Public Land Trapping

Give me some tips for being successful on public land while keeping theft to a minimum. I live in Oklahoma and have a state refuge a couple miles from my house. I have never trapped it because of the worry over theft or catching a hound hunters dog. There is a lot of coon and hog hunting that goes on there. While turkey hunting last spring I found several spots in the road that were covered in coyote, fox and cat tracks. I am thinking about trying to gang set some of the best spots i found that are closer to a highway or in an out of the way spot to limit the hound use and trap in the middle of the week and pull before the weekend. It still makes me nervous especially to gang set because if they find one they will prob find more.

Get out and get private property permission. If hunting dogs are in there regular you WILL have trouble. Its nothing for a coyote to travel 10 miles in a night. Catch them outside of the public and call them inside

Here in ks bird season closes the last day of January. So i use the last two weeks of trapping season on public land. We can trap till February 15. Cats are still good. I release rubbed coyotes and pelt any that are still good. Have not had any problems doing this

Its public land you have the same right as they do. Use cheap traps try to stay off the main roads talk to the warden in that area and let him know you think there may be trouble from the hound hunters.

I have permission to trap private and own a lot of private. That's mostly all that I trap. It is just too close to my house and too much sign to not give it a try. I already pretty much know what I am getting into and the ways to minimize things. I just wanted to hear from other people's experiences with public land.Thanks for the replies.

Hide your stuff well, use earth anchors to prevent theft, make sets where critters can hide (like raccoon sets at culverts), or where critters will not be moving (bodygrips or drowners), and most important is to go where most people don't. You don't have to go far, if you have a boat it could just be the other side of a river or pond.

Hoosier trapper outdoors has a large following on YouTube and other sites. They trap pretty regularly on public land. You could watch some of there Arkansas trapping expeditions and get some ideas. I think in a lot of situations where animals could be seen in traps they use drags , so there catch gets out of site and hidden. They have episodes though where they get traps stolen. Maybe just set up your very choice places and then be very cagey and smart about it.

Read the regulations first. 95% chance you can't set foothold trapps on land on public land in Okla.

I trap a lot of public ground. I prebait and set for a week and then I come back in a couple weeks and reset it again. I don’t set where I think I’m gonna catch a hound or where people are walking

Thanks! Now Im getting good responses and ideas. I like the pre baiting idea maybe with some beaver carcasses. I've read the regulations for WMA and we can trap on public land you just have to post the entrance and not set on roads or trails that could be walked on by people. That road and trail thing is pretty vague. Ive trapped corp of engineer land quite a lot and it is pretty easy to find spots that are not frequented by people but I have had traps stolen and game stolen from those areas. Not a rookie just trying to get some good conversations and see what others are doing to get new ideas. Keep them coming

Depending on the pressure you have there public might be more work then it's worth!

Last few years all I trapped was public. I've had theft of traps, theft of catches and trap, and one guy made it a point to spring my traps at least once a week.
Traps were anchored with disposable stakes, and anchored tight to trees.
I've caught 1 domestic dog which was off leash. I've had anchors dug out. One person tried getting the extension cable off the tree but failed so he would set off my traps by throwing rocks on the pans.

All that to say use less expensive traps, if you have a camera or 3 set them up too. I would recommend using older cameras. Pay attention to footprints (if possible) and try not to make a trail to your sets (meaning take different routes to your sets).

One more thing, if there are "hiking" trails try to stay off at least 100 yds.

What public land is it if I may ask?

Also not real sure about the pre baiting, that could fall under wanton waste if they wanted to push it.

There is a WMA across the fence from me I've read the regulations for it and looked at others, that's what I'm going by. I don't know what the exact regulations for the WMA your planning to trap but I wish you the best of luck in your traping.