Invest? Invest in what?

Yes cd2 I meant Joel, yes he's paid and yes he has been worth ever penny of it to the trappers of NV.

Catch 22, I agree.

There are just limits, not restrictions when it comes to lobbying for the tax exempt purposes. Those groups you talk about have continued to lose for trappers year after year, so I just have to disagree based on that. The best lobbyists are those that are from the state, live in the state and have good experience with the topic or subject at hand that they will be lobbying for. There is no stronger action than the lobbyist telling the legislatures who they are representing and it all goes in the public record.

I dont mean to be blunt, but you are just saying to do the same things that have continued to lose for years now. If all those things were true, why is beaver trapping in Oregon even a question? Why did MA just ban footholds? What about public trapping in NM? Do I need to mention California? We have to realize that things are different now and what used to work, only has limited effect in today's political spectrum. If a state trapper association doesnt have enough funds to do the bare minimum and pay to protect the right to trap, its a priority and leadership failure completely. Just to relate this to the common trapper, not filing a tax return for 3 years in a row, would be like setting a string of traps that you never checked. Who would do that???

Also the federal tax exemption ensures transparency of how funds are spent. Its a bigger issue than you may think.

Again, hilarious.

No not saying to keep on doing what we have been. We should be creating associations that have more capability and freedoms to meet the challenges of the modern eras. Fifty or so years ago when most of our associations were established the tax exempt status was greatly preferred and we did not face the head winds we have today with all the current and future leagal battles we are and will be facing. There are strong organizations out there that do great lobby work on behalf of all consumptive users of wildlife. Instead of worrying about the changes that each organization should or could make to me it is much more efficient to work with existing firms that have good track records for the work they have done. To me there are better ways or options to get new and younger trappers engaged in membership, donations and promotion than continuing to constantly tell them we are near the end and what we really want is your funds. If I were in my 20s and I kept being told I never do enough or am slacking off etc., I would join an association that empowered me instead of looked down at me.

Bryce

I understand, but as it stands today I found trapperman on my own. I searched out my own state trapper org, I found the NTA, the FTA and the Fur Commission. The list goes on and on. Paul Dobbins, John Chagnon and a few others are the primary reason I didnt just dabble in trapping and move on. That alone should speak to how much improvement there needs to be in recruiting because the numbers dont reflect any active recruitment strategies I have ever heard about. Not once despite me being an avid sportsman did I ever get a knock on my door about trapping. Nobody put posters or fliers up at the WMA check stations, no phone calls, emails. There was nothing except my own intuition that led me to these places.

The difference here is that im saying the state associations and national associations as a whole are not doing enough for the average trapper. We can disagree about the strong firms that supposedly defend trapping through lobbying, because the proof of loss of trapping rights is plentiful across the USA. The lack of registered lobbyists also speaks volumes. The bottom line is that I am an average trapper who thinks that trapping and fur are not being protected, promoted and fought for good enough across the board, as a whole, on average. If my right to trapping and propagation of the fur market isnt protected, nothing else matters because it will be pointless to teach people how to trap in a state that has banned trapping. Lets see how many classes and membership drives the CTA has done since CA fur trapping got banned. Its the leadership that im questioning, and highlighting improvements to be made, not the trappers themselves.

MattLA, good post and as a past VP of one state association and past president of another, I will help clarify for you that we trappers, by nature, are a loner bunch. You add that to the individualism and independence mantra of our nation and you have pride, pride, and more pride on display, which fosters selfishness. This trapper wants this. This trapper wants that. The other trapper has no give either and they pound and stomp that they know best. Heck, get 10 trappers in a room for a "meeting," and then... after 6 hours..... or 10.... ask the trapper who's been quietly sitting watching the loudest trappers speak their mind "at you" for hours. That person will no doubt have better perspective and ideas because what you're seeking MattLa is a collaborative spirit. And as an executive officer in these state associations, I found a few use up most of the oxygen, and they were the least collaborative. Tiss the way we trappers are I guess. It's not bad. It's just different.

I'll hide out in Texas as long as we can.
Money talks in America. Always has and always will I guess.
And Texans have $$$$$$$$$$$$$ and know how to legislate accordingly.

Play the hand you're dealt or you'll go bonkers sir, trying to put a cap on pridefulness in a trapper's meeting.
Been there, done that.

Blessings!
Mark

How true Bryce, how true.