Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Trapping => Topic started by: cat daddy on December 04, 2014, 08:12:39 PM

Title: Trap theft
Post by: cat daddy on December 04, 2014, 08:12:39 PM: Ran my line yesterday morning and had 10 colony traps stolen. Some one went right down the ditch bank and stole every trap I had flagged. If any of you guys on the east side hear of used colonies for sale, please contact me. Thanks
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: Jonathan_S on December 04, 2014, 08:22:04 PM: Sorry man, but as far as flagging traps goes... :bdid:

It's a hard lesson to learn. I had a trap stolen and later caught that rat bastage stealing one of my swim through beaver traps...

:boxin: it got heated and I got my trap back :devil:
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: Turner89 on December 04, 2014, 08:27:58 PM: Quote from: cat daddy on December 04, 2014, 08:12:39 PM
Ran my line yesterday morning and had 10 colony traps stolen. Some one went right down the ditch bank and stole every trap I had flagged. If any of you guys on the east side hear of used colonies for sale, please contact me. Thanks
Sorry that happened, I hate thieves. Why do you flag your traps? I'm guessing so that you can remember where they are?
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: 3nails on December 04, 2014, 08:46:12 PM: I feel your pain. I've had several stolen over the past few years and most had to have been by fellow trappers. I know who stole a colony trap from me this year and I'd love to out him, but.......

Sometimes you don't have a choice to flag when you are putting out dozens of traps. No way you'll remember where they all are otherwise.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: zike on December 04, 2014, 09:21:32 PM: A GPS won't work.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: rasbo on December 05, 2014, 03:29:14 AM: that really sucks,I feel for ya..A gps is going to be your best bet.Or set a trap for the thief..
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: Machias on December 05, 2014, 04:05:35 AM: Set some flagging up and then put a trail camera in a strategic place and see who searches for your traps that aren't there.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: JODakota on December 05, 2014, 05:31:09 AM: Quote from: zike on December 04, 2014, 09:21:32 PM
A GPS won't work.

Why won't a GPS work? I generally mark a few traps in each area on my GPS and remember the rest around those ones.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: trophyhunt on December 05, 2014, 06:20:16 AM: Quote from: JODakota on December 05, 2014, 05:31:09 AM
Quote from: zike on December 04, 2014, 09:21:32 PM
A GPS won't work.

Why won't a GPS work? I generally mark a few traps in each area on my GPS and remember the rest around those ones.
i believe that was a statement more than a question. GPS sounds like one answer.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: jackmaster on December 05, 2014, 06:25:12 AM: Quote from: Machias on December 05, 2014, 04:05:35 AM
Set some flagging up and then put a trail camera in a strategic place and see who searches for your traps that aren't there.
:yeah: :yeah: it wont take long thats for sure, it will end up being someone you know or someone you have seen around
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: TeacherMan on December 05, 2014, 09:54:28 AM: I know its been said but never flag traps :'( I was out last week hunting on a late moose hunt and was running down a guys trapping line up here and he had flagged every trap he had out and someone had taken out several marten in his sets. Traps just laying there.

I cable all my traps with 1/8" cable and farrels so they are hard to take. Most guys cant cut cable with their cheap little Leatherman. I've had several sets I could tell someone tried and gave up. I know in WA I would be using cable on all my bigger box traps. To spendy to let walk away... I know that wouldn't work most the time with colony's.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: ouchfoss on December 05, 2014, 10:09:44 AM: That really sucks! Flagging isn't the best idea but if you have a whole bunch in one area, then I understand. There's a few times last year that I had to think real hard where a couple unaccounted for traps were sitting. I'm sure flagging would have made that easier.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: ouchfoss on December 05, 2014, 10:16:16 AM: I guess be glad they were just rat colony traps and not the bigger and spendier beaver/otter cages. Still sucks that there is that many people out where who don't have a problem taking stuff that isn't theirs. More than likely they are sportsman too.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: mulehunter on December 05, 2014, 10:18:37 AM: 7 million people in Wa that explains a lot, They all are VERY Busy in wood in those days. very sorry.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: Humptulips on December 05, 2014, 08:31:04 PM: I do not flag as a rule. I do keep a log book. When all you have are a few traps it almost seems incomprehensible that you could forget one but it can happen with a longer line. That I why I started keeping a log. Perhaps that might be a way to keep from flagging.
I have had to flag when trapping a marsh, lot of traps in a small area and everything looks the same.

I have had very few stolen over the years. All non-trappers, not sure there is much you can do about it.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: Threewolves on December 07, 2014, 09:39:28 AM: Another sad thing is the thief has learned where to look for traps. Sorry brother.

How many did they get? One trap I would think a kid, a lot of traps it would be an adult. If they don't trap what are they going to do with them? If they sale them maybe some one on this site will notice.

So, WDFW has the don't screw with others traps law/regulation, are they doing anything? What can they do? Anyway, preserver.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: Jingles on December 07, 2014, 09:47:32 AM: Being a non trapper and living on the east side and so I can be informed what is a colony trap and the east side is a little vague so any particular area? North Central, North east, South central,

Belay the question on what a colony trap is, as it appears that it is similar to box live trap...
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: trapper88 on December 07, 2014, 02:24:13 PM: Sorry to here that.I wright down on paper where i have sets.Hope you get the traps back.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: Humptulips on December 07, 2014, 11:02:33 PM: Afraid to say it is almost unheard of for a trap thief to be caught.
Title: Re: Trap theft
Post by: jasnt on December 07, 2014, 11:26:01 PM: I know you can't use body gripping traps on animals but what about thieves? One of those huge double spring bear taps would be perfect