Today I had a situation develop for the first time ever. I live by a very small town with about 60 people in it. The town is situated next to a creek bottom so lots of critters can be a problem once in a while. The only church in town had a woodchuck (WC)or two digging around a bad limestone foundation and the head of the church board asked me to catch them so they can fix the holes and not have the WCs under the building die on them with no way out. WCs are a non game animal in Nebraska and can be trapped and hunted year round. I have been helping residents around town for years when a raccoon or other critters starts digging or destroying property for them. The town has no ordinance against trapping. I checked with the neighbors about dogs or cats and even kids and they all said there never any around. I then set a live cage trap on the side of the church where no one could see it by one hole and on a bigger hole on the street side of the church I set a 220 down in the hole where the hole went under the building. I caught 1 large male WC yesterday in the bodygrip and reset the trap at sunrise today. A fella come from a big nearby city and was working in his uncles shed not too far away. He must of seen me check the traps a couple times during the day on my quad The traps were tripped at mid day so I reset them At about 6 pm the traps were tripped again, this time a large stick was in the body grip in the hole. I talked to the neighbors and no one seen a car or anybody walking the streets. I tried the local game warden but he did not answer. I then called the sheriff and a deputy called me back. He knew what was going on as I guess it was a friend of his working in the shed and he was the one tripping the traps. I explained the situation and that I was asked by the church to trap the WCs. Also I said the town told me they have no law that said trapping inside city limits is illegal. But there is a rule about dogs running loose. I told the deputy the traps are legally set, my name is on them, I had permission to be there. And I consider it harassment by who ever was doing the tripping. He advised that his friend is against trapping that's why he did it. I told him I will check with the local game warden when I can get ahold of him. In the meantime I pulled my traps. However I told the deputy that I am pretty sure Nebraska has a law that says if you are harassing a legal hunter or trapper you could get into trouble. He agreed and said he will straighten it out with his friend. First time I ever had an anti bother me.... I'm 70 years old and been trapping since I was about 6. Something new everyday !!!

Id have the game warden file charges on the guy,

Then file a complaint on the officer thru his department
And at the state level

Also have the church do the same

Your situation sucks. Hope it gets taken care of. If you’ve trapped for 60 some years and this is your first encounter with an anti - I would say that is impressive and you are very lucky.

Some trappers deal with antis every year and multiple times a season. It can be a real curse!!

I live in a very rural sparsely populated area. I know all the farmers around here as I was born and raised here and worked at COOP for 15 years so I knew everybody. We are all old schooled and the bird hunting is almost non existent here, although some coon hunters with dogs hunt every so often. But as old folks pass on and the kids or someone buys the land things are changing out in the rural area. Even in the small towns there are people moving in who have no idea what country living the old way is. Yes.... I am sure more problems could be a coming. The crazys use the internet and webb to promote their lies and agenda.

I'd take the deputy at his/her word to straighten it out with the friend and give it a few days then resume trapping them WCs. If harassment were to continue, I would let the church know of the situation and then I would report what's been going on to GW and let them take action. I would probably put a camera up high overlooking the site as well

…jerk that ol boy’s britches down and spank his bottom blue

Sounds like you handled it well.

covid is the worst thing that happen to us country people, all these city people moved to the country and don't understand or don't care about our way of life, had a guy call me for skunks and didn't want them killed , it state law that we cant move skunk,

I hear ya Dahlgren! The media suggested for families to get out into the wilds and roam. I believe JP had a few incidents on his line back then.
You should see the complaints about roads and other stuff on the local FB page, they want everything paved. I told them that this spring has been the best I’ve ever seen in over 30 years! The new little hobby farms are getting snowed in for a few days, then complain about not being able to get their BMW to the Coop to pick up feed. They demanded that their road be moved up to priority one. They have kids, so the ambulance won’t be able to get through in an emergency was another reason…..lol.
They’ll fit in or move back…….first few years are a steep learning curve.

Sound like you handled it pretty professionally CatMan. I believe most, if not, every state & province has a law reguarding people that purposely mess with sets. I think it’s fair if he gets educated by the sheriff if he didn’t know. The problem is, there’s quite a few regular folk that aren’t pro or anti trapping that believe that it’s been outlawed years ago. But some do it regardless, nail them hard.

In the meantime, drop off the WCs at the friends house until they
get their problem figured out.
When they start digging into their house he can use his stick.
Tell him you have skunks too,
that also need forgiven.
Poor city "animals".

Working for the congregation can be tough.

Check state laws about interfering/ harassing trappers with legally set traps. Here in WA it is a gross misdemeanor, subject to up to 364 days in jail and or a fine up to 5000.00. If you have such a law, print off a copy of the law and penalty, thumb tack it near the trap with notice traps under 24 hour photo surveillance.
Just have camera in position that would be basically inaccessible without a ladder.

You did the right thing. If the sheriff doesn't do anything about it then go to the city. The problem is that might not work in your favor. That's hos new city rules or laws come to be.

Probably exhaust all the legal avenues before you take matters to a violent level, that’s what I do.

Fixed it! LOL

Yes NE has an anit-harassment law. I would file charges oh him

Had videos of clearly identified individuals messing with my traps, turned the videos over to WDFW who passed them on to the county Prosecutor. Perps got a 275.00 fine 6 months statement of continuance . So now have FITHOPS Perimeter trip alarms firing home made 12 guage blanks set 8 feet up the tree behind my cage traps, pointed at a 45 degree up angle. When I say homemade they contain a felt shot wad instead of shot cup, covered with paraffin wax after insertion then 1 Oz of tinctured skunk essence unless I happen to have pure quill available. So when trap is moved a cloud of skunk essence is propelled up and then settles on person moving my traps.
Yea I'm a nasty SOB. But when the judicial system fails time revert to country justice.