Don, is spot on, the question is where do you the individual stand. The Hunter/Trapper has never in recent history had the opportunity to unite and fight as we now have under the make America Great Again Movement. When you have high school and college kids wearing MAGA hats and facing the evil of socialism in the face and the trapper: for the most part not even wearing an NTA hat in public is a little shameful. What kind of hat do you wear or are you afraid. Most vets wear their branch of the military and rank. We are in for a fight in the next 2 years, its coming weather you want it or not. Socialism/liberals will take your guns and your traps, look at New Mexico right now. If you think trappers did not make America Great, you do not know history. Check out these names. Then join the NTA, put on a hat and make a statement. what would these guys do, Kit Carson, Grizzly Adams, John David Albert, Jim Baker, William Henry Ashley, James Beckwourth, John "Liver Eating" Johnson, Jim Bridger John Colter, Jedidah Smith, Ben Lilly Davy Crocket, Daniel Boone Robert Rogers, EJ Dailey, O L Butcher and many more Where do you stand, some of went in the military, like Alvin York. Others are buried at Arlington like Shannon. You are going to have to make a stand some day. Now or before God. Did you fight the good fight? The liberals are attacking on all fronts, time to man up. I have been to many 3rd world countries in my career, they are not America. Look up the term "red neck", who were The Molly Maguires, who was Jack Kehoe, why do they make movies like Josey Wales. What about John Wayne, Magellon, Patton, Pershing.. Hero's weather real or fictional shaped our world: but at least they took action. You just got to join the NTA and wear a hat that say your a trapper. Thanks for the wake up call Don.

Amen^^^^^

I choose to support FTA and proudly wear their hat, does that count?

I wear what I choose. There is no mitigating circumstance, a hand will not be laid on me or mine in a foul way.

This would cause an extremely dark encounter, I'll leave it at that.


Osky

Of course it does and thanks for setting an example for all to emulate, it counts with me. Keep up the good work.

OSKY, I understand completely but you can still support you local groups and FTA and NTA.

I wear a beaver hat. It get's way more questions than my MTA patch. I'm always surprised how many people ask to check it out. They ask where I got it and I tell them the bog.

I support certain causes at the national l level. I am indifferent to this state.
Better way of putting it.
Osky

Great choice in hats and I should have thought of that and thanks for supporting the MTA, stay active and thanks for making a stand.

OSKY, I understand, I boycotted the VFW for a long time, till I got over it, I put in 27 years and turned 50 in Iraq. Its ok, my Dad refused to support the red cross because they would not give him a cup of coffee in WWII. He had just returned via dug out canoe from New Guinea after getting shot down for the third time while dropping supplies to the coastal watchers. We all carry an axe to grind but we can all support a cause. The enemy of my enemy has to become my friend to win. You have strong moral fiber, that's a great thing.

Hen..
I speak/ write primarily of trapping. I have been a member at state level so many years ago and still today the infighting and pettiness to what should be a black and white association is nauseating. I hold no ill will, just choose not to participate at that particular level.

With respect.
Osky

I see you read the bible, petty arguments started with Cain and Abel, Adam on the other hand elected to follow Eve, their were people I worked with in Iraq that for the most part would be classified as criminals in western civilization. David and Solomen had quite a struggle dealing wit the 12 tribes and the neighboring tribes, most of which wanted them dead. It appears you have done more than most, we are trying to get the one that have not stepped up to the plate to play ball. Us old dogs are getting tired.

I spend a lot of time and resources working with mostly non trappers. Due to my career I was able to work with our state ag teachers and we now have over 50 teachers certified as TE instructors who conduct 2-3 dozen classes per year, plus we (The WCTEP/WTA) write and administer the state FFA wildlife exam every year. There are several hundred schools that participate in this contest.
I find it much more rewarding in general to work with the public that has little awareness of trapping and explain the heritage, management and life skills training and help change mindsets. To me this moves us forward much more than talking with a bunch of trappers who can't even agree on much of anything and feel they are better than anyone who does not know what they know. Trapping won't be saved by 175,000 licensed trappers, trapping will be saved by continuing to work with the millions that really have no opinion one way or the other and will learn to recognize the rabid AR's for what they are. It takes a lot longer for knowledge to change minds, but it has a much longer life span then the emotional spin that both sides seem to like.

Bryce

You have nailed it .The facts of wildlife management are on our side .The misinformation put out by the antis and animal rights people do not stand up to how wildlife populations interact with the rest of the world .What you are doing is the best way to go about it .Not every one is cut out to be a hunter or trapper .But if given the truth those that do not want to be sportsmen at least understand why it is necessary and will not be against us.. Keep up the good work

This hat gets worn quite a bit in public. Generates quite a few student signups into trapper ed. Today it's on the teacher's desk I'm subbing for.

That's very well stated and something I think we could all work on.

Bryce,
Wow! What a great example to set. Reaching out like that is incredible. You definetly have provided some great insight, we cannot save ourselves, we need to educate the uneducated that do not understand us, so they can work with us on our cause. The closest I come to that is spending time at our county fair working the booth trying to draw in the crowd. Its hard but county fairs do have a lot of country folk at them. Great job. Jim

Muskrat, that another great opportunity, trappers ed, get them on board when they first start out. I hope you ask for magazine donations from NTA and FTA for handout material at you classes. Great job, I try to do at least one trappers ed demo in WNY trappers cert program put on by Tim M.. Thanks again,
Jim

Bryce is an outstanding educator. Too bad he's stepping down from the statewide trapper ed coordinator's position this year.

