I found the quick link on a walking trail and some un identifiable human tracks by the set.

Stinks. I could start my own fnt store if i had back all the traps i've had stolen over the last 40ish years. I pull all my sets here during deer gun season, which starts tomorrow, because that's when most of the thievery occurs.

What sucks is they know who you are from your trap tags while they go unknown. I've had them steal traps that had earth anchors. They came prepared to take everything. The kinder, gentler me would go out the window if I ever caught them.

As an aside, a BP agent was caught on camera stealing traps here a couple of years back. I don't know if he lost his job or not.

lets hear it from JP
what was the outcome when he reported it ?

How awful. I have often come across blatant dirt hole sets while small game hunting or just exploring. It would never occur to me to disturb or mess around or re-visit these sets. I got away as soon as possible so I didn’t mess anything up.

Make sure to report it to the game warden so if it shows up set some where it shouldn’t be with your name on it at least they know you had one stole.

Not every state requires trap tags. I know indiana does not and not one of mine has a tag on it.

Quick links make it easy to steal .


I have traps stolen, traps and catches stolen, and just the catch and they left my 1.5 Duke. Guess it was to cheap atrap for them. Catch circle blood set off trap no coon.. it happens you will get better at setting out of sight whenever possible.

In PA you can get a number for your tags rather than have to print your name and address. I didn’t want any trouble so I had the game commission issue me a number. Do other states have that??

Not here that I’m aware of.

Va has that option.

I like it for privacy. Nobody needs to know my name or address. If the game commission has an issue they can look up my number.

Exactly

Ohio does the same.
In the 70's during the fur boom, I couldn't keep a trap in the ground.
Back then it was a fact coon hunters stealing the traps.
Set up until dark , and the next morning at sun rise , find the traps gone.
No doubt it was coon hunters.
Fact who else is in the woods after dark?
Fact they needed to pay for their 1-2,000 dollar dogs back then.
$ 35 COON AND $ 85 fox , is all they cared about.
Everyone else is home or sleeping while they trespass as they please.
The dogs smell out every trap that's set at a dirt hole , or all baited sets.
100 YARDS from the woods, in a field, shine their lights and see eyes jumping,. there's another fox and trap to steal.
Haven't liked a coon hunter since.
Plus they never ask permission to be there.

One more reason for me to work on the slide away system.
Bad enough you have to try to outsmart animals but you gotta outsmart thieves. I’d like to set a big ol bear trap for these ding-dongs.

Wow!!! Awful!!!!

I hate to say it but in the late 70s and early 80s a lot of the thieves were wanna be trappers. I used to grind my initials on the bottom side of the pans of my traps. It happened more than once i'd have a few traps stolen only to find them later set farther down in the same streams. That takes some cajones, lol

The 70s or 80s I just had that happen about 5 years ago.

The 70s or 80s I just had that happen about 5 years ago.[/quote]


Well i guess some things don't change then. Have to break the grinder back out.

Had three dp’s stolen this week. 2 with coons in them. Someone is desperate.

Pulled everything today for deer season