I would agree with this if I saw any interest or effort to get their hands untied. I have not heard any explaination why MNDNR, with higher wolf densities than anywhere, has not joined the effort for delisting.

Did you honestly just type that?

Remember there is history behind this paradigm/chess match. It started in the 80s(?)), with a drastic reduction in tags. Many trappers thought it as unfounded and were under protest. Which could lead to cooperation issues. After all, How do people react to groups that they feel are working against them? Eventually the state suspected noncompliance, so the next move was to apply pressure to tag holders, issue tickets and start Mesabi type fur companies. Trappers got long memories.
Paranoia about cheating the system will never solve this problem and intimidation only makes it worst.
I you want me to go out of my way to help it better be comfortable and easy. That's just me and the way I see it.
It's sad how a dictator turned a resource into a trophy and that trophy into a varmint.

Yes I did, it may have went over your head but I am sure that Nimzy and marshrat got my meaning.

In fact I know Chris did evidenced by his post

Who will be the toughest sell? WTA? CC? WWF? I think the state will come around to the idea. After all, they have said they want to work to minimize incidentals. Wouldn't a true count be needed if one is to try and minimize?

Would comfortable and easy allow most to put a tag on incidentals? Call in within 24 hrs just like legal harvested otter? Turn in no questions asked as long as the information is filled out completely?

If the WTA was better at record keeping, I would suggest the WTA should try to take up the collection effort. No reason we couldn't be trained how to register incidentals. Each district would be responsible for putting up their districts incidental fur.

I prefer a text. Sometimes I don't feel like talkin:) Dont care for tags either.

Who gets a nuisance tag and how many?

I think it would be a struggle to get the districts to do put up of those incidentals. A majority of them are done by the same guys now. How long before they're burned out?. I'm pretty sure there's freezers full of incidental fur now. Some being several years old. Maybe Bryce would have a better idea on that.
The tough sell would be with the DNR & maybe the WTA alike.

As many as you need. Run out, just print more. That is what is great about our new licensing system. It treats people like they are honest. Greatly improving the quality of the experience.

But you want guys to text in incidentals? Most were scared of a robocall or getting an electric version of the Wisconsin Trapper. LOL

I will admit that texting worked way better than trying to call them in before taking out of the trap. Always seemed like you never caught them next to the road with great phone reception. Texting would fix the issue when you have poor reception. Use the tag for those that are less tech savvy.

it seems ironic, unlimited nuisance tags with a lottery on harvest permits. I suppose its a start

Chris, They'll have to call them something other than nuisance tags as they treat them as a trophy. Just like fisher & bobcats. Heck they even cut back on cat tags this year by 75 or so. At that rate a guy will need 15+ preference points to draw. Wow, I'll only have to wait 8 more years. Now that's a messed up system.

Technically Brian they cut cat permits by 25. Increased southern tags by 50 and reduced northern tags by 75. Shifting the distribution of the harvest. Wonder if that was done by design? Now the wolves are shown to follow the food onto the private grounds. Why would bobcat be any different. Would that cause us to skew harvest data.

I really wish I would have not missed that meeting. Would have loved to hear the stuff that didn't make the meeting minutes. Fox Claw can you remind us next year? The online community needs representation there to sit and listen. I will volunteer to attend if someone can remind me.

It should be front loaded as we are trying to transfer incidentals into resource. Give the districts some money from the for trapper ed and give the state some money for research and you would have those incidentals cleaned up as they came in. I believe the private sector would be much more efficient in handling.

Again, I think the state would jump on board. Why? Because an incidental tag would even the playing field with a group that the state really dislikes. People that play the system. The current system makes it easier for a guy to play the game than actually follow the rules.

Think about it for a second. A guy kills an otter. He calls his buddy to come get it out of the trap or just drops it off on his way home. If a guy wants to play the system, he tags his otter and comes home with it. Takes his tag off and gives to someone else and they tag/register it. He just prints a new license. He does that for as many incidental otter as he catches. In turn, our success rate climbs and less permits are given out.

The guy that catches an incidental otter/fisher must call in and report before removing from the trap. The warden may or may not require him coming out first. Sure some trappers have relationships with warden that just require a text, but they are supposed to call the hotline first. Their experience varies dramatically across the board. See how it is more difficult for a guy that catches incidental fur to get it turned in than a guy playing the system? An incidental tag would level or at least restore a little balance in the playing field.

Chris, I wouldn't make an assumption in the number of tags that would be needed. That will shake out over time.

If can get a few members of your district to put up 50-60 otter, then that district would receive $1500 to use towards trapper education trailer & supplies. Contact Jenna Kosnicki for further information & details.

That would be 36-46 more otter than my entire district caught last year in incidental otter Brian. Are we allowed to take some other districts fur? LOL

But there are several in the freezers from prior years. Doesn't matter what district they were caught in. You & nimzy can put up 60 for D10. I'll personally send you a thank you card & buy you guys ice cream in Marshfield.

Here I thought you were going to take nimzy's place since he would be getting ready for that big demo and donate to district 7. Speaking of demo, maybe we can get those MN guys to help us. They will be coming over to catch the demo. Maybe that is the cost of admission for them?

Glad to hear they have them from years ago. I wonder if Jenna can find us that beautiful black one I turned in two years ago? By the way, I would need her to have 4 years worth to get us to 57 in my district.

I noticed even WS was responsible for a few of those incidentals. Wonder if David Ruid would help provide some manpower for this event? I know they had wanted to work together to improve reputation that was hurt a little as a result of the last beaver plan. Worth a shot?

You wonder if it was by design? Of course it was!

You know why.

If 49er & MK need to someone to pay their gate fee, I suppose that I could contribute. You can buy the icecream

I'm not paying, I'm sneaking in the back gate.