Welcome back everyone. Today's video comes to us out of Wisconsin where a game warden was on patrol and found a trap with a dead beaver stuck inside. Now, based on the beaver's decay, it was obvious to the officer that the trap had been there for quite some time. As a reminder, if you're setting traps, they are ultimately your responsibility. You're responsible for going out there and checking them and removing any animals and ultimately removing the trap when required. You cannot simply leave a trap without going back to it. And if you're unable to locate your own trap, the best thing to do is call a wildlife officer to let them know it's missing. Anyways, the officer managed to trace the trap back to its original owner and contacted him at his residence. >> Hey, >> how we doing? You >> Ben M, conservation warden. Um, I'm out of the WTO office. Um, see, I'll cut right to it. I found one of your traps, >> counter bear. >> Yep. >> 330. >> Yep. >> Clamped on a beaver. >> Otter. >> Otter. Couldn't find that guy. I went back weeks after that. Okay. >> With hip boots. >> Okay. >> So, >> looks like it was right where it was supposed to be. Or no, >> right in the run. >> Where'd you have it? >> By the beaver dam. You know where the beaver dam is there? Okay. Up from that. >> Mhm. >> Then it swings around. There's kind of a >> pond there. Kind of a pond there. >> Mhm. >> And I thought they were coming. I could see where there was a lot of chewing. There was a lot of chewed up branches on the ground there. And I put this conar between two poles and put it down. Put another crossmember over it. >> So it's underwater by oh 8 10 in. >> Okay. >> And I came there and he broke this pole off here with a zip tie. and slid it off of that whole pole. Are you missing two? Because I know where that one was in that little channel. Right. There's a little channel. You had two poles vertical. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Now, this one was smack dab by the the den by the lodge. Right in a little run right by the lodge. I looked and looked. It was nowhere in the open. At the time, there was ice. >> Mhm. >> All around. >> Mhm. >> In fact, it would >> I didn't take any big outward pictures. >> So, I didn't take any from out, but if you're standing on the lodge, right, >> that channel that the bank Yep. Yep. Yep. Let's go out here a little bit. Out of the wind. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And you've got the stream comes in and goes out this way, correct? >> Yes. >> That tree that's blown over is blown over right over right this way. >> Yeah. >> You're talking about your little the channel was right over here that you had that in. You had one in. >> I had one in a channel and one by the dam. >> Yep. And one by the dam or by the or by the lot. >> By the lot. >> By the lot. Nothing by the dam. I only had two. >> Okay. So, this is the one by the lodge that had an otter in it. >> That's the trap I couldn't find. >> So, you said But you said it slid off poles over here. >> Yeah. >> The the one in the channel. >> Well, >> the one with the verticals you had off to the side of the line. >> Actually, they both had vertical. One was in a little channel and that little channel weasled down to the dam. >> Yes. >> Is that the one you're talking about? >> Okay. I didn't think so. >> Okay. >> I wanted Did you pick Did you pick that one up? >> Yes. >> Okay. This one looks like it was right where it was supposed to be. Right in front of the entrance to that lodge. It was this far from the lodge. Lander dead. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. Not a chance. This one. And and for a long time >> I looked and looked. I could not find that. And I thought maybe that a beaver cuz if you look on that there's a a stick wired >> Mhm. >> to it to the trap. >> Yep. >> Beaver. Yep. >> That trap. >> It was right. It was right there. I I didn't even go digging for it. I saw the I saw the critter from standing on the lodge. It wasn't sticking out. >> Standing on a lodge. You're facing north. >> Yes, I believe. >> Yeah, cuz then the channel cut the the river >> and the trap was right down here. >> Yeah. I was standing on the lodge that >> cut standing on the lodge and I noticed there was a tall stick sticking up. >> Yeah. And then I looked down and I could see the crossbar. I mean this so so this picture is it's I mean with you there having been there. So this one so this is from the water. Okay. That's the entrance to the lodge. That channel comes right here. That was the stick that was standing up. It I it knocked over when I grabbed it. But that trap is right here. The trap is right where it should have been. So, cuz that's that's what I saw. So, the crossbar was here and this. But I saw it from up above. I didn't take that. Oh, I did. Hard to see with the glare, but why couldn't I not see that? >> Did you get in the water? >> I don't know. >> The last time I was there, I'm in there with him because I thought I seen >> When was the last time you were there? >> Oh, Jesus. It's been picked up for a long time. Uh, February. Yeah, sometime February. >> Okay. Yeah, cuz I Well, when did I take those pictures? >> I would say early February would be my guess. >> That would make sense. Um, based on how March 25th that I picked that up. Oh, that Yeah, it wasn't that long ago. >> No. >> And in February, I was in there with hip boots. >> Mhm. >> I walked down in front of the lodge. >> Yeah. >> Walked around here when Okay. Then the water had gone down a lot and then then there's like a kind of like a big sand bar there now. So then >> Yeah. I couldn't see that before. So then I walked out on a sand bar. I thought I see some. It's a snake. >> Question for you. Why don't you call him or call Brad >> and do what? >> Well, hey, >> I can't find a trap. >> This was here's my thinking on it. >> Okay. >> A beaver came in. A >> big beaver