Maybe read one of the AFWA surveys of the general public in regards to support or opposition to trapping based on the reason trappers trap. They support ADC trapping.

Yeah, no kids or grandkids and we have way more problems than me at 67 not answering a survey. But you can blame me if we lose our trapping rights. SMH

Ain't just you that don't trust wildlife agencies. I get it. But, on some things I feel us trappers should bite the bullet and help out.

I did. I signed up for the symposium….5 days in a resort
I hope there is some hot girls

Hard NO on doing any government surveys concerning trapping.

In Minnesota the DNR used trapper surveys to fight the lawsuit to bring non resident trapping to Minnesota. They also used mandatory harvest reports from commercial turtle trappers to BAN commercial turtle trapping in Minnesota due to "concerns" about over harvest. Never mind that there were less than 20 licensed commercial trappers left in the state. In both instances information that trappers sent in the state was used against them.

BMPs were supposed to be a recommendation on what trap works best for each species. It has now become law in Vermont, with one of the groups giving input on the new laws being the Humane Society of the United States. Have BMPs been used to open up states like Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, California and others to allow the state wide use of BMP approved traps? Have they been used to open any state up that has lost the use of foothold traps?

If "facts and data" were truly relevant to lawmakers and state DNRs we would have wolf trapping in every state that has a viable population.

Thanks, Gerald. Well put.

Florida seems to be close to allowing the use of "steel" footholds and BGs. Outlawed them in 1973 (unless special permit is obtained).

BMPs are the baseline being used by FWC to hopefully get it thru the law/reg process and public acceptance.

It's a start and is the ONLY way.

https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/trapping-rules/trap-types/

I'll be a little more optimistic if Florida actually gets some rights back because of BMPs. I'm still not convinced they will not be used against us.
I completed my survey, but not without some reservations.
BMPs should remain as guidelines and not law.

“The only way”, that’s what the government wants everybody to think.

Those BMP guidelines are gonna help save trapping....not hurt it. Unfortunately, that's the world we live in. There are far more people against trapping than any other wildlife user groups including hunting. Trappers and supporters of trapping have to struggle much harder just to save what we currently have. At least the BMPs provide us with a foundation to stand on. They're not 100% perfect, but what else do we have?

Just what "other ways" are there?

It ain't perfect but it's better than not having anything to go to the table with.

The one my son got was an email that asked about non target

I always love getting asked about my non target catch % The antis like to pull some antiquated studies that claimed 70-80% of the catch was non-target species. (Because cruel leg-hold traps are non selective). I think they went on the old hang a rabbit from a tree limb and set a bunch of traps underneath and see what gets caught approach...(totally illegal in today's Oregon). I keep good records of what my non target catch is and it is consistently under 1%. IN FACT waaaay less than 1%. Of course, if I'm trapping beaver and I catch an otter or a nutria that is not a non-target species for me. They all get skinned and utilized as well.

Fact of the matter is I can't even remember the last non target animal I caught. It's been years ago. Probably a vole or something.