what are your thoughts on nta membership , do you think everyone should be a member , my thought is even in this bad market , a person can sell a few coons or a few skunks or muskrats , to pay for there membership!!!!. if you golf, bowl, trap- shoot, or many other things you have too be a member of a league or club?, why do trappers not want to join a club that fight for what they love to do ?

Memberships at most every level are tanking Roy. It's the way of things now-a-days because groups are "bad" and only the individual is "good." Groups try to make you do things you may not want to do. As individuals we can be free as a bird to fly, baby, fly where we want, however we want.

I'm an NTA member and always will be.

Blessings and best of luck in your candidacy for the top spot!
Mark

Every trapper should be a member of the NTA, FTA and their state association - at a minimum.

I'm a relative newbie with the NTA and joined a couple years back as an old retread trapper. I would wager a guess that a great many trappers don't join due to a lack of perception of what their role means as a member. The American Trapper does a good job detailing what the organization is doing, but it's a "preaching to the choir" situation, IMHO. Word needs to get out into other information stream venues to reach more of us hobby trappers.

gwgjr I agree we need to get the word to the non-members,

just some ramblings---

theres no shortage of groups attempting to attract members so that might be part of the issue at least for some. i can think of about 10 organizations that are routinely sending me renewals, etc. after awhile i tend to start becoming annoyed by it all so im not sure its about the money exclusively. i usually end up maintaining membership but often it makes me take a look at whether i think the organization is still something i believe in

id say that historically trappers have been somewhat independent and that may have made them less likely to participate in an association. obviously as the markets have declined essentially for 30 years theres been a loss of some trappers. but there's a whole bunch of new people that set a few traps that have kept the suppliers in business over that time. i suspect these folks tend to be young and if that is the case computer based reach-out in some form of social media is likely the primary contact for them. plenty of solid research showing younger folks are less likely to have group/face to face contacts so the old versions of reaching them by paper, or in some person to person convention or even on an old school electronic platform like this isnt very good .

For anyone that likes to stay informed, the NTA is a joke. They shroud themselves in secrecy, look down on anyone that asks questions, and have others censor info. Just like the MTA and now FHA.

Examples?

Look for YOUR info at FHA right now. Try to call or email them. Nothing.
Ask about the current NTA lawsuits
Why no nonresidents in Minnesota.

Thanks. All legit questions.

Roy, Stanley and I have worked the sport shows promoting our state trapping association (MTPCA) for quite a while.
When we ask trappers if they are a state member or NTA, FTA member if they say no. I would ask if they would like to join. One of the first things they ask is "what do I get for my membership ". Most are expecting a hat, bag or some other goodies. Those are all nice bonuses to get, but they come with a high cost. When we explain what they get for protecting their trapping rights to help changing bag limits and season dates they get a better understanding of where their hard earned money goes.

This should be the same at the local, state and national level. Sometimes if we just explain what they get for their membership, we may gain a few more members. State membership drives as well as national membership drives take a lot of planning, organizing and the people to do it. But, if done correctly I believe we can gain more members.

joe I believe you are right , we need to reach them at every show , weather its hunting ducks or turkeys or deer, We the nta has done this for years with the nwta , I believe we need to do more of this , on local state levels , and yes I believe that the nta can let out more information

I have been fortunate enough to be invited to several organizations to have a trapping booth or be a guest speaker. From QDMA chapter banquets, to church groups and Safari club banquets. Getting the CORRECT and TRUTHFUL information about trapping makes a huge difference. It's not so much a membership drive, but it does get the "fence sitters" a chance to hear the truth.
To be honest, I've never seen a real aggressive membership drive from the NTA. I'm not saying it hasn't happened, I've just never seen or heard of one in the last 10 years. As you know, the MTPCA ran a "special " membership drive. If people were not a member of MTPCA they could get a 3 for 1 deal. Which if the signed up as an MTPCA member, the MTPCA would pay for a free membership to the NTA and FTA. It was very a very successful drive. I even posted here on Trapperman.com. our membership secretary was excited to get out of state members.

Ok. My 2 cents. Having been a member for years, and a director for a couple years in the past, there is simply way too much secrecy and scandals and that is why your membership numbers are dismal.

I am not currently a member. Now, Roy, if you run for President and win, and after a couple years I see the association is headed in the right direction, with no big scandals having occurred under your Presidency, I'll be happy to rejoin.

How many members know about the current lawsuit against the NTA? If they don't, why don't they?

I am a member, and know nothing about the lawsuits. I'd like to know more. I do know that NTA has dropped liability insurance coverage to state affiliates...or so I hear.

You won't get new members until you clean your house up.

good post ang

Every NTA member should sponsor a newbie with a one year membership and involve them in the activities.

Once they get involved I believe many would desire to return.

Lack of interest and education has to be a big Deterrent in recruiting new members.

As noted above by Big Joe
Get aggressive !!!
( you can build on a offense platform / strictly defense is a losing strategy )

JMO

A couple of you mentioned NTA scandals, my head must be in the sand. What scandals are they currently involved in?

Almost all the trappers in Ontario are members of the federation I believe well over 80%
The reason is that the federation provides something with the membership-a 5 million dollar 3rd party liability insurance policy which is required to do nuisance work for many companys in Ontario.
You should look into something like that to boost your membership.

It's like they all consult with the same legal team or something................