thought. Come come come by. Swam [snorts] swam by. He got his tail, got his back foot, got something in there. >> Sure. [snorts] >> And my trap's gone. >> Yeah. >> That was my thinking. Yeah, it was >> I I get that. >> But on the flip side, if that happened and somebody finds it and they're like, "Hey, I see a a critter with a a trap on it or this got hung up or, you know, or the the thought of maybe somebody stole it." >> If it wasn't right where these poles were kind of sticking out, you know, I thought, "Well, he'll get hooked on something." >> And he didn't. I looked all over them ends of to see if he >> he wasn't hooked any place. Well, then I It's like [snorts] he swam away with my trap. >> That thing didn't move. It came out of that lodge cuz he caught it going out. >> I've walked through that whole thing. I I walked Why didn't I step on it? >> I don't know. Cuz I I saw it. I walked down and I stepped kind of over that down log underneath the one coming over and it was right there. I don't know. I I don't have a explanation other than that was my thinking when you know >> Sure. >> that's what happened and I went back a couple times once after cuz at that time I went and I just had I think I had them slippers on. Yeah. cuz it was froze. Yep. >> So, it wasn't sinking in anywhere. So, I just went Well, I wasn't going to go anywhere with slippers on, but I looked >> cuz see my trample's gone. Next time I came with hip boots, water was high. >> Mhm. >> But the last time I went with hip boots, the water was low and I walked out as far as I could. >> Yeah. >> Looking for the trap, the critter, anything. >> Yeah. I mean, like I said, it was I I don't think it was if if anything, it was maybe the length of a trap, but that that critter was I mean, you saw the pictures was was suitcased. And >> you didn't drag it back there and put it there. >> No, sir. I drugg it out. >> I [laughter] in a in a otter yet. >> Uhhuh. You know, obviously I have otter uh tags, but I was studying for beaver. >> Mhm. Oh, I know. >> You know, that's why this stick is Yeah. >> is wired to the bottom uh bottom of the trap. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And that was I was just dumbfounded, pissed off, couldn't believe it because it got off of the pole. That's That's what I couldn't believe to start with the cross pole. >> Mhm. >> He got off of that. I said he had to go all the way down here cuz that pole is fairly long to get off of there besides the steak that was holding it. >> Mhm. I think that stakes snapped because when I pulled this, there was still part of a stick in one of the springs. There was a big vertical. >> Yeah. And then there was another one in part of the spring. But I mean it was >> I mean maybe that far like my first day trapping. >> I know. >> You know >> I know >> I was pissed. Yeah. I was pissed off and I left. It's like you know I ain't never lost a 330. >> Right. >> All right. So when he says 330 he's talking about a 330 Conabar trap. A YouTube channel known as How to KG has made an excellent video on exactly how these traps work and how to place them. So, we're going to have a link to that in the description down below. Be sure to go check them out. >> You know, I ain't lost traps before. Usually a foothold. >> Yeah. Right. >> Um but I've never lost a 330. >> I mean, closest night game was a 330 that an otter put a back foot through and that's all I had caught on. >> Fortunately, he wound himself pretty tight and >> Yeah. I was >> I've even found uh 3:30 to close good and have a live otter. >> Sure. >> But yeah, >> he didn't go anywhere, >> right? Not like this. Just and underwater until he got so much time. >> Well, that's the thing is it didn't go anywhere. >> Was it big? >> Huh? >> Big? >> I mean, by the time I got out of there dragging it, [laughter] carrying it, it felt pretty big. I mean, it was decent size. I don't know if I ended up taking a full picture on it >> cuz when I when I went in to grab it first, >> the fur slipped the skin slipped off. >> Oh, yeah. Well, yeah. It's right around the chest. >> Mhm. >> So, it was swimming out of the den. >> Came out of the lodge. It >> was in there. >> Mhm. >> Took him a while to come out. >> Yeah. That trap. before it went in cuz there's there's two there's there's another entrance right where on the what would be the west side there's an entrance that comes out there under all that junk so it could have been coming and going through there >> were you out looking for dead otterters >> I was just out looking I was like I cuz I saw footprints >> and so I followed footprints in there and uh And I was looking and I found the verticals and all that and [snorts] then I saw it right away and then uh that's when I saw the spot where you had the other one on the channel, >> you know, cuz I was like, "Okay, I had two traps there." [clears throat] So that's all I had. >> Yeah. So >> there's two traps, you know, and I the one in the channel is what I thought. >> Oh, yeah. Right. Yeah. It's a great spot. >> Nothing. Never. Nothing. >> Yeah. Yeah, finally a couple sticks on set it. >> Sure. >> You know that. But >> Yep. >> But up by the lodge was it that lost trap. Never I put another trap. Nothing again. >> Yeah. >> I you know never thought of otter there. >> Oh yeah. >> I just saw beaver there. Made otter or beaver in that channel. >> Mhm. There you are. So, [snorts] kind of in a rock and a hard place here cuz you didn't call me. I didn't know about it and I find this thing and it's got a dead critter in it, right? And if if if we know about things, it's a lot easier for us if we do find it or somebody calls us to be like, "Okay, they know about it. They didn't just forget it." You know, that kind of thing, right? I have a hard time not issuing a citation because there was a critter, you know, because especially in beyond honor, right? >> Yeah. Uh but but what