Just wondering if you catch a deer in a hog trap, ... are you violating any game laws?

I'm not for sure but I would bet that if you did it on accident then you would be okay and not get in trouble. If it was on purpose or routinely happened though you would probably get in trouble

if you catch one in your hog trap just let it go. dont call the warden or you make matters worse.

just let it go, and dont go blabbin to everyone... not sure if it is legal, im sure by the end of this thread we might know though.

A guy I worked with caught one and called the warden. He just had them let the deer go and asked them to move the trap to another location. Said he also asked them not to say too much about it.
I can't find anything saying it is illegal. Like Brandon A said, just let it go and be on about your business.

Know a man, caught one, killed it, bragged about it, knock on door, was the warden, recieved a heavy fine.

I caught one in my hog trap last summer. I asked a hunting buddy about it and he told me that game wardens discourage traps that have a top on them but i don't think it is violating any laws.

i caught a yearling buck in one last year. i wast 5' tall pannel in a circle with trapped door, but no top and he about beat himself to death trying to get out but never jumped out

caught a fawn once. just let it go

it says on page 57 of the regualtions that traps may not be used to take game birds or animals. as stated ealier if you catch one let it go and keep a sealed lip about. i put two strands of barb wire in the front of my trap doors. this seems to help alot.

The deer I caught in mine was bashing its head into the trap trying to find a way out. If I had waited just a little bit longer it probably would have died because it was covered in blood.

I caught a doe that killed herself in the trap. One of the rods in the panel was cut and bent straight out and she drove it 4" into her forehead when I walked up. DRT. I didn't tell her to go in there. Out of season, so I couldn't even tag her.

THANKS ALL!

I just saw an article today in the Lonestar Outdoor News about the same thing, and they said it was no big deal. They even said to call a warden if you need help getting the deer out. Of course they said it was illegal to catch one and kill it. But they did go so far to say that it is not illegal to catch a deer in a trap, let it go and then shoot it, ... only UNETHICAL.

*** So what if you catch a deer in a really big trap? It could have food and water provided so it could live inside the really big trap a long time. And I guess if you let it go, no problem. But you can still kill it if you want.

LOL!

What they said is illegal. Catching a whitetail or mule deer in a trap, then feeding and watering it and either let it go or kill it is illegal. Ask any game warden

Isn't that basically what a high fence is? He did say a really big trap

I catch em all the time just let em go. Did catch a big guy once....

HELOMECH

Right On! You are a genius!

"Isn't that basically what a high fence is? He did say a really big trap"

"What they said is illegal. Catching a whitetail or mule deer in a trap, then feeding and watering it and either let it go or kill it is illegal. Ask any game warden"

So, ... Why does the State of Texas TPWD NOT enforce the law?

BTW

TPWD does enforce the law...

A high-fenced property is not a trap: Under Parks and Wildlife Code (the Code), §1.013, an owner or occupant of land cannot be prohibited or restricted from constructing or maintaining a fence of any height on the land owned or occupied, and an owner or occupant who constructs such a fence is not liable for the restriction of the movement of wild animals by the fence. Section 1.013 of the Code also states that the existence of a fence does not affect the status of wild animals as property of the people of this state.

Once the high-fence is closed off, the owner may not open the gate and bait or allow any other deer to enter by bait, water or during the rut or anytime of the year.

A high-fence is not a trap since it is not baited and intended to capture deer after deer, whereas a hog trap or any other type of trap is. If it IS being used in that manner, the individuals/owners/etc. which are using it in that manner are cited and prosecuted for trapping of wild deer.

Good Info!

" ... the existence of a fence does not affect the status of wild animals as property of the people of this state."

So, how does the people of the state get to pursue, "hunt", their property, "deer", behind a high fence?

THX