I had my first trap stolen last week. I am almost positive it was an anti because any determined Thief would have not hesitated to cross the drainage ditch and grab the mink box and 110 in sight. so the way I figure, I am going to put out another DP, but this time I am going to lock it to the earth anchor, and put a trail cam on the set and on the parking area. I am also considering leaving a note that says something like "i don't know what you thought you would accomplish by stealing one of my traps. To explain to me just exactly what you thought that I was doing wrong call me" and leave my phone number. If they are dumb enough to call, I could turn their number over to the warden/sheriff's department, maybe get a name. I don't really care about the trap, it's just the principal, also, I'd love to get an anti thrown in jail for 90 days and fined $1,000 and get all hunting licenses revoked for 5 years. a guy can dream. any other ideas?

How did you have it staked? Are you sure it wasn’t a 4 legged critter?

Don’t let it eat you up. Notify the warden and move on.

When the orange army is in action, things go missing more often than usual.

The 3 S's

It is very frustrating but over time one realizes it's just one of the hazards of the business we're in and you move on. Think God you don't run a Dept store in the day and age right?!

yea, it was on an earth anchor with a quick link, i found the quick link on the walking trail headed back to the parking area.

and get all hunting licenses revoked for 5 years. a guy can dream. any other ideas?[/quote]

I dont think this one is much of a deterrent to an anti....?

my thought was maybe an anti trapping deer hunter.

I think many of the lost traps that Jonny Sneakm gets the blame for are in fact traps lost to critters due to staking/fastening issues. Especially from new trappers. Not saying that’s what happened here but I would recommend revisiting the area and investigating all possibilities. It tends to make you a better trapper. And sometimes you find a raccoon tangled in the nearest brush pile or in a cedar tree was ting for you.

Whatever else this guy is; he is a criminal.

He already has your name from your tag. Are you sure you want to give him a phone number too?

You ain't going to convert him, so why bother?

Price of doing business = trappin.....jk

Expensive
But hopefully a learning experience.
Don't waste too much time trying to reason.
Don't expect your rights as a trapper to be equal . ( even though they are).
Learn from the errors and move on .

You are a trapper? Trap the theif.

Don't sweat the little stuff...Try having multiple crab pots , or many multiples, stolen or run over at 50 bucks a pop fully rigged... It's aggravating but it's the cost of doing business.

I'm with Boco on this one...

Take a foam cup of Starbuck's coffee and place against a solid backing. Bed a Duke #6 bear trap in front of coffee, no need to stake or tie off... Flag the set nearby with a "Maga Country" bumper sticker suspended from a branch with fishing line. Pee liberally all around the set location...

If I have offended anybody, my PM box is full...


Seriously, trap thefts are are so aggravating! I feel for you. Trail cams are a great tool for times such as these.

Try having four completely cut from your earth anchor….. turns out it was the gas guy he didn’t like me trapping on my own private property!!!

A camera at the set and a camera at the parking area, with some tree limbs for blocking, so you can get the thief and the license number, would certainly be trapping at its finest. That would be the best catch of the year, for sure.

Sounds like some perfect places for flat sets.

JP has had them problems during covid. They were telling everybody to go outside and see nature. So they’d see a snowmobile trail and follow it. But his boxes were smashed. The ones that disappeared he figers were trappers.

Just be glad you weren’t trapping in the mid to late 70’s!!!