…and don’t belong to a trapping organization? Be honest. If so, the reason.

I trap. I don’t belong to any club.

I don’t need a clique to be me.

I trap and belong to NTA,MTA,FTA

I’m an ATA member

I know this isn’t the answer you wanted Grandpa but I belong to PTA and Fur Takers of America. It’s funny. I hunt deer and now turkeys and I fish but I don’t feel the need to join organizations such as those… Maybe I will in time. But I feel that trapping organizations and groups need what little monetary support I can offer. And the benefits of being in such an organization have helped me grow a lot so far as a newer trapper.

I’m really proud of the work they do. Maybe cause I love trapping more than hunting or fishing. I don’t know

I have trapped every year since 1982, at least some, even when I was pretty close to dying and have never joined a trapping organization.

Keith

PTA for me.

I am part of the NTA and MTA.

NTA for me

VTA for me

…. I trap … belonged to Texas trappers and fur association along with Louisiana trappers and alligator hunters association…. In fact thanks for posting this as I likely need to renew both

I think what I'm doing now is called trapping.

I'm a life member of the Georgia Trappers Assn.

I let my NTA membership expire a couple years back due to the elected officials corrupt nonsense.

I still trap, run about a dozen every year in the two weeks around Christmas now. Mostly just having fun with the kiddos and grandkiddos. Never been good at it, but catch a few; and I enjoy it. I've trapped since I was 11 years old. Used to be a member of TTFHA back in the 90's. Went to every convention, but chasing trashy wimmin got in the way. That was back in the day when TTFHA had the fall rondy in Dublin every year and the spring rondy no telling where. Back in the day of the good ole timers.....like Martrell Valentine. Back then, the Louisiana boys would come over and give us very good pointers. Great time to be alive for a 15 year old kid. I think the last convention I went to was in 97 or 98. It was in Canton, Texas. I do miss a lot of the folks I met there and that helped me, Bill Applegate, Al Barton, Steve Epperson, etc.

Probably need to rejoin as I still love this game/sport/work; whatever one want's to call it is.

I still trap some, have the equipment to go at it much harder than I do. If the market increases I will trap a lot more. I'm a member of our association.

I trap but I’m not an association member. Don’t have enough time to attend the meetings.

I am a member of the ATA and I trap.

I don’t trap but I’m a member of various state trapping associations. Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin.

Never been to one. But I’ll happily pay $30 a year to have someone lobbying for us at a state level. I like the magazine they send out too

I trap and belong to 3 organizations, WTA, FTA and NTA

Bryce

I trap. Used to belong to half a dozen or more. Think the only one I am current on is FTA and I'm iffy about renewing there even.

I'll absolutely join another..... ANY state.... if anyone can convince me why I should. Facts.... not sentiments.

I try to trap, belong to the: NTA, FTA, WTA and U.P.Trappers Association; will be joining Sportsman's Alliance and F4WM

I trap. I belong to my county org. STLTA and OTA stateNYSTA Federal NTA .
Wife belongs to FTA

I trap and belong to NHTA FHA and NTA

I knew it.

Member of Trapperman and would get out of the NTA if I could.

I trap and am Life member of NTA, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana trapper's association's.
Hope to add a few more Life time to some other states as well.

Life PTA

Honesty is what you want?
I”ve trapped over 45 years and most of that I was not a member. Back in 80s I initially joined our state’s organization. Then one year in early 90s I hosted a state convention in Crete NE and got to see the workings up close and personal of the THEN officers of that organization in the meeting and watched them go toe to toe with my very close friend at Nebraska G&P, Frank Andelt, who was the fur bearer biologist at that time. Arguments were over newly proposed trap tag laws. I left the room and went out into the main convention area and hung out with Ludy Sheda rest of the evening. I didn’t renew my membership that year and guess what we got trap tagging laws anyway and hey we’ve done just fine with it all these years with no issues I was aware of. I can’t even tell you if half those guys even still trap today and I never want to deal with those individuals again.
Fast forward to 2023 and when I was selling my furs to another good friend of mine Kevin Jones I learned that Kevin is now the president and all the old regime is no longer involved with the Nebraska Fur Havesters. It’s a new group, it’s run well, and even heard some of my other favorites were getting involved like Mr. Roy Greenfield, well that was music to my ears. So I handed Kevin a check for my membership dues and now I’m a member again after decades of sitting it out. I’m still a member today.
I trapped all those years whether I was a member or not.
Jim

I trap hard every year. Member of NTA, FTA and ITA. Proud to be an ITA director and work hard for that organization.

