I can make. Around here it's a real pain to trap so I only trap private lands...but then that has it's headaches too.

I'd get back away from people as much as I could on public land.

I can honestly say I've only trapped public land for my year of trapping. I don't set out my foot hold traps till after (dog) deer season in Jan and the rest are DPs and 110s. I have never caught a dog but I have ran into people walking their dogs and I've kindly explained to them that it was public hunting land not a state park and please watch where the dog does. I did have a argument with a (dog) squirrel hunter earlier this year but that was on a state park area. Luckily the lands I trap are void of people after deer season and I actually get suspicious looks when I'm walking out with a .22 rifle or checking my traps at 3am. I guess they assume I'm poaching or burying bodies. I know I had the game warden called on me once this year and after a quick convo where I found out he knew nothing about trapping I was free to go. My advice would be don't set on main trails or roads, that just invites people to mess with your catch or stumble on to your traps. If anything notify your local warden and tell them to look out for anyone but you messing with traps in the area. Also I have decided to attach all my traps to pogos this year and the only way to release them is to cut the cable. This will help keep them in the ground!

Ya idk. I already caught a dog last month. Funny story, I had 2 sets on private land and the guy that duck hunts next to it, with a super highly priced red lab he got from out of the country got caught in a Bridger 2. He called sherriffe and said it was set on his land. Sherriffes looked at something on phone and said it wasn't even close. Than he thought it was suppose to be "flagged" and got game warden involved. Wrong on that too. Finally, he asked me to remove my traps til after duck season. I didn't comply cause of how he acted to begin with. I guess it's not the dogs owner who is responsible for there dog to stay on there property. It's everyone else's responsibility to make sure nothing happens to it when it does intrude on another property. But, that area is loaded. So I might get a few sets in there. Don't know how I would stay away from where ppl walk. They are running that mowed trail that goes all the way around it.

If I remember correctly, trapping is not allowed on all state ground. Better check on the regs. Seems like some WMA are closed.

In the regs it states it is allowed in all state wma unless otherwise posted

There is a sign on site. Has rules but does not state it is prohibited

Ok, stand corrected. Its been awhile since I read through the regs. Just remembered something about WMA. Trap on!!

Well maybe. Lol

thedude055, I' m trying to figure out where in Wyoming pheasant season closes on December 1st. Did all this take place around the Ocean Lake Wildlife Habitat Management Area, the Mile High Ranch Access Area, or the Sand Mesa Wildlife Habitat Management Area?

ttzt I was trapping Ocean Lake Habitat.

Just wanted to point out to you that pheasant season is open in that area until the end of December. On December 1st the either-sex pheasant season ends, but season is open for Roosters until the end of December.

I trap wma and natural forest. I set off road a good way. I run my traps at 3am. I turn my light off if I hear a vehicle coming. I use cb shorts so it's not as loud. I dont run my bridger's or 550 or 650s there. I have 3 dz duke #3 offset 4 coil just for public land. I have to run mostly drags so rocky. I dont use much flagging on Bobcats because of people will steal them.

I decided not to do it. It's right by my house and I see ppl in there alot trying to call coyotes. And least that's what it looks like. I went to another place thats privite land. Its a bit of a drive, but has some very obvious sign. Got some snares and a few sets out. It's pretty promising