Dublelung, thanks for the kind words. We all need to hear them once in a while. Its like paying forward. Thank you Jim

Henpecked1 - very well thought out and a wakeup call. I never put much thought into the caps I wear - normally they are freebies from a trap supply vendor. I wear my Montana Trappers Assoc hat as more of a dress cap when I don't wear my cowboy hat.

My Dad was the same way with the Red Cross - he was on many transport ships bringing troops back from the European Theatre. Also, when I was a kid you didn't dare bring anything home that said "made in Japan"

Yeah, my dad had real issues with anything Japanese, real issues. The hatred ran very deep, those guys never forgot; but to the hat thing. I say the cowboy hat sends more of a message than any ball cap logo, just my opinion. Cowboys represent so much in a way of independent life. The cowboy hat represents farming, cattle, horse, rodeo, more than can be mentioned, it is a true emblem of America like the Bald Eagle. I lived in AZ for 19 years, there was a store in Safford AZ that had old cowboy hats traded in when the rancher got a new one, the stories they could tell; but back to the subject, Don was pushing for more membership and unity among America that has the same agenda against the liberals, PETA and those who want to destory our way of life. There's no cowboy hats in China and Russia and what little kid does not want to be a cowboy or cowgirl. The cwboy hat was the original lMAGA hat. Lets not forget them boots either. Saddle up and ride for the brand: thanks for the input Cathouse Jim.

I'm a hat and t-shirt guy.i alternate my hats daily but they are always trapping hats as well as the t-shirts and I have had many conversations (all good)start when people see my hat or t-shirt and ask about it. I always take the time to talk to people about trapping plus this season, before it was ended by my auto accident I had 3 young trappers in training with me learning everything I can teach them( ages 8,9,11) there parents are grateful and I'm am more than happy to pass it on.this is on top of my cube at work.tanned
pretty red

Nice pelt, I like reds with contrast in the shoulders. You bring out a good point most people want to learn and they are curious. One of the biggest hurdles is getting over the initial contact thing. Man kind is so silo'd and protective of their turff. Again you bring out working with the youths of our future, great job. Forgive me but I see an Intermodal ref book on on your library. No doubt you understand international trade and connectivity issues. Maybe that helps with your ability to connect with others. Your ability to create change by changing hats and shirts creates opportunity to connect. Thanks for the input. JIM

We need to get in 'their' face as much as possible because 'they' will have no problem getting in our faces.

nope Marty need to hide everything we do and not give em any ammo.hows that workin for us??

definition of insanity is doin the same thing over and over and expecting different results.meantime they are gettin the steam roller fired up and ready.

tear me up i got fairly big shoulders.

Someone makes any comment to me about anything I am doing/wearing and I get right in their face while showing the level of respect they deserve. I do not 'hide' anything but my cc gun.

Marty and Twerker: at least we are talking about it. Confrontation is never god on other peoples terms. THey do not want confrontation with us they want it with the population their can sway to their side. Its like fighting over a soul, can you sway it to the dark side. Twerker is correct: definition of insanity is doin the same thing over and over and expecting different results.meantime they are gettin the steam roller fired up and ready.
So what can we do different, they are taking the battle to legislation. Like in NM. going after guns and trapping. Rural NM has fought back with Sanctuary counties fro the second amendment, we learned from them and their sanctuary cities. We have laws on hunter trapper harassment; where do we go from heir to help Don. Both side have common denominators, money, people, passion etc. I do believe Marty is referring to "their" as PETA, Socialist, Antifa and anti MAGA: confrontation between students and teachers pushing a political agenda on campus.

its unfolding in front of us: we are living history. Great comments and twerker, thanks for offering your broad shoulders and wisdom.
Jim

i agree we need to do something,but i believe we may need to at least be proud of what we do and not keep hush hush about most things we do.almost seems as though i have to lie about who i am and what i do.have friends out west and am on board in New Mexico and the other battle grounds.
i'm not puttin anybody down or saying anyone is right or wrong but i have a different way of thinking about things and hope we figure out a different way to move forward that is more effective.
wish i could just snap my fingers and make it go away,spent 30 yrs working for others hopin to one day be able to buy fur on my own with the correct knowledge and longlined that same period so this affects my life as much or more than anyone else.
i have no problem spending money on such and belong to several orgs.that benefit us.tell me you are gonna do something to advance my sport and i'll be there one way or another.

i'm kinda a not known hermit in the hills and i know the first change I need to make is get myself out there.my fingers sore now.

Have you ever noticed all the violence such as violent protests, car bombings, streets blocked, fires started, punches thrown, vandalism, vulgar language, etc, all come from those on the left? I know a lot of people who didn't like the prior president, but they never shouted obscenities or resulted to violence at anyone who had an Obama bumper sticker or Tshirt or something similar. Yet, these acts are pretty commonplace with the left. Have you noticed that or is it just me?

I have definitely noticed also. Real Americans may not agree with there president but they accept him as there president instead of blaming everybody else or other countries fir there problems and whining and crying and stomping there feet like a bunch of immature babies.