Trap Thief in Ludlow/Sandy Shore Lake Area

[winslow]

I should have known better than to set cage traps on public access land during archery deer season (not all bowhunters are felons, but all felon hunters are bowhunters...), but I took a chance and got burned.

Brand new Mercer Lawing bobcat trap gone. Was cabled to a tree with a very tight quick link. Would have required a tool to remove. At least he missed the next one down the line.

Be careful out there, guys.

In other news, I had a couple kind-of doubles and some other interesting stuff happen last week. http://www.huntgatherbrew.com/a-day-on-the-trapline/

Winslow

[jdw2825]

Bummer.  Sorry bout that. Gotta pic of it or something that might stand out about it? I'll keep an eye out on Craigslist. 

[billythekidrock]

Not really fair to assume it was an archer without pics of archers in the area. Lots of different user groups on public land at this time of year.

[pnwmtnmn]

call the game warden report it stolen get a case number all that stuff. The chance of getting it back are miniscule. The report is to cover your butt in case the trap is found set somewhere it shouldn't be.

[lokidog]

I've thought about this before... luckily I think I'm not in a spot where this will happen.

How about "branding" your traps?  Take a 1/8" wire and bend it into a recognizable and repeatable shape and weld it onto the side or top of your trap.  If it is removed, it will leave grind marks or damage the cage so it's not usable by someone else.

[3nails]

 That sucks. Odds are that the next person who steals one of mine is going to get there pic plastered all over the internet. Getting creative with my cams.

[JimmyHoffa]

It probably had an animal in it.  Seems that is how most trap thieves find a lot of them.  Especially if near a road or trail.  I see lots of horse sign on those roads.  Possible it was an animal hugger, but they usually just release the animal and then destroy the trap.

[winslow]

Not really fair to assume it was an archer without pics of archers in the area. Lots of different user groups on public land at this time of year.

True enough, billy. The multiple deer carcasses at the entrances, the lost arrows laying around, and the general demeanor and mindest of the archery hunters I've encountered there colored my opinion, but I have no proof. I was reaching because I was angry.

Could easily have been an angler, an anti (though I have no idea why they would have come across the trap), or anyone else who was wandering the deep underbrush and deer trails at the spot.

Unfortunately, I tagged the trap but did not engrave my WILD ID under the paint. That's my plan now. It was primer gray, looks just like the attached pic.

[winslow]

call the game warden report it stolen get a case number all that stuff. The chance of getting it back are miniscule. The report is to cover your butt in case the trap is found set somewhere it shouldn't be.

good idea - will do.

[winslow]

I've thought about this before... luckily I think I'm not in a spot where this will happen.

How about "branding" your traps?  Take a 1/8" wire and bend it into a recognizable and repeatable shape and weld it onto the side or top of your trap.  If it is removed, it will leave grind marks or damage the cage so it's not usable by someone else.

yup, that's my plan. Engraved WILD ID under the paint. Also, I've got some anchors coming and am going to permanently secure each trap to an anchor that will mean it has to be destroyed to be taken.

These are the anchors: http://www.minntrapprod.com/MB-Chain-Stakes-Original-dozen/productinfo/CSORIG-12/

The #2 chain will be welded to a bar inside the trap that spans the length of it. Should deter most attempts.

[winslow]

It probably had an animal in it.  Seems that is how most trap thieves find a lot of them.  Especially if near a road or trail.  I see lots of horse sign on those roads.  Possible it was an animal hugger, but they usually just release the animal and then destroy the trap.

I agree, and I think that's what happened. The trap was visible from one small, particular spot on the road by the parking area if you used binoculars, but if there was a pretty little bobcat doing turns in it and the sun was in the right spot, it might pop out if you looked right at it.

Live and learn, right?

[Humptulips]

I kind of have to disagree about it being found because something was in it. Most land sets are found because of a dog IMO. More likely it was a dog walker then an archery hunter IMO.

In OR it is required to brand your traps with your trapper ID. That being said I have had a few stolen and never saw them again. Pretty much a waste of time to go to a lot of trouble I think.

