I had a woman messing with my traps. She would spring my 330s but took my 750. I kept setting the 330 and put up a camera Gave the info to the warden, he hid and watche her one afternoon. When he confronted her, he asked where my 750 was and she said she threw it in the woods and he just said OK that is another ticket for littering. she found my trap in her house and paid the fine and I got my trap back.

Good game warden

I will keep you posted

Please keep us informed as am not familiar not being.familiar with your state laws so wonder if have a hunter harassment law. One would think being he admitted to the theft he would be responsible for replacement of trap as well as drag chain and any other related equipment as well as time and trouble for modifications.

[quote=RegularJoe][quote=Lugnut]I've had some good luck getting a trap thief prosecuted.

The guy was a trespassing dog-walker, a former trapper that knew my traps were there but let his dog get into them anyhow. He stole two, left the usual note, "Your paying my vet bills, I'm calling the PGC and the state police to report your illegally set traps, blah, blah, blah."

I left him a note at the set location saying, "You can use the ID number on the tags on the traps you stole when you report to the PGC. They will then know who I am."

The idiot did it, called the PGC and gave them my ID number. They went to visit him, collected my stolen traps and eventually returned them to me.

The issued him citations which he fought in front of a district judge and lost. He ended up paying over $300.00 in fines and court cost.

Another trespassing, dog-walking couple stole my traps after an incident and called the PGC. I got a knock on my door one evening and there stood two wardens with my traps. I asked, "Now what?" They explained and ask me if I had permission to trap that property. I told them yes and to go ask the landowner. He confirmed I did and told the wardens no one but me should be on his property as I was the only one he had given permission to.

I got my traps back.

The trespassers got off with a warning that time. They were told they would be prosecuted if they or their dog came on the property again.

I hope this works out for you.

300 dollars is a small fine considering the price of good traps today

It was only two traps, but I agree, $300 was too small of a fine. The game wardens charged him with four different offenses. If he was guilty of one, he was most certainly guilty of the other three because they were all related. The judge found him guilty on only one of the charges and threw the other three out.

If he had been found guilty on all four the fines would’ve been over $1200.

I was happy about the way the game warden went to bat for me. The deputy warden was actually a trapper so that may have had something to do with it.

So the judge was at fault.the system can only work the best with good judges that don't roll over.

That's common, they'll get you to plead guilty on one offense then dismiss the rest, that's why you always get at least two tickets...but,, you now have a guilty plea on your record, second offense is not so lightly dismissed.

I agree gcs, that is the usual way they do business.

Not in this case though. The guy plead not guilty and demanded his day in court. Then he kept asking for and getting continuances. I had to leave and out of state job to go there and testify when they finally had the trial.

The warden and deputy were angry that the judge threw out three of the four charges. I wasn't real happy about it myself.

The guy swore he was going to appeal in County Court but never did.

In your case I'm surprised he threw them out too, Judges and court officers don't like to be jerked around. Lot of the blame goes to the prosecuting attorney though. Any chance the guy had an attorney?

One hand washes the other with them.....

The guy acted as his his own lawyer, he was a real nutcase. The wardens acted as prosecutors. This was just a small district court with a district justice in charge.

I talked to the local warden today.She said that she believes the guy does not have my trap. That he pitched it into the woods and somebody else must have found. Highly unlikely !! She is citing him for tampering with my trap. And I'm still out a $30 setup. (Trap/Chain/Drag/ MB swivels) Not overly happy.

You’re right BDR, sure he pitched it in the woods and then somebody else came along and they took it Lolol, sounds like an 8 year olds story. But she believes him, yeah ok.