Another trapper and I had our traps stolen from a marsh in Warren County IA on 11/18.

I had a few rat traps covering some runs along the road at a local marsh. The road next to the marsh is pretty busy and the marsh is surrounded by ample prairie. It is very common to see duck hunters on the marsh or orange vests in the fields most days. The other trapper was setting out further from the road around the huts.

I called the DNR when I discovered my missing traps yesterday afternoon. The CO told me that another trapper had his stolen at the same location that day. Informing me that someone would have to put waders on to get out to the other trappers sets. When my daughter and I checked traps around 7am on 11/18 we noticed 2 guys in waders out on the north end of the marsh near the other trappers sets. I didn't think much of it as it is a typical spot for duck hunters. While I was checking my sets they got in their truck and drove past me to the other end of the parking area and walked down the dam to an island. This is another typical spot for duck hunters and seemed like they were just checking things out for a future hunt. It is very likely that these guys were stealing the other trappers sets when I observed them on the north end of the marsh. They also watched me pull rats out of my sets and carry them a couple hundred yards to my truck.

Vehicle in question: Newer model Chevy Silverado 4 door. Large white out American flag on the back window. Radio antenna mounted on the truck.

Any info can be shared with the Warren County DNR CO.

Good luck. Hard to catch harder to get anything done about it. And if you do get something done it will not be near enough. Be beter if they got snapped in a 330 or other large trap they were stealing that was wired off out deep.

Thanks for the luck. I am re-setting today. I'll put a few cell cams out with GPS. Hope they steal them. Every white chevy has me rubber necking.

I remember a time when I had 5 traps spread out on a creek. I noticed there was another trapper in the area. Two days in a row each of my traps were snapped with sticks in them. I guess that's better than having them stolen. I pulled out after the second day. Too much wasted time trying to catch the guy. Had a lot of other spots to trap that I didn't have any problems with other trappers.

I'm glad to hear you contacted the CO. Hopefully, the people responsible for taking the traps get caught and prosecuted. They deserve to be punished.

Makes wonder how they got the pickup money. No telling.

got asked to look at a pond the other day. Real close to a mostly dry creek. I am sure beaver move up and down the mostly dry creek. There are ponds along it beaver move into. Beaver sign on this pond. One willow on the whole pond. Few hedge trees. No cat tails No steep bank. About 2 feet of water and two feet of mud. The mostly dead willow had a limb broke off in the water. From wind most likely. A beaver had gnawed it a bit. Told him there were not any living in it. Said last year he paid a guy for catching 5 beaver. Same type folks. Maybe we get lucky and those two steal from each other.

SOP, if I see a vehicle parked or cruising slow where I have traps, I get the license number if I can.

It suck’s I’ve had traps stolen and a guy was running part of my line, he saw me coming early and moved out in a hurry, so I sympathize.

I've had a crapload of traps stolen over the years, never got any satisfaction even when I tracked the guy right to his house. Called the DNR every time, no one ever got into any trouble and I never had even a single trap returned.

People suck. Sad that many "outdoorsmen" fall into the suck category too. I don't get it.

It is too bad that some of the big named stores are getting stole blind and they just let them go because they do not want to risk the chances of an employ getting hurt by the bad guy or the bad guy getting hurt and sueing the Co. But it is not just the big stores.

Same here. Even told the CO exactly who did it. I got 2 traps back..that was it..of about 30......the guy got a "warning" .....funny thing ....later in the season same CO stopped me..went through almost my entire stack of traps in the back of the truck....found one that the tag got chewed off...no warning for me.

Its possible the other guy maybe thought you stole them and took yours in retaliation. Not saying you did but I had the same thing happen to me.

…. Sounds about right

So, in Iowa it is illegal to have an untagged trap in the back of your truck?

If so, that is a stupid law!!!

Yes it's illegal to have in your possession an untagged trap while you are deemed to be trapping. And Yes, it's a stupid regulation.

… and they make sure to hire stupid people to enforce it ?

Not as stupid as the southern states do. LOL

… uncle Swamp …. You hear that …That sleep apnea havin … mouth breathing… noodle soup makin yankee is sas mouthin you !

