Re-thinking Trap Theft

Got up at 0330 to run the line yesterday morning. First stop where I have 8 coon traps, 5 coyote traps and an otter set, I noticed human footprints that weren't mine by two of the coon traps (or at least where two coon traps had been) and no traps. Not the first time I've had traps stolen. Seem to lose some every year, as I trap almost exclusively public land. At first I was fuming, like I normally get when I have traps stolen. Then I started thinking about it and really it comes down to my responsibility to keep traps and animals out of sight. These were not in plain sight and someone had to go off the road a ways to find them, but I probably could have hidden them in some brush better rather than on the mud flat. This doesn't make stealing someone's traps and animals in those traps okay, but it's the battle we fight if we trap public land. I'm going through in my head over which traps in this area and other areas on my line should be moved to more discreet areas. Sometimes that might be just 20 yards away in some tall brush with a call lure to draw the animals in. At least that's the mentality I was able to adjust to, in my head, before I called the CO for the area to let him know about the theft. With all that said, however, I would LOVE the opportunity to actually walk up on someone red-handedly stealing traps or animals in my traps.

I agree that it is best to have traps and animals out of sight as best we can. This, however, can be difficult. A trap thief that knows there is a trapper around or someone who is extra curious can both find sets as these individuals can follow your tracks if there is snow or good tracking ground. I know I have missed animals or they were unwilling to commit because the location of my set was not as easily accessible as it would have been 20 feet this way or that, but my priority was to have the set concealed from prying eyes. Something we have to deal with I guess. Good luck!

Hopefully you get something figured out.

Have that here as well, slide wires can be used to move animals away from the set area, also drags

I've found that most thieves don't like to walk very far away from their get away source, so I make use of that when I can, especially for cats here, getting your set away from parking areas or off the trail is a must any more.

Making sure you report your loss and the general area is a must as well, to prevent you form being held responsible for another's actions using your equipment.

Sad as it is, some times we have to practice hide and seek our selves just to keep our harvest from being stolen !

I had a new one yesterday. I had two traps taken AS I WAS SETTING THE REST OF THE LINE. I came back by less than 2 hours after setting the initial traps and they were already gone. I have the same perspective, I kind of knew those ones were a risk as I was setting them and decided to do it in the interest of being able to check my traps directly from my vehicle rather than getting out and walking to every trap. It sucks that part of our location criteria is making sure the traps are not easily visible when trapping on public land, but it's what we deal with I guess.

I dont think traps are much different than other pieces of outdoor gear that get left on public land. Would you leave a deer stand or trail camera within eye shot of a public road or trail?

Yeah moving a trap 20 feet off an animal trail with some call lure may net some catches, but far fewer than a trap set right on the trail. Slide wires or chains can get the animal out of site, but dont help much when the thief knows what to look for.

BS! People need to learn to leave stuff alone that doesn't belong to them. I see other peoples property on public land all the time and I don't steal it.

A thief is a thief no matter if on public and or private land.

Oh I completely agree, but the fact is it's not going to stop. So I am going to adapt. And keep setting where I want but knowing that I'm going to lose some traps every year. Just hope I can catch the thieving rat turds.

When I was a Conservation Officer, I didn't care how old you were, if you were wrong then you got a citation or a trip to the lock up. One year I had reports of somebody stealing traps and muskrats out of traps in this one wildlife area. So I waited a couple of days and did a stake out on the area. Sure enough, about midnight I see two boys riding their bicycles down the road into the area. One had a flashlight looking in the ditch where there were traps. They got off their bikes and pulled the traps and put them in a burlap bag. I watched them steal 3 traps. I knew the guy the traps belonged to, and I had checked the traps earlier that day for tags.

I figured I had enough evidence so I pulled in to the area and positioned my car across the road. If they wanted past me they would have cross a 5 feet deep ditch. They didn't try to run. I asked them what they were doing and they said they were pulling their traps. I told them to dump them out on the ground, which they did. I picked one up, looked at the name tag and ask them for any identification. They of course didn't have any. I ask them their names and they gave me some made up names, which didn't match the tags. Our court in the county I was in, had a rule that if a person can't produce identification, then we were to haul them to jail. I ask them their age, 13 and 14. I laid their bikes on the side of the road, handcuffed them and put them in the back seat and away we went. At the jail the kids still wouldn't give me their names. They were locked up until later that evening (Morning) told the jailer what their names were, so their parents could be called.

The next day the prosecutor called me ask if I wanted to let them post bond or come to court like I had noted on the citation. I said they stole and then lied to me... The judge needs to talk to them. They got off with $50.00 fine each. This is not the end of the story.

