Kind of a weird one too. It was a set I made yesterday and I checked it this morning about 10:00am. Big blanket beaver sitting on the bank and my 8' rebar still staked and out into the water. But no trap on the beaver. It looks like they must have had some pliers to disconnect the S hook from the slider on the rebar. All they took was the trap. I had a Belisle 330 abut 10 feet away and it was undisturbed.

There is not a lot of boat traffic out on the river right now so I immediately suspected that maybe the lone truck and boat trailer at the ramp that was there when I pulled in this morning may have something to do with it.

When I got back to the ramp that truck was still there so I got a picture of their expired trip permit (no plates) and sent it on to a trooper with the OSP. We'll see what happens. I think I have yet to ever report a stolen trap and actually get satisfaction.

Well.....in this case you don't have ANY evidence.....so, you're just guessing. Maybe the LE officer will find a little more to go on....like an admission of guilt.

good luck,

Stranger things have happened.

The only reason I report them is so that if someone sets them illegally I’m not responsible.

I hear you there Bob.

Hope they get their arm caught in that 330

Did they pull the stake up to get the beaver and then put the stake back? I think they got scared off in the middle of the heist. Or maybe on foot took the trap and went to get a boat for the beaver. You are right, its an odd one. Trap probably worth more than the carcass beaver.

The stake was put back just like I originally set it. The beaver is worth more than the trap out here. I figure all in a blanket beaver is close to $50 for me.

And why would you want a beaver trap...but not a beaver? Maybe just antis?

I think they were going to come back for the beaver if it was a trapper. And antis would not have left the beaver for you.

Why didn't you wait for them at the boat ramp and take a look for your trap in their boat?

I've had better luck when reporting stolen traps. The last three times they were returned by game wardens. We report that stuff to the PA Game Commission here.

Of course it helped that two of the times the trespassing dog-walkers called the PGC themselves to report my "illegally" set traps (both incidents on private land I have sole permission to access).

One guy was successfully prosecuted, fined about $350.00.

The second incident; one night a warden and deputy showed up at my front door with one of my traps. I said, "now what?" I knew both these guys from the previous incident.They explained about the trespassing dog-walkers, said they had already talked to the landowner who told them that I was the only person with permission to be on that property and asked me if I wanted to press charges. I declined but told the Warden to warn them if it happened again I would.

The third time a hunter pulled two traps while I was trapping near my camp and turned them in to the PGC. I called the theft in and the next day the local warden, who I also knew, returned them.

Maybe you'll get lucky and the thieves will call the cops to report you. In my experience, thieves ain't all that bright.

Lugnut, exactly my thoughts. The game warden has the information to call or visit the folks who were on the river same time as me. Wouldn't surprise me to have an indignant confession from someone who doesn't understand the laws about molesting legally set traps.

ADC, I had more traps to check on another stretch of river. Couldn't afford the time to wait them out.

So they carry pliers to open an s hook and steal s trap. But didn’t disturbed the stake? You have opened an s hook right ? No way without wallowing tha stake out Tearing up something. Doubt it was thief. If so why didn’t they take the one beside it? You sure you put a trap there ? You said beaver on the bank Was it dead or just sitting there and swam off

Tree, they pulled up the stake and unfastened the trap and beaver that was submerged, then put the stake back into its original hole. I could tell all that because it was loose in the hole. The beaver was laying just above where the trap had been set. And yes, they had tools to be able to undo the S hook from the slider. And yes, the beaver was dead and still had a little blood and water coming out of the lungs.

Pretty certain it was duck hunters. They may have been thinking to remove the trap because they hunt with dogs. Some guys seem to think that is ethical...

Easy to hide a trap not a beaver.

Plus most people wouldn't know what to do with a beaver anyway. Hardly any trappers around these parts anymore...pretty much just me. I guess wws is around here too. Don't think it was him though. LOL

It surprises me that they would be able to get the beaver out of the trap unless they had some trapping knowledge.

Bet they threw it in the water. Had that happen with some mink muskrat sets years ago. Power line crew trimming trees along a creek. Called the coop and got crew leader info. He told me they threw them in the creek Got a magnet wand like roofers use to pick up nails. Found all 6 traps.