Hello all,

Long story short I am a new trapper, this is my first season. I live in southeastern Wisconsin. I'm easing into trapping by targeting coons and opossums by using dog proofs.

Last week I set my first line (only 4 DPs) in my local DNR wildlife management area. checking them daily as required I came back tuesday only to find all 4 of my traps (and stakes ) stolen and nowhere to be found. I know I was in the correct location because I saved the GPS coordinates. Angry and disheartened I reported it to the Dnr who said they'd keep an eye out but they are probably gone for good.

Is having traps stolen from a public wildlife area common? I am hesitant to continue trapping due to the prospect of loosing future traps. I know the best option is to trap private land, but not all of us of access to private land.

Also, does anyone have options to secure DPs in such a way to prevent theft? I have obviously learned to set my sets in a relatively hidden location (which I thought I did, but obviously not hidden enough)

Suggestions?

You need to contact Wisconsin DNR and report what happened if you haven't already. I trap on nothing but public land and have never had many issues, but the amount of trappers in WI compared to the south isn't comparable in 2022. It's almost always the antis who steal traps, especially just some raccoon traps.

That sucks.

Earth anchors and welded J hooks can help keep the bird watchers honest. If they are an anti they will probably go to town on your trap with a rock tho.

I beg to differ.

It’s almost always HUNTERS.

I’ve got more than few traps hanging in other peoples garages. Outside hunting season, zero problems. I can set off lightly used county roads with no issues outside hunting season. Hunting season rolls around, best be hiding that stuff!

You can hide a camouflaged trail camera if you want to try & prosecute but it is risky

Yeah I did, the warden said it was probably dog walkers,,, not sure why dog walkers are in a wildlife area during hunting season but who knows...

Yeah warden let me know pheasant hunters typically don't get along with trappers... can you verify this??

Eh, for the cost of a camera being more than the traps and the fact that you probably wouldnt be able to tell any determining characteristics of the parties involved IDK.....

If they got all your traps someone was probably watching you set them

That's frustrating I've found it's generally not that hard to find folks that will let you trap coon on their land, look for farms or barns, grain bins stop in and ask if they want any coon removed. I've hardly ever had anybody say no, bring along a couple traps if your using dps and show them how they work in case they are worried about their pets

Theft sucks, but it happens. Don't let it stop you or ruin your season. Scout out another location and set some more.

Have had traps stole behind locked gates

X2

A couple tips for trapping public land. On public land i always set up traps on a Sunday. At least the hunters are out of the equation for the most part. Second, try using looped cable & S hooks to secure your dogproofs.
The noise of pounding stakes carries for a long way & draws attention

If I had all the traps that have been stolen from me I would have to open a trap supply house ,Its mostly other trappers doing it as in off season just before trapping opens my shed gets broke into.Every now and then I will find a set or two with my trap guarding it

When I trapped in areas there was a lot of people and during deer seasion I lost a few traps. Some times there was a catch circle and blood. Most of the time tha trap was gone but once the trap was left. Always figured that one was a trapper that didn't like Duke traps. Back then I made my stakes out of rebar and a welded nut on top. They were not hard to pull up and steal. .

I hav not had a problem in years but I only trap a few places like my farm and a friend or twos places that want pest removed. And I don't trap normally tell January due to time and it's them people don't mind us trading becuse they are done deer hunting.

hmmm thanks for the tips. with cablesu suggest just looping around a tree or something?

.Talk to local resturants . Dumpsters can be a great place to connect and no worry about dog walkers and hunters. Always a secluded place nearby the coons will come from. DO NOT paint them white. A dog proof is hard t o see unless something is in it.Double check your location. I have had people find 1 or 2 but never all of them . Even when they are close together.

hmm good point, but they were there for almost 48 hrs before stolen

Someone may have followed your tracks.

If they stole all your traps, and you think it's dog walkers, then you probably aren't setting your trap well enough out of sight.