Has anyone done the new online Wisconsin trappers education course or the corrispondence course. Just wondering how they were. I did the New Mexico one last fall and it was set up really nice.

Had two buddies apply and get no return info last year guess they will have to wait for in person classes to line up with their schedules.

Sorry not helpful.

Wife did the online class last fall, it was good overall. Helped to be able to ask me questions I could see if someone never trapped before how it could be challenging. Its something I would be comfortable letting my kids do because I could show them what the regulations and classes are talking about. Hope that helps

I did the online class the week after Christmas and got done with it and received my license the second or third week in January. Very nice program.

Awesome. I've been wanting to do it even though I may never trap there. However if anyone has been watching the theme of my recent post they are about rat trapping which we don't have here. We can trap them here, there just aren't any to trap. I remember a thread about the course last fall but at the time I couldn't get signed up.

Your New Mexico trappers ed may allow you to trap in Wisconsin in the regs there's a section at the end about trappers ed saying if you do a equally informant course you can just buy a license you might have to check I can't recall what states.

Talk to Bryce on here bblwi. He ran the trapper ed program for several years.

Wisconsin has had a trapper ed correspondence course since 1992 when trapper ed in WI became mandatory instead of voluntary. The online course uses the same format and manuals and has been available for about 2-3 years. There are now some very well done video clips that can be viewed online. I don't know for sure if DVDS of those are available for correspondence or not. Since COVID we have not offered hardly any live classes due to not being able to find affordable insurance to hold the classes. We are hoping that in 2021 we will be able to move forward with live classes. Jim Binder took over the statewide coordinator's position a year ago last April. There is a field test out component that has been created and was utilized for two seasons and was dropped as we were not holding live classes. The plan s to add that component back when we resume live classes and are able to use DNR service centers again. There is a trapper ed coordinator in each of the 11 districts of the WTA so if you have input you can contact that person. They are listed on the trapping regulations. The DNR has an assistant furbearer biologist that has 50% of their workload dedicated to trapper education along with a WTA/WTCP statewide coordinator. There are two meetings each year where trapper ed meets to discuss trapper ed issues and concerns. The next meeting will be March 19th at Stoney Creek Inn, the night before the WTA meeting and banquet. The next meeting is in September the night before the WTA fall rondy. The committee has not met live the last two meetings. This year there will be live and virtual opportunities.

Bryce

My son just finished the online class last month. He didn't have any interest in trapping growing up even though he preferred being outdoors. Now that he has a rural home and coon issues, his interests have peaked. Of course, now that I'm retired and have the time to trap, I'm sure I've loss at least half of my traps, isn't that how it works ... Lol

Thanks Bryce. I'm gonna pick up the money order tomorrow and get the ball rolling.

Ok. So I got enrolled in the online course after getting my DNR number. This course is no joke. I'm enjoying the heck out of it. I highly recommend it.