We know the number of hunters and trappers is decreasing yearly, less young people are interested in hunting and trapping and this trend shows no signs of reversal. I believe one of the reasons for this is that we have added a unnecessary barrier to entry for young people looking to get into the sport, I am talking about hunter and trapper safety courses. Educating youth on safety and ethics is a great thing but why do we need the state to mandate it? Can we not trust parents, neighbors, siblings and guardians to teach safety and ethics? I think it is time to replace state mandated safety courses with apprentice programs that make it easier to take youth into the field, we should also just allow those 18 plus to buy licenses without a mandated course or apprentice program.

You know, I think you are right! JMO

Agreed, education is a parents responsibility.

Mandatory here for youth. Preferred age is 10 but younger go.

Absolutely Donner. Several of us have said this at our district meetings too, that trapper certification is a barrier to trapping. Who do you really want to teach your kids anyway ? If I had kids, I would want to teach them myself, not some other fella I might not approve of.

As it is, our trapping association does the trapper certification as mandated by government. You can be a teacher/certifier if you want to.

As a hunter safety instructor for 23 years, yes we need the state to mandate it. Majority of families are single parent and well, just not responsible enough. Letting any 18 or older go out hunting without instruction is a recipe for tragedy! I could write for hours explaining why your thoughts are wrong. Times have changed,I see it twice a year when we give courses. NOW MORE THAN EVER PEOPLE NEED INSTRUCTION! TV, VIDEO GAMES, INTERNET Have changed things for the worse.

I'm sorry you may not parent my child just because other folks won't parent their's.

Like I said there could be better apprentice programs, let kids use #1s and 110s for a year or two then they could graduate up to a #1.5 etc etc, or they could get full blown rights if they take a course, just dont deny kids the ability to go out trapping because their parents dont want to take the time to go to the course with them. How many of us ran around as kids with a couple #1 long springs? That is what made us love trapping, not mandated class room time.

Hunting could be the same way, require newbies to stay within a certain distance of someone with experience for a year or two then give them full blown rights after that or after a certain age is reached.

Because we have fewer children in modern times we coddle them and treat them like pampered show dogs, how does that seem to be working out? Get the kids outside with a gun or some traps, they will be fine.

I'm agree, plenty of rules and regulations could be removed.

Are you an association member Donnie ?

The NRA came to the same conclusion as you have Donnersurvivor probably 10 years or more ago. People never seem to anticipate the unintended consequences of their ideas. Mandated hunter safety started when I was a teenager. I refused to take the course. I hunted with other teenagers that took the course. Some still pointed their weapons at other people. Nothing like dad backhanding you into next week when you do this to instill an automatic good habit.

I saw similar lessons taught at the shooting range in the Army.

I need to re up, this will be my first year trapping in a few years, I kind of fell out of it due to starting a business, getting married etc etc, I will get on joining MTA again for sure.

As a former master instructor in New York for over twenty years I must agree with Donnersurvivor. In New York the Sportsmen Ed program has gone out of control with more and more requirents dreamed up by some bean counter in Albany. This drives candidates and instructors away. The Conservation Council opposes mandatory orange because you should identify your target, Of course you should, but mandatory orange saves lives. Period!
It is just like Little League baseball; when we were kids we all showed up at the field, chose up sides, and played ball. No adults involved. Today we have Little League, adults pressuring kids, and many times showing no sportsmanship.
I'm all for safety, but frequently we over complicate things.

Ohio you can get an apprentice license for 3 years, have to be accompanied by full licensed permit holder.

Our trapper ed class can be taken at a home study/online course as well as a formal class or at some of our trapper workshops that are going on at the end of the month.

Theoretically, the Association is your voice in trapping matters. I am not sure of the history of trapper certification and how it came about. Perhaps someone in the know will chime in.

All licensing and mandatory this'n thats are unnecessary barriers to entry. From barber to brain surgeon. Trappers fall just above the latter but are still unnecessarily burdened.

• Mentored trapping license: $10 • Youth under age 16 do not need a license to trap with a mentor; • Anyone age 16 and older who wishes to trap in Wisconsin and who has not completed trapper education must possess a valid mentored trapping license and trap with a mentor, unless exempt from trapping license requirement • A mentee may only receive two mentored trapping licenses per lifetime. Each trapping license is valid for one trapping season. • A mentee holding a mentored trapping license may not receive a fisher or otter harvest tag, but may assist the mentor in trapping these species. • A mentee holding a mentored trapping license may still apply for and receive a bobcat harvest tag if hunting bobcat (in which case a small game hunting license must also be purchased). • A mentee may apply for bobcat, fisher or otter preference points while holding a mentored trapping license. However, if the mentee applies for the drawing for one of these species and is awarded a permit, the mentee must complete trapper education and purchase a regular trapping license prior to the start of the season before they may trap under the authority of the awarded permit. • If using the same traps, both the mentor and mentee must tag the traps with a metal tag stamped with the name/address or customer ID. This does not apply if the mentee is under age 16. If the mentee alone tags the traps, then the mentee and mentor shall operate the traps only when both mentor and mentee are present. • The mentor must be 18 or older and be the parent/guardian or authorized by the parent/ guardian if the mentee is under 18. The mentor must remain in contact with the mentee and must hold a current valid trapping license or be exempt from this requirement. • The mentor can take more than one person trapping provided the mentor can safely and adequately serve as mentor for all mentees.

^^New law this year. I agree people should learn from a qualified family member but unfortunately not everybody has that option. I am getting certified to teach trappers education and the crazy ideas people have about how to trap would close land or end trapping in many areas due to unethical behavior. I do like kids under 16 need no licence if trapping with a mentor and can take the two day class if they want to trap alone. If someone can't spend two days in a class or take the online class will they have the drive to do all the work it takes to trap?

Trapping ethics is one page in the Wisconsin Trapper Education student manual. A student may be lucky if he remembers a couple points from that page. I took the course and for new trapper, IMO it is too much information presented in too little time. No way any novice student will retain a 10th of the information presented a month after the course. IMO.

I think firearm, hunting, fishing, and trapping courses are good - so long as they are voluntary.