I found someone else trapping on top of me today. I saw snow machine tracks heading in 2 weeks ago, I didn't think too much of it (there's a ton of space out there), figured whoever it was would be smart enough to find my sled tracks and see some running poles and move on. I ran down a trail today and found a marten box not 200 feet from one of my running poles...needless to say, not enthused. I realize it's liable to happen on public ground sometimes, but some people's children blow my mind. I thought about pulling all my gear today and tomorrow and moving. Then thought about it more, I'm not moving, I got there and prepped my line before season, and I've been back in there at least every 4 days or so keeping it open, maintenaned, and adding more sets. Then some guy randomly shows up, sees someone else is clearly in there and proceeds to set anyways. I'm handling it like a gentleman, I pretended I didn't see that (This word is not allowed on Trapperman) and moved along with my day, but I'm curious how some other guys would treat this. I'm not overly worried about whoever it is, they at least seem to be an honest fellow (as much as a guy who does this to someone can be), he had to be blind to not find my marten poles, and nothing is missing (unless he's been running my line and I just think the marten numbers suck this year lol)

How many years have you been trapping that area?

If this is your first year there, then maybe this other guy has been trapping there for many years already and you need to move.
Just because you may have beat him to the spot this year, doesn’t mean it’s your area.

I figured you would end up combat trapping.

That is a tough deal. I deal with it some in the trapping world and also hunting areas. I don't like it but they also have the right to be there, so I live with it. As long as they don't steal or mess with me, I guess I have to just let it go.

I had a guy absolutely ruin some hunting for me this year, but he had the right to be where he was, but it wasn't good for me. I day I meet the guy and we walked in together till we went our own ways to our hunting spots. It ended up he was a great person, and he was a very respectable person to me.

It's just one spot, but it's the closest to my property, so I was pretty fond of it.

Trapped there all last winter with no neighbors. Trail in and out was brushed real good after summer, so I figured I'd still be alone

Put a couple traps on top of his then and see if he gets the hint.

I did consider falling a bunch of trees across the trail...not a huge inconvenience if trees are your living, but definitely a road block for a lot of folks

Maybe make your sets more noticeable? Then he will catch the hint? This seems like a tough deal like everyone else has said.

If the marten population is as bad as it is here this year, i would quit and let the new guy check empty traps.

They're pretty hard to miss, foot tracks leaving the trail stick out

I'm strongly considering it. I'm gonna keep trapping otter on the creek, but I'll probably let him have the 2 marten that'll come through all season. I have to go check on my cabin in SE for a few days, I can pick up a few down there pretty fast, they hang around by my place (they're actually a nuisance even though I do enjoy seeing them and being able to trap them on my porch).

You would not like how coon trapping was several years ago in Iowa. 2-3 guys set under a bridge.

Some of the old guys I know, who trapped in the sixties and early seventies, when coon prices were very good, had guys put traps within feet of their traps, on both sides, on the same trail they set on.

I would not want to trap like that.

Keith

Im OK with competition, it makes me work smarter. Its the theft that blows my mind.

Had a marten box, trap and all stolen this year myself.

Unfortunately that's what you get on public land

Had it happen on private ground just as much.

Being public you just have to tolerate it until he/she starts messing with your stuff

Maybe a new trapper that does not really know better?

You can "educate" him, the problem is it's a 2 way street, a never ending round of idiocy till someone blinks and goes home.... Here, when pot fishing we mostly have our own ground that most guys respect, but every now and then you get a newbie or wannabe that will set on top of you...then you need to make a decision. It's annoying and frustrating....