I trap, and belong to many trapping organization,

I trap and like others belong to FTA, NTA my state Illinois Trappers Assoc. and several other state trapping organizations.

Who was pushing for those new kill springs?
You’re welcome……lol

Used to belong to the NTA, until that train went off the tracks some years ago.....

Started trapping in mid 70s. Due to age set a few every year. Proud I took son in laws and all grandkids trapping except my youngest granddaughter. Her dad can teach her. Gave them what traps they wanted.I wanted to keep the tradition alive. Member of Missouri trapper association. Dropped NTA with out getting into politics. I hope tradition stays alive.

I trap, I am a lifetime member of the NTA. FTA, and MTPHA

This year will be my 71st year trapping and I do belong to a couple of trapping organizations, one a Life-Member, and neither is my State trapping organization!! I admit I’ve been to two conventions in all those years and verified I’m not a glad-hander!

Trap and have membership in WSTA and FTA until membership expires then done, don't fit in with the good ole boys clique

I trap. Completed my bucket list of thirty-three furbearers in 2025. Life member National Trappers Association and Missouri Trappers Association. Member of Idaho, Illinois and Fur Takers. Past member of Alaska, Iowa, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Wyoming, Utah. Considering lifetime to Arizona because it's the state that allowed me to get critter thirty-three. Gotta come up with the $500 first. Attend any trapper gathering in any state as my schedule and bank account permits. Also, a member of the Sportsmen's Alliance and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.

I still trap some, but not as much as before. Lifetime member of the Minnesota Trappers Association.

Been trapping since the 1980's and not a member currently to any trapping org.

I am a Member of the Iowa Trappers Association, NTA, and FTA, Have been a member of several others over the years.

I am Proud to be a director in the ITA.

I received word that one of our Bills;

A bill to create a Lifetime Fur harvester license for Disabled Veterans has passed both the House and Senate and will be going to the Governor's desk for her signature.

Last year We got a Youth License Bill passed.

Getting these items into and through the Legislative Process takes work and a bunch of tenacity.

Phone calls and emails both to Members and Legislators don't happen without an organized push.

Requests for Emails or Phone calls from trappers (members or Not) are important to getting these things done, there are only so many ways to notify or ask for the Legislative contacts, Newsletters, Website, Youtube.
Membership rolls provide a way to make Members aware of what is happening and way to have input.

All of our BOD meetings are open to all members and we encourage everyone to attend any meetings that they wish to.

When I started trapping i joined NTA and MTPCA and kept them current for years. Helped out with both. I let them both slide a few years ago and didn't renew. I appreciate what they do and the work the volunteers put in, but I got tired of following the drama and politics.

I've joined various other state and national associations over the years at conventions but never kept them up.

The only reason why that law changed is because the Métis are setting them and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

So to make it fair for everyone and easier on CO’s they made it legal.

Has nothing to do with anything else.

Belong to NTA and trap every year

Was just a member of PETA for many years but eventually joined the OTA and in the last two years Idaho Trappers Assoc.




.....(People Eating Tasty Animals)

I thought PETA was: Practitioners of Ensnarement, Trapping Animals

I'm a member of several trapping associations as well as other outdoors groups. It's interesting to hear how some can justify not belonging to any associations while they enjoy the ability to trap and partake in a sport they love.

I feel it's important to be a member of your state trappers association as well as a national association. But, if you do join, volunteer your time too; that's as important as your monetary contribution.

Still trapping, just removed a miscreant male coon form the backyard!, lol

I'll pre-apologize if I've misread your comment.

But.... if I'm understanding you correctly, the comment appears to suggest a person ought to have a justification for not financially supporting. In my opinion, that's backwards.

As I see it, organizations & associations are free to exist. They're free to solicit support and make the case for why people might want to support them. If people find them useful and give them $, that's great the association and the people who support it. But they are not entitled to support, and thus a person has no need to provide a justification for not supporting them.

Two exceptions I can think of are:
- the government. They declare themselves entitled to my money and don't accept any justification I might offer for why I shouldn't have to support them. Some would debate whether this should be so (i.e. the whole 'taxation is theft' thing), but regardless of what