New Mexico's back was against the wall for years. Imo they should have been on this years ago. Would have implementing the mandatory trapper ed course helped? Don't know. But the education of trappers certainly couldn't have hurt. Education is basically the key to almost everything.

Slickpan you have trapped longer than 3 years? If so grandfather clause?
I do not like the fact of a mandatory trapper -ed coarse if run by trappers great,,, if run by solely by FWP not a fan.
I do agree ethics are taught at a young age BUT since we are in the age we are in. I say now we people are forced to do the parents job usually sub -par we have hunter ed, bow hunters ed, and a wolf class which I surely hope the mandatory trappers ed is more compete.
But it may just be going over the laws and regulation( I HAVE NO IDEA) HOW is it's going to go .
But it does put it on a individual once class is taken instead of a community of trappers.
And if fish & game teach it then they must honor what they taught.
Either way sign of the times

A mandated trapper education course is a way to take away another freedom and be controlled by yet another government law. Supported by the Montana Trappers association. This law is a concession to the antis. If the trappers association thinks that this will be good for trappers and slow down the antis they have another thing coming. Because all it will do is energize them more. All you have to do is look who sponsored the bill and that the antis supported it.

Governor Gianforte of Montana also supported and signed a bill to allow for the snaring of wolves, a bill to extend the kill season, a bill to allow for compensation to wolf hunters and trappers, and a bill that prevents Montana law enforcement from enforcing further federal firearms restrictions, should they pass them.

You think we would have seen that support for our hunting and trapping from Bullock or Cooney? You’re going to complain about this guy? Good grief!

Some times it's hard to not shake your head and wonder what people are thinking, and why. Any one who does not understand the benefit of a trappers education course, leaning heavy on ethics and responsibility really does need to get their head out of the sand, and that's about as nice as I can word it.

Ohio has had mandatory trapper ed since 1979, it has evolved through several versions to where it is an excellent program, but it has been a battle at times, not with the anti's, it is a huge deterrent to them, but with keeping the program viable and effective in todays changing times.

Plain and simple, responsibility and accountability to the public is getting ever more important to ensure the future of fur trapping. The KMA attitude is a bigger threat to trapping than the anit's are.

Ks put together a trapper ed course about forty years ago. The state assn fully backed it and many of us taught classes for a number of years. Then our F&G, now Wildlife and Parks, chose to water it down to an on line course that give no hands on teaching. We can still have classes to certify, but very few will come to a eight hour class, when they can do an on line class that takes a couple hours. Just kinda dissapointing!

How is educating new trappers ammo for the antis?





So you think Mr. Dobbins was wrong when he wrote this?

Adam, you lost trapping in NM because the dang demonrats took over the state, just like they have done in DC. They didn't even give you guys a chance to implement the program. Your only choice now is the pending lawsuit, and who knows which way that will go! Only wish you the best of luck, I hope you bleed out that ol bag!

To say the least it's a good thing for this great state of Montana,
If you have seen how how some trapper's do it you would agree.
If they just learn how to anchor there traps better it will be win.
I don't sneak around checking on other trapper's but have
seen my fair share of bad anchor job's.

One more time. The anti's want States to have MANDATORY trapper ed. They think it is good. Not because they like trapping.

Minnesota and Wisconsin,instituted trappers ed.--not to appease anti-trappers,but to have better and responsible trappers in the field. Irresponsible trappers represent as much of a threat to trapping as do--anti-trappers.
Tom

We've had trapper ed in MN for 30 years and yet we still get attacked every year and we'll lost a bunch if the Democrats take the senate.

Gary, thanks to Wisconsin we have trapper ed, will probably lose our snares as we know it, most likely 220s, probably have to limit the size of our colonies and not be able to set them in culverts, probably lose the ability to chop huts and can't trap the ROW.

Dirt has it figured out.

Even though it was over 40 years ago I remember being taught (in our mandatory trapping course) that by trapping responsibly it keeps people from looking at trapping in a bad light. Safety especially around large conibers was taught. These courses were taught by master trappers, not somebody from the State department

We've had trapper ed in MN for 30 years and yet we still get attacked every year and we'll lost a bunch if the Democrats take the senate.

Gary, thanks to Wisconsin we have trapper ed, will probably lose our snares as we know it, most likely 220s, probably have to limit the size of our colonies and not be able to set them in culverts, probably lose the ability to chop huts and can't trap the ROW.

Dirt has it figured out.

[/quote]


Look at the bright side-Nobody will want to trap there from out of state.

You hit the nail on the head, but some people like the OP of this post you can never make happy. I see nothing wrong with trappers ed classes teaching ethics. Even if it was sponsored by a DemoRat, no one is telling you how to think. Take the (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) class and keep setting steel. Keep your powder dry too because if you aren't in Montana, they are coming for our guns. Idaho is working on a similar second amendment sanctuary bill. Maybe I should start chastising Gov. Brad Little who has vowed to preserve all that is Idaho including trapping and guns. Oh and for what it's worth Idaho has a mandatory trappers education class and personally I found it to be useful.

Not that hard to figure it out. You don't have to ban stuff, you can regulate it to death. That is what they attempt to do here. Luckily, we recognize the strategery.

That's good to hear. Thank you.

Agree. Idaho has a mandatory course and many that attend the course have said good things about it. If some of you think that a mandatory class takes our freedom away, then we should drop all mandatory hunter education courses.

Trapping ethics: Do I think that being an ethical trapper is a good thing. Yes
Do I think mandating a trapper ed class such as the one I took on wolf trapping(the one the governor did not know about but he has been supposedly trapping all his life) of the three hours of class time required, 2 hours and 15 minutes were spent on ethics a good thing. NO
Do I think that we need more laws and regulations restricting our freedoms. No

Well, hunter participation rates have been dropping for decades. It's spiked some since the covid hit,we will see how it lasts.

I accept trapper ed because every other group has education, we have required snowmobile ed, hunter ed, atv ed.

I don't kid myself that trapper ed will appease the anti crowd and be the savior of trapping.