…. 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.