Last I knew less than 1% of what NTA collected went to support trapping. The rest was consumed internally. That may have changed. I don't know. They are still pretty secretive as to where exactly the money goes. Looks like in 2012 it was .8%. So every 100 dollars collected 80 cents went to defend trapping. Like I said that may have changed. Maybe one of the directors will post an updated pie chart.

both parties are about power and control, but I certainly think anyone can do a small amount of research about what party consistently works against our cause. Anyone that does any amount of research into who backs us and who doesn't should certainly know the truth. The truth is that the MAJORITY of democrats are against us 100 percent and the MAJORITY of republicans have always backed us. Even if you are a democrat that backs us you still need to change your party line and vote for the republicans. Even if some democrats are on our side , the MAJORITY vote is what changes the laws. When you have a democratically controlled government, the MAJORITY vote of that government will always rule against our cause. The democrats that actually are on our side in this case will not be the MAJORITY and our freedoms will be taken. I yelled majority as I don't believe all democrats are our enemies. The majority of them are our enemies and the majority is who changes the law. Time to wake up and vote for the republican majority that supports us.

Fellas, I do not mean to down play the importance of the political side. But in order for us to be heard, we need our fella trappers to not only join our organizations but to participate actively in the decision making process and work for positive change. Who would you listen to? A group that represents 10% of their potential base or a group that represents 75% of their potential base.

If we had 75% of us engaged, we could be doing a lot more than playing defense every time the antis decide to attack.

I'm not sure who us is but it is not me. R's have voted for plenty of gun control, tax increases even socialism. R's have voted for zoning laws, farm bills that give government almost complete control over the farmer. When you say us I am definitely not part of that group.

Try to focus Danny, we're talking about reps backing us outdoorsman, not your perceived way the world is not now or ever been a free-for-all.

how does gun control back outdoorsman? how about all the gates still locked on national forests?

So are you saying you vote for the side that the majority of the time votes against us? Just because a small amount of times the republicans voted against our views doesn't mean that this is the case the majority of the time. Either that is the case or you are one that simply doesn't vote. People that blab and don't do anything about it are the reason our rights are being stripped from us. Sorry Danny but I think I am talking about percentages. The majority, or highest percent of the time the republicans, (the republican party majority)backs us. I would love to be able to go back to the time when the government did not have a hold on us as they do now. The simple fact is that this is not the case any more. They have a hold of us in every facet of our lives. The only way to effect change is to vote for the majority that supports what change you desire. The democrat majority will never vote for our cause at this current time. Back when your great grand pappy, rode his wagon onto town and the government was more to your liking, the democrats were more on our side. Times change and we have to change to combat this. Holding onto what was in the past is nice, but cannot help our cause at the present time.

Really? His magic wand must be broken, duhh

As I stated before I do belong to several pro trapping and hunting as well as 2a rights organizations. I believe we all should do that, it helps. On the other hand, even if 75% of all the trappers were involved in organizations we can do little to help if we do not vote for the political sector that supports us. We are such a small minority any more, that our unified voices are only a whisper. It is going to take a total unification of all people with interests in hunting, trapping, and 2a rights to band together and vote for the only side that supports us. The republicans. If all sportsmen banded together and voted republican, it could make a difference, otherwise all these blue states that exist now, are the next target of attack. Look at a map of blue states verses red. look at what states have stripped rights to trap, and are also the most restrictive to our 2a rights. They are all blue democratic controlled states. Any members that vote democrat, please try to prove me wrong, maybe as you look up the facts you will become educated about the political party that is actually supporting our cause the majority of the time. Unification on electing those who back our cause is the only way to secure our American heritage.

any anti reading this must be smilin hard.

Yea they are smiling and they are targeting all blue states as we talk. Those that vote on the wrong side need to take heed at what's happening. Only way to stop it is to vote!

Amen,and keep pestering those among us that actually vote against us.

Voting is a start but becoming active in local, regional and national efforts is needed.
Being visible and taking someone with you to your sportsman meeting, your district trapping events -fairs, fur sales, training and youth field days, as well as your State Conferences and National Events.
At a state and national convention not enough people attend the meetings and learn what is going on. Questioning is good. Getting your hands dirty is better. Each organization has flaws and blemishes but until you are willing to make it better don't condemn those trying. Let's all belong and let's see what we can do by uniting. Start by finding good material and sharing it with the world. Investigate PETA, and HSUS and expose where their donations are going. We have volunteers doing a lot of work. They are getting rich and taking our rights away. Let's hear your battle cry. Let's Charge forward and make something happen. Start by strengthening your local chapter and elect people to move up. Don't let someone fill a seat just to have it filled. Find people who will work and help them or do it yourself and get help. We have to quit the internal bickering and form a United Front with a million points of attack. Save our rights to go to the Zoo, have a pet, watch cattle graze in a field, eat chicken, ham and steak. Save our rights to hunt, fish and trap. Don't accept the attacks against leather and fur. In Genesis the bible says We have dominion over the animals. What do you think that means?

Just so long as it is understood that an R after a politicians name doesn't mean that politician is pro gun pro trapping pro fishing. Many of them do not support the 2nd or like the idea of any one using or profiting from wildlife and fish. Don't forget national forest roads that were closed with a phone call could be opened by another.

Some organizations are more prone to working toward our benefit also. Lip service does not equal support. Ever bought a coyote lure because of a nice ad then not catch anything with it? Same thing. Hot air and no results.

So when someone tells you a candidate supports taking your money so it can be given to a deadbeat, don't start sputtering about how he has an R after his name. That R don't mean diddly. Remember speaker of the house John Boehner? Big R after his name. He is now a lobbyist for the marijuana industry and has NEVER supported an uninfringed right to bear arms. He did support a ban on some semi's though.

By all means stick up for your rights. Just don't blindly throw money out there. Pick where it goes carefully. You Christians ought to remember the warning about wolves in sheeps clothing.

Danny, I'm not looking to divide us by saying I'm an R and you are a D or whatever. I'm not labeling myself anything other than concerned. We could use someone like yourself willing to stand up for what they believe. I'm not where I need to be as far as going to church and such. It is easy to call yourself something and another thing to live that way. I'm just asking anyone willing to fight to stand with me and try to make a difference. How do you think we should proceed?

This discussion should be about how we can get our fellow trappers to be engaged in the effort to protect what we do from the constant attacks that we face.

We need to start by starving out those who exist only to profit from a hot button topic. You really think PETA wants to kill the cash cow and end all use of animals by humans. Same with the NRA. Think they really want a supreme court decision ending all gun control and killing the cash cow?

When somebody with an R after their name says banning bump stocks is a good idea or wont make the phone call to open those closed roads its time to vote for somebody else.

I belong to a couple trapping organizations and one gun advocacy group. I took a lot of flack on this site because I wouldn't vote for McCain or Romney. Yeah they had R after their name but both were proponents of socialism and gun control. We keep voting for those things and we WILL keep getting more of them.

QuietbutDeadly, I agree. Danny- you are spot on. That is why involvement allows us to be listened to which is different than just being heard.

I don't like the way those organizations spend the money . They stay in the best hotels eat at the best restaurants and have one big bar tab I don't expect them to do it for nothing but I do expect them to do it for less than it is costing now

Which organizations?