The next trapping season I caught the same to boys on the Federal Game management area trapping, with no license and the area was closed to trapping. Now they were 14 and 15. Back to court... had a different judge this time. The prosecutor told me the judge wasn't going to fine them and dismiss the case, because they were just boys. I informed the prosecutor that I wanted my opportunity to give my testimony. After he talked to the judge, I told my story. He reluctantly fined them each $50.00. This is not the end of the story.

I told the prosecutor and the judge after court, that this wouldn't be the last time they would see these two. The prosecutor, asked me what I meant by that. I said, These two are bad apples, the next time you see them they are going to be in here for a felony. They looked at me like I was crazy.

One year later these same two boys robbed and killed the owner of a small sporting goods store in the town. They were 15 and 16. They both got hard time, but since I had moved to a different location, I can't remember how much, but I seem to remember 30 to life. The woman they killed was a good woman. They killed her, robbed her money and stole 12 or 15 weapons.

If a kid continually steals and lies they will end up being a hard criminal.

Garry-

Good story Actor!

I agree with this!

Do I try to hide my sets and catches from others view? Yep. Thieves suck!

We talk about location all of the time then we end up setting our 3rd choice to avoid problems.

Good story , Actor
Lot of truth there , unfortunately.

Over my lifetime I have returned over a dozen wallets and 2 purses. All intact. Most only had a small amount of money. Last wallet I returned was a bit of a whopper , $454 in it. Guy who lost it was SO , SO happy to get it back intact. He gave me $25 for my troubles. I would much rather have the $25 earned honestly than just take the guy's money. Some of my friends call me 'The wallet magnet '
I sleep better at night.

Stolen traps has been going on since the mountain man days,read articles written by trappers at the turn of the century(19th)and you'll see references to it,Bill Nelson and Herb Lenon used to talk about lines being followed and cleaned out.We've all been there,we've all had traps stolen.I've set by public trails and took fur right under peoples noses,I've also had them discover what I was up to and clean me out.I don't want or need the headache anymore,I stay away from them.

Exactly! I trapped extensively on public ground and have seen other peoples stuff nearly on a daily basis. I have never taken another sportsman's property ever, and it saddens me that others seem to do it as often as they can. It ain't just one guy in the county swiping traps or trailcams....too many are stolen every day. What is needed are some stiff fines and penalties when they get caught. that ain't going to happen. The courts, for the most part, treat it as a nuisance to even prosecute sometimes. It is the same with trespassing. Most judges don't really see it as much of a real problem, at least in my area.

We have a big problem with Johnny Sneakum off the road system up here. I lost quite a few traps and fur to thieves and/or antis, until I bought a snow machine and began running a more remote line.

I haven't had much luck using call lures to call animals more than a short distance. I have to set on location to catch anything, and that means my sets are easily detected by thieves.

Some thieves--or anti saboteurs, I was never sure which--will work really hard to steal something, harder than they would have had to work honestly for the same gain. I used to cable tie traps to trees, and once had a thief dismantle a 120--turn it into a 110--after a lot of work trying to cut the cable and open the S-hook.

Jim

For some reason people who would normally not steal anything will pick up a trap.

Big problem down here also. I like to run a few Marten traps around Stanley. One year I had someone run my line and even reset my traps after removing my catch.

My grandfather told me a couple stories from when he trapped back in the 70s and 80s. First was a man he caught redhanded standing over his traps holding his fox catch, he had been walking down his line gathering up his fox and coon. The man was armed, and so was my granddad. He was told to leave the fox and go away...that man ended up with a face full of birdshot from a 12g. It didnt kill him or blind him. He was a local ne'er do well. Sheriff was called and nothing happened to my grandfather, so im assuming that boy decided to go for his gun or something.
A different time a dog hunter had one of his dogs caught in a trap and decided he was gonna pull all my granddads traps out of the field and he threw them in a briar patch. My granddad found out who it was and made that fellow walk out into the briars and gather up all the traps he decided he wanted to toss out there.
My grandfather was a very level headed man and did not get in confrontations with people except in rare occasions, he wouldnt take crap from anyone though. Pillar of the community type, so by these stories dont get the wrong idea about the man. Im sure if he was here to tell the story he would be very justified in his actions on all these stories.

I hate thiefs and people who mess with my hunting-fishing-trapping. I go out of my way to get out of others way that are out doing the same. I have had landowners handle trap thieves whenever possible. I would probably get nasty quick with a dipstick messing with my stuff if i caught em.

NO, its not your responsibility to hide your sets. People aint suppose to steal.

Run traps at different times if possible, use drags or slides to put them in the bush, and use older/cheaper traps in high traffic areas.

I wish that was the case. Different generation than I was brought up to. People have changed.