When you get a trap stolen it will make you incredibly mad but if you hold onto that all it will do is give you high blood pressure. If you are going to trap you had better reconcile yourself to a stolen trap occasionally.

[Machias]

You guys consider using one of the disposable trap stakes....like a wolf fang, or do you think they would just damage your traps?  A disposable trap stake will practically pull the bumper off your truck.  You could always attach one to the back of your trap on one of the bars and drive it in.  You're not getting it out without pliers....just a thought.

[winslow]

You guys consider using one of the disposable trap stakes....like a wolf fang, or do you think they would just damage your traps?  A disposable trap stake will practically pull the bumper off your truck.  You could always attach one to the back of your trap on one of the bars and drive it in.  You're not getting it out without pliers....just a thought.

Yeah, besides waiting until after archery season, that's my plan. The cat cages I have are frameless except for the front edge, so I either have to attach there or put a bar inside and attach the anchor through the wire to both ends of it, which would mean a lot of cutting/trap damage to steal, rendering the act both more difficult and rather pointless.

[Humptulips]

You guys consider using one of the disposable trap stakes....like a wolf fang, or do you think they would just damage your traps?  A disposable trap stake will practically pull the bumper off your truck.  You could always attach one to the back of your trap on one of the bars and drive it in.  You're not getting it out without pliers....just a thought.

I once had a trap stolen that was disposable staked. There was a perfect imprint of the base of a high lift jack left for me.
Had the cable cut and also the trap destroyed. I mean if you can't steal it, smash it.

I'm sure the disposables did deter some would be thieves though.

[Machias]

 

[DivePole]

I have had a lot of stuff stolen over the years, but it's funny when they close trapping with leg holds and conibears.I didn't lose any for over 10 years. I do a lot of damage work with permits i blame trappers for a lot of the theft, but i agree with Bruce; dogs and people walking around bad news bud!.  I try to be very discreet in what i am doing .i even have a hard time finding my sets now days

[3nails]

I have had a lot of stuff stolen over the years, but it's funny when they close trapping with leg holds and conibears.I didn't lose any for over 10 years. I do a lot of damage work with permits i blame trappers for a lot of the theft, but i agree with Bruce; dogs and people walking around bad news bud!.  I try to be very discreet in what i am doing .i even have a hard time finding my sets now days

I believe you are right on it being other trappers most of the time. The traps that I have had stolen could only have been found by another trapper who were in the types of areas I set. I also had my first cam stolen this fall in an area only another hunter would be. A lot of my traps have several cams out on them so when I catch the next thief can I mark them on the Scoreboard?    Can't wait to make them famous!

[pnwmtnmn]

3nails, you can only count a trap thief on the score board if you get a conviction or your trap back....

[saylean]

That sucks Winslow. Sorry to hear it man. Thieves everywhere.

[Humptulips]

Over the years I have had a number of traps stolen but my guess is none were by other trappers.
I've had my traps messed with a couple times that I know it was another trapper, a particular one, but at least they weren't stolen.
I'm sure most were just chance finds by people but dogs help that out.

My worst loss was caused by a couple game wardens. No they didn't steal them but they decided to check a bunch of my traps in the snow and afterwards someone followed their tracks to my sets. Lost most of a whole line of traps in that one episode.
I was following a circuitous route to check my traps so I didn't leave an obvious trail to the sets but they just marched right straight from the road and left a trail any thief could follow.

[moocher97]

I hunt there a lot and have seen some interesting characters. I wouldn't put the blame to fast on a archery hunter because I do see people walking their dog a lot around there. Anyway that sucks! Hope you find them....on another note I've never seen a bobcat there either, would be cool to hear how you do.

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[winslow]

I hunt there a lot and have seen some interesting characters. I wouldn't put the blame to fast on a archery hunter because I do see people walking their dog a lot around there. Anyway that sucks! Hope you find them....on another note I've never seen a bobcat there either, would be cool to hear how you do.

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Well, I hadn't seen a cat there, either, but I did find scat, so I am hopeful, but I won't be setting any traps there for a while, or maybe ever without an overwatch. A trap thief ambush would be wicked fun...