Finding animals taken by animals still in traps?

[jr.fish]

Just wondering what I'm aloud to do with an animal I found that was taken by a coyote and left in the middle of nowhere. There's no one trapping in the area that I know of but I would like to get the animal mounted. I know I'd need a found dead animal certificate but not sure if I'm aloud to take it cuz it was still stuck in a trap.

Any help would be great

[wwbirds]

How do you find an animal stuck in a trap if no one is trapping the area. Trappers are required to check their traps frequently and it is against the law for you to touch a trappers set including taking something out of his trap.

[jr.fish]

I was walking in a area I hunt and spooked a coyote off of a mink that was still cot in a trap. The trap was ripped off from where ever it was hung because it was busted. i followed the tracks back and couldn't find anything and Iv never seen any box's or any sign of trapping in the area over the years

[wwbirds]

coyote could have carried the mink and trap for miles before you found it.
Oddly enough the trappers course recommends anchoring your traps for the largest potential catch but if setting 110 for mink I doubt anyone would anchor the trap firmly enough to prevent a coyote carrying it away. I would check wtih F& W to see what they recommend.

[KegRiver]

Originally Posted by wwbirds

How do you find an animal stuck in a trap if no one is trapping the area.

Good question.

I'm wondering what sort of trap it was. If it's a body trap, then it may have been carried some distance by a scavenger, IE Coyote. But it's still the property of the trapper and must be left where it was found.

The trapper will most certainly go looking for that trap. Chances are he's at least a fair tracker and could find the trap and animal if left where it was.

Now there is no way he can find it, and you have no idea who's trap it is.

The least you should do is find out who is trapping in the area and ask each one if they have lost this trap. Then return it and the catch if possible.

[McLeod Valley]

You could find out if the area is part of a RFMA at the fish and wildlife office and leave it with them if it is , then they could contact the trapper.