What? Is he a game warden?

…. Used to be … before they forced him to retirement for inappropriate acts with the deer decoy

If that happened and you’re legit, I’d have fought it. It’s not illegal to drive around with untagged traps. If you set a untagged trap, that’s a different story!

But it is illegal here...



They also issue tickets for it as well.

It happened to me too when I was 18 or so. Dug through over 250 traps we were pulling that day to find 2 the coons had chewed the tags off of so he could write us each a ticket, and confiscate the traps.

If it happened today, I'd go to court over it and any judge with any common sense would throw it out.

I don’t think that’s the case here. The other guy claims he had about $300 in traps stolen. And we were using different methods and locations.

In Georgia, a trap must be in use (not just in back of truck) for the ID requirement.

Also, a tag is not actually required as we can have our traps stamped with our name or permanent license number.

Had one of my officers issue a guy a warning for a trap in truck without ID. He had to go to the trapper's residence and rescind that and explain he was wrong for issuing the warning.

I asked him where he got that from and had him read the law. He was embarrassed and apologetic. I told him to educate himself or ask questions BEFORE enforcement.

Getting harder and harder to find a judge with common sense Jayme. You might end up in the clink today.

Anytime you ROW trap or trap public ground, you're taking that risk. The sad part is, it's probably another trapper or trappers that are tee'd off because you beat them there. I've had traps stolen in the past, in the ROW, that only another trapper would have found, and know what to look for. Yes, trappers are thieves also.

Swamp,

I am trying to advocate for just ID number. Currently we have to have our name and address on a tag.

If that happened and you’re legit, I’d have fought it. It’s not illegal to drive around with untagged traps. If you set a untagged trap, that’s a different story![/quote]
Good luck.Michigan's trap tag law reads trap must be tagged if in a area frequented by wild animals,or something to that effect(I haven't looked at the rule in years).And the C.O.made sure I understood that when he wrote me up to an untagged beaver trap in the back of my truck in a state game area.

Tags are not there for stolen trap recovery. They are required in case of something done illegally. Whole idea is ridiculous. Poacher wont use them and a thief likely removes them. Just another regulation thought up by somebody that only walks on dirt in their own backyard.

Good luck.Michigan's trap tag law reads trap must be tagged if in a area frequented by wild animals,or something to that effect(I haven't looked at the rule in years).And the C.O.made sure I understood that when he wrote me up to an untagged beaver trap in the back of my truck in a state game area.[/quote]


The only animals that frequent the back of my truck are no longer wild…they’re dead!

Used to have a warden that knew a bit about trapping. He would find me, watch till I showed up and ask to see the next trap I needed to check. Check for a brand and let me move on. Even after several years he made me pull up a trap, I normally run two tags just in case. I also normally would pull the trap, knowing there was going to be a camera on it soon. I try my best to stay legal.

wws

Trap tag legislation will be voted on in the 26 session. It passed the senate and all comities of the house last year and was listed as unfinished business at the end of last session.

The ITA has been pretty successful in the last few sessions.
Youth license changes
Disabled Veteran Lifetime licenses
Both have Passed,
Trap tags
Beaver Dam regulations
and Fur Buyer licenses
Will come up for vote in the house this year.

Please feel Join the ITA if you have not already and attend Board of director meetings, We always can use Member input and help.

I've had plenty traps stolen through the years. I've always called the game warden, not thinking I would get any results. But to tell him if a trap with my tag showed up were it wasn't supposed to be it wasn't me. One time a warden called and asked if I had a trap in a certain spot, it was set in a culvert of a guys drive way. I told him no, So instead of trying to catch the bad guy he pulled the trap and brought it back to me. I just said thanks.

Trap ID is a double edged sword.One time a landowner asked me if I had a trap set under an apple tree by their house.I told him no,and he says "well your name is on it"! After I thought about it I told him I had traps stolen about a mile away from there.He said he thought something was strange,when he picked it up he saw it wasn't fastened or staked,it was just set under the tree.