Wrong to set trap for thieving hunters?

Question

I quit bowhunting because of slob hunters. I've had 6 treestand stolen in eight years. So, I put a junk stand up, on private, posted, property. Then, I tried casting to a nearby pond. I accidently got a few dozen treble hooks looped around branches just below the stand. I left them hanging- accidently. I checked the stand several times. Yesterday, i discovered some poor fool tried to steal the stand. There was blood, broken branches, and even a battery powerd grinder, with a cutting wheel, by the base of the tree. I fear that the thief got hung up on those hooks. Too bad they were attached to 40lb spiderwire. I managed to get the rest of the hooks down, and removed the stand. It's now on a different piece of land, also posted and privately owned. I again tried fishing, but got a bunch of hooks stuck again. I wonder if somebody will try to steal it again.

Answer 1

That really sucks when those treble hooks get stuck when you're fishing.

You do have to try a few dozen times just to make sure you can't fish from there.

What an unlucky coincidence about the hunters.

Answer 2

Yeah, that is the sadpart about our culture of hunting, and fishing. There are some in our hobby that have no respect for what they are doing. They don't care how many they kill and equate sucess with numbers! They don't care about managment, they don't understand the beauty of the struggle to hunt with out treestands until you can afford one! At least the money they contribute is taken out of purchases and memberships. As far as the morality to set a trap for theives, in my mind, they are doing something immoral, it is your stuff you must protect, and them getting hurt in the process is their own fault!

I think the reason man traps are illegal, is that since they are unattended you could maim a child or some other innocent.

I know it sucks, but take your climber down when you go home... Put it up when you come back...

Answer 3

I am in law enforcement. DO NOT SET TRAPS! You will not win that game legally. The game cam could work or you could lose it also. We do try to catch thieves also, we just can't be everywhere at once. I suggest a nice climber stand if you are getting robbed that much. Or make your own stands. They are cheaper. PETA morons like to steal stands in our areas on public land. I haven't heard about them doing it on private land though. Check with the landowner and see if there is someone else who he has given permission to that might think he is the only one to hunt there. He might think he is doing the landowner a favor by taking them down. It is a slim possibility but a possibility nonetheless. Happy hunting!

Answer 4

As bad as the thieves is the guy who a few years ago set up a tree stand on our posted private property. We took the stand down and listed it in the found section of the local paper and when he came to get it we told him to stay out of there - he said he didn't know it was private - yea - with a private road , boundary markers, signs and such. Law says you have to have written permission from owner to hunt on private land whether it is posted or not.

Answer 5

That happens to be very funny.
One way to catch a thief, is a game cam (hidden) one that doesn't have flash (or have the flash setting off). If you were to post a warning sign on the tree that your stand is on, not only will you be protected by law, but have proof that they knew not to trespass then you are legal to do as you will...
Try hooking up a portable electric fencer. If anything, you will be amused quite immensely.. (please remember to be kind to your fellow hunters and blog the pictures!)

Answer 6

Far better a small explosive device,just wait till they are reasonably clear then detonate it.You could also fit it out with an auto detonate as it gets further away from you,but that is not selective enough.You can construct a small dye bomb for the nuisance value.There are many far more lethal methods of fitting out the purse or bag.One of my friends just has razors sewn into a jacket pocket with a fake wallet,you can push your hand in brushing past them ,but lose it trying to get it out,he has only had one catch in two years,but he seemed satisfied with it.The one who dips you is not usually the one who opens it though,they normally pass it on as they go away from you .

Answer 7

I think you are being to lenient if it were my stand I would be camping out to catch them then get their plate # try to have local law enforcement if the stand is worth over $250 it is a fellony in most states it is illiegal to do what they are doing also contact the game warden and have all your info welded to the stand .

Answer 8

NICE DUDE! i thot about that myself, i highly doubt you did that accedentaly, however wrong what you did is, they had it coming. its what theves get. you were justified in my book, that **** costs money, alot of money. cabella's makes portable deer stands and you can even have your beer in comfort up there in that ol' tree too. you might consider investing in one of these stands becuse the only way it will get stolen is if you leave it by itself. a few good recourses for you... delta press ltd , cabella's catalog , fierquest , shooters , the work bench and hq. they are all great publications and i am sure you can find everything you need there. delta press is my fav, personaly, the black book of revenge is pretty good and theres alot more to it. all kinds of stuff, you can even make 50 caleber gun for hunting bear or other realy large game,lol. good luck dude, :)

Answer 9

In Texas, as in most states of the union, it is unlawful to set a human trap. As it has been mentioned the individual can sue you even if he was trying to steal your stand. People have lost big even when 'they were right.'

You'd be better off setting up surveillance equipment or not leaving stuff out that can be stolen. The legalese term for that is 'entrapment.'

H

Answer 10

Damn right serves the theivin bastards right. The only people who would be against this are the dirty ones or those who havent lost an expensive stand to robbery.