I remember a case of frontier justice my dad told me about,this happened in the 30's or 40's.Seems a local yahoo was stealing muskrat traps from a family,real hill billies that had no problem taking matters into their own hands.They waited him out one night and when he lifted the first set one of them drew a bead with his .22 and shot him in the throat.They didn't bother calling the law on him,they left him for dead.It didn't kill him but it took out his voice box.When I was a young un I remember him in the local store pointing and grunting at things,dad told me years later what had happened to him.Bet he didn't steal any more traps after that.

Actor, Buck and Possum Man, great stories. It really sucks about trap thieves. If I had more private land to trap I'd be all over it. Haven't built those landowner relationships yet though. And I know trap theft can happen on private land as well. It just sucks. Getting up 0300 to run the line tomorrow. Hopefully there will be more fur in traps than there will be stolen traps. I'll post an update sometime tomorrow. These last 2 make 4 stolen traps this year. 2 coyote coils springs and 2 coon traps (DP and a 1.5 coil).

I avoid people like the plague. Probably why my traps don't disappear or my animals. While it is not my responsibility to hide my sets, it sure is prudent.

I know this isn't going to help but my record is 17 muskrat traps stolen in one night.Had them take 3 beaver traps at one site,that included a 48 Newhouse.You can't stop all of it,but by being very careful about where and how I set(all flat sets,no flashy dirt holes),and by doing some serious back tracking to where I could set on sign but away from people I all but eliminated theft.I've lost some locations but it can't be helped.There are areas that have good predator sign,but people play there too,and theres no way your going to set it up with out wading into a whole host of problems,thats just the way it is.

There comes a time when you need to deal with the thief in a one-on-one basis. Like the old DNR saw . . . Plan your hunt, hunt your plan. Think about a thief's number one concern: public exposure. It might take a chunk out of your trapping season, but will pay off in the long run. Your best weapon is a camera, but come prepared with a good friend or two and an equalizer.

If thieves are this active with fur prices this low, imagine what it would be like if fur prices were back on track.

That is our dream ADC. That is our dream.
But people have always wanted "something for nothing" and I suppose some always will

I too have unfortunately learned my lesson to avoid people. Some years ago,had two "fellow trappers" confront me on my beaver line at a location and informed me
that this location was theirs. I kept my sets there,and as long as I had them there, they had sticks in them every day. Game Commission said to leave area since these guys were
bad news and it would be difficult to prove it was them. I went "remote",walking back into remote areas to avoid people,which has cut into a numbers harvest but has given me
more of a sense of security because I knew at some point that I would lose my cool. I have since learned that these guys no longer trap as one has moved and one has physical issues.
The lesson for me has been to,as Dirt says, "avoid people".

So much truth to this, just something about a trap "just laying there"

I was trapping for the federal fish hatchery. I was trapping everything. I had a trap under the water set for muskrat. I caught a crane. Before I got there. This guy got the crane out. Took my trap up threw in the deeper pool of water. Another guy watched him. I came down looking for my trap. The other guy told me what happened. So I called the game warden. He came down fount the guy. The guy told him he done it. Because I caught the crane. The game warden told him he couldn't do that. He got 2 tickets. One for hunter harassment and other theft of property. Plus he made the guy go out in the pool of water and find my trap. He told him it happened again. The fines would 2× more and may get a trip to jail. I just wanted my trap back. It was a mongenty 1.5 coil spring older trap. Good rat trap.

Out of sight out of mind. Trapping is not a spectator sport ( for lack of a better term!)

No stolen traps today. Did move a few around. Picked up a couple of beaver.

I lost a trap Saturday morning on my family farm. Not first trap stolen but on family farm within site of the Bldgs

Sucks about the trap. On a lighter note, Semper Fi, Jarhead! Happy belated birthday.

The bad thing about most trap thefts or so it seems anyway is that many who take traps are trappers themselves. I as a trapper can find other trapper sets rather easily. I can tell when someone is in and out of a drive every day, see the path humans make thru leaves or grass, see tracks in the creek mud in shallow clear water, pocket sets, dirthole sets, etc. As long as someone sets traps there will always be someone who (even though it against several laws to steal) steals some somewhere. Trail cameras help. Catching someone in the act also seems to make a good case for giving someone a reason not to steal my traps anymore. Just be careful not to get in trouble yourself over a $15 trap. I have had some taken over the years, all from private property where I had permission. Used to let it bother me, to the point of thinking everyone who drove the roads or hunted or trapped was guilty of stealing my gear. Not no more. If it happens I will try to solve "who done it". But now unless someone confesses or you see your gear in someone else's gear I let it be. Should not happen but it does. I only hope the thief was a youngster who "grows" out of the foolishness of his youth thing someday and becomes a fine citizen. Just my 2 cents worth.

My views Exactly