Pretty rare to get one back but success.
Trap was set right on the boundary of F&W land and Merrill & Ring land. I was sure it was M&R foresters who took it because they were laying out a sale there and had been using a 4 wheeler. A new 4 wheeler trail was built across F&W land and happened to cross the creek on an old beaver dam just below where my trap was set.
Any way, I called M&R today and talked with them. The were very nice and said they would see what they could find out.
I got to thinking about it and there is a house down there so I went down today and stopped to look at the guys driveway. There were 4 wheeler tracks going in that looked like the ones on the trail.
I had never been to the guys house because there are a ton of no trespassing, shoot on sight, beware of dog signs but I drove in today to talk with the guy. I could see him working in his shop behind his house so I walked back to talk to him and lo and behold there is my trap by the far corner of his shop.
I told him I was there to get the trap he had stolen. Choice words were spoken but I walked by and picked up my trap. Of course he said the trap was abandoned and he was not a thief. I said he knew good and well what he had done and he gave me a parting shot of "you better watch your back" so if I disappear you'll know what happened.
I called M&R after and apologized for suspecting them.