I what I'm going to do is I think there's a couple of options that I I can look at just to I I am going to issue a citation. Okay. But what I'm gonna do is there's a couple of options that I can think of and what I want to do is I want to work with you on it right off the bat. Okay. And and and find whichever one is the least expensive of those. Um cuz like you said, you know, you you went back a couple times, you were looking, but like I said that it's really hard for me to >> It ain't like I did something on purpose. I wasn't I wasn't trying to do anything to you know >> I know but the the fact of the matter is that >> guy should call you if you don't find it. Well, no, but this is, you know, how this is different, >> you know. >> Huh? >> How? >> Well, this one in this case, like it's it's I >> mean, yeah, I had a wounded animal. It got away on me. >> I mean, [snorts] a lot of hunters have that happen. That's >> But it actually is them [laughter] a citation for it cuz they don't have a >> But it didn't name. They don't tag their >> But it didn't. Plus, then it would have been, you know, if if I come back the next week or anything like that, it's, you know, a trap that's there that's not being checked and then it wouldn't have been removed till after the season if I hadn't pulled it out of there, right? You know, I I understand I understand what you're saying. I do. >> Chuck said it wasn't going to do any more harm. >> Well, it had already done the harm. That's the problem. >> Oh, yeah. I mean I Yeah, >> that's the problem, Paul. A legal animal legally trapped. >> It was not doing anything. It was like >> until it wasn't checked legally and wasn't removed legally, right? >> Call in. You mean >> Well, you I mean >> called in. >> Called in. Well, that's another one. Wasn't called in. wasn't checked, wasn't removed legally. There's a lot more to it. >> Yeah, it was a something. I mean, I didn't see it. I was not like I wasn't there. I went there. I rewent there, you know. I made every effort that I knew of to get it. I didn't want to leave an otter there. >> I wanted the otter. >> Mhm. you know, I didn't see it. And that's like I said, that's why I want to work with you on it. Like it's >> What's it to work on? You're going to issue me a citation? >> Well, because there's multiple citations that could be issued, and I'm not going to do that. >> What do you want is >> Well, I'm going to I'm going to go back to the office. I'm going to look at look at the options that are there and find the one that is written as the least expensive that I can. Okay. I like I said I I you don't need the most expensive. You don't need multiple for sure. So I want to take a look at that. What I'll do is I'll issue that through the mail. Then I'll send it here. The court date and time on it. You don't need to appear. you're certainly more than welcome to appear. You can write in a not-uilty plea or you can pay it ahead of time. Um and and and here's the thing is I'm a trapper, too. I get it. But I also know that, you know, I had I lost I had a trap pulled this year. [snorts] I was fortunate enough to find it. If I didn't find it though, I would have called my boss and been like, "Hey, just so you know, I can't find this." you know, it's it's so that if it shows up someplace else, you know, or I've had it where people have stolen traps and set them illegally then, but I knew somebody's trap was stolen or missing and then I don't come back at them for an illegal set. If >> I knew any animal was there, I sure as hell wouldn't put another trap in the same exact spot. trying to catch something when I if I knew it was something from here to me or here to that bush or whatever. >> Mhm. >> Wasn't doing anything. It was just all trying to catch a beaver odd or whatever. >> Mhm. >> Do you have any questions for me as we stand? >> No. >> Okay. My phone number will be included with that. Um, if you do have any questions, uh, I just wanted to >> That's right. You know what? I asked my daughter a month ago in accident. I got really, uh, other things that are on my mind. You know, >> I'm sorry to hear that. Um, that's a good phone number for you. >> Okay. Um, like I said, if you have any questions, when you get that, give me a shout. Um, otherwise I'll try to get that out this week. Okay. Yeah. All right. All right. So, in the end, the officer tried to be understanding of the situation and cut the guy a break. Now, based on the individual's overall attitude about the situation, I have to say I'm fairly surprised the officer stuck to his word and only gave him one charge. That charge was for failing to check submersion traps and removing animals as required. Now, rather than being grateful for only receiving one charge and the officer being respectful, he decided to fight the case and plead not guilty to the charge. Typically, when somebody pleads not guilty, they end up working out a deal later on, and the case never goes to trial. However, this individual was more persistent, and the case actually did reach a trial. The trial was relatively quick. There were a few pieces of evidence submitted, probably the trap and any relevant paperwork, and the officer testified as a witness. Of note, the defendant did not cross-examine the officer. After the officer's testimony, the defendant was then called for testimony. After a brief questioning, the court ultimately found him guilty of the charge and ordered him to pay $350.60, which he later paid. That's it for today's video, but we'd love to hear what you think. I know you have the right to defend yourself and you're innocent until proven guilty, but do you really think this is a case worth fighting? Let us know down in the comments below. And if you like content like this, be sure to check out our other channel that focuses exclusively on fish and wildlife content across the US. As always, thanks for watching. Heat.