What to do when ppl are messing with your traps and stealing tags?

Well I been trapping one small dranage ditch and caught two muskrat and one mink so far. I found the spot where the other trapper wasn't working the place. I setted up about a week ago when there was just a little bit of open water. I been setting 110's for muskrats, Anyways i'll cut to the chase, today I parked my car and walk down to see my 110 exposed. I always cover them, always. Then I see there was no tag on my traps and I had them on there before. So I was thinking, did I forget to put one on? So I walk down the bank and see a rusty 110 there in the run way, which wasn't there the other day. So I check my other set that is in a pipe line and see that there was No tag on there, He lefted the wire there, but took the tag! I think he took one catch today, since the one 110 was exposed. What should I do about this? I think I might contact the DNR or something. I cant check my trap in the morning cuz of school, So I have to wait till I get out.
Mike
 
Report this behavior imediately to the local DNR. Then go down the line and read the info on the other trappers trap tag. Speak with him and see if he is the culprit or if he turns out to be having the same trouble, then the two of you can help the DNR keep an eye on things together. Most states have laws against tampering with another persons sets and traps. They also have laws that say your traps must have a tag. If you don't report this you may end up as the one who gets the fine.
 
Thanks for the reply Rick Lauder,Im going out now to pull the sets. Im making sure I have a pen or something to write with to copy all his information down from his trap. I did however put more tag's on them, when I seen them without them. So I should be all go there. I shall contact the DNR and see what they have to say about this.
Mike
 
If I were you, I'd just find another place to trap. Personally I would not set traps unless I could run them before daylight or right after. That is too long for them to be in, and will only lead to pull outs, chew outs, and people tampering with the traps. Just get up early and check before you go to school.
 
Yellowhammer, I usally have all 110's out. I do have two coils under a bridge that hasn't been messed with and they are on drowning sets. I shouldn't have a problem with chew or pull outs there.
I did pull my 110's from that area, I was going to contact the land owner if he has anyone else trapping this area. I did write down his information down from his trap. Since I have permission I might set up more upstream of him, since he put his 110 10yards if that from my sets to make me not catch anything. I don't think I should be the one who should move since I was there 1st, but I guess it would be better then getting stuff tooken. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Mike
 
Be sure to contact the DNR and DO confront the other trapper, he may not be the guilty party and can help you get a handle on the problem, YellowHammer, you are way out of line here, I have run over 200 sets and 150 snares at a time,(during the good old days) and if you are getting chew outs and pull outs after a few hours, you need to learn how to trap, in all the years I ran long line I don't remember one chew out, and so few pull outs, I can't remember 10 of them. I ran my lines every 24 hours, in Arizona, before the ban, and every 36 to 48 hours in NM as was then allowed, did this with straight jaw and offset both, never had much use for soft jaws. And for water trapping, the conibear and sliders, eliminate those concerns all together. Looking for a new area to trap is a good suggestion, but don't allow yourself to be shuffled out of an area, you will be pulling traps constantly, and the word will spread that if you get trapped on top of, you will pull out, I know, I have(not proud of it, but I was making a living and supporting my family)pressured small time hobby trappers out of prime areas. Stand up for your rights and settle the matter. Other then that, if you want to be a trapper, get use to it, its going to happen more then care to think. I lost 36 sets, a total of 54 traps do to a winter time flash flood, and probably 150 traps to thieves over the years along with no telling how many catches. Good Luck
 
Yeah,...It sounds to me like someone is just trying to rattle your chain. If they really wanted to get you,...they'd have pulled alot more of your traps. If the other guy doesn't have permission to be there,....Then may I suggest that a 220 set as a toe catch right in front of one of his sets, usually makes a dandy conversation starter! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
VarmintSniper308 - contact the DNR. I had a #2 1/2 coil spring stolen from me with my catch (coyote). At first I was reluctant to contact them, since they have no way of finding a random hunter who thieved the catch. But I ran into a DNR officer yesterday, and he told me to file a report. If nothing else, it could protect me from being charged with an illegally set trap since it had my ID tag on it.
https://www.michigandnr.com/law/rap/RapComplaint.asp
link to file a complaint online /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Thanks the long ranger, I did fill out a complaint on what happen. I'll just have to work around him and find some new trapping grounds. Thanks for the help everyone. Talk to you all later.
Mike
 
another suggestion is to find someone that has a deer camera and use that to find out who the culprit is and to provide evidence for the DNR. those cameras are not just for photographing deer. moose
 
Well VS, if you contact DNR tell them about the other trapper in the area, maybe you can get them to come out with you and they can have a chat with him. As far as confronting him, I wouldn't do it without a witness or two. One time many years ago, I caught a man who had taken one of my traps with a Javelina in it (big game animal in NM, and is to be released unharmed) and was trying to find the rest of my sets. The only thing that kept him from filing charges for assault with a deadly weapon (ax handle) was the fact that he was informed in no uncertain terms he would be charged for theft and big game poaching. The matter was dropped and I learned a valuable lesson. "As much as I hate a thief, my freedom or someones life is probably not worth any material possesion." But I would try to get DNR to pursue it and maybe find out who did it.
 
If you continue to have problems with trap thieves etc. try making up a sign and place it where the culprit is sure to see it.It should read something like "YOU MAY BE BEING WATCHED RIGHT NOW!" A little drawing of crosshairs with a head in the center is a nice added touch that should make em nervous.Don't let em push you out!
 
Oh, yeah. It's always a good idea to respond to a misdemeanor with a potential felony threat charge. In KS, simply saying "Mess with my traps and I'll blow your damned head off!" will get you 1-5 in the state penitentiary. Not to mention the sign for drawing the attention of every Tom, Dick and Harry to your sets and his. Hmmm. Keep in mind that any confrontation where you have no witness offers the same advantages for him. I'm not in MI, so I'm not familiar with your legal system as it applies here. But I would re-tag my traps. Contact your DNR officer and make an immediate and full report. Ask the officer to go to the site and see for himself the proximity of the other guy's traps to yours. Have the CO tamper with the other guy's traps because it's legal for him to do so. You may not have the authority yourself. Both of you go to the landowner and confirm if the other guy has permission to be there. If he does, he's legal except for screwing with your sets. Even if it's not illegal to do so in MI, let the landowner know what's going on so he can revoke the other guy's permission. Let the CO confront the other man with any questions. Several things will result in your favor. First, an authority figure is more likely to get valid information versus self-serving lies between two good ol' boys, one of which is backed into a corner. Two, the CO can be more objective in his questioning and responses and things won't evolve into a knock down drag out fight. Third, the guy may be bigger than you, more inclined to just whoopin' your butt, and you've got nothing but a butt-whoopin' to show for it. Go that direction, that far, and the landowner is likely to yank both your permissions since you can't play well together. The CO is paid to handle situations just like this. Get your tax money's worth and have him do his job. ANy questioning he does will be part of his investigation anyway, and admissible, versus the hearsay of what you say he said. At the very least, it may keep you out of pain, the hospital, jail, or worse.
 
Homman, but don't feel bad. Even my profs couldn't spell it right twice in a row. Been hunting and getting deer capes worked up and ready to ship to the tannery. Not enough hours in the day. I suspect you know the feeling all too well about this time of the year.
 
I found out through expierence that it is the county sheriff that is in charge of that type of problem. You may be able to charge him with trap tampering, it is illegal in IA. Stealing is theft, the sheriff handles that kind of problem..
Do not beat him up then you are the bad guy.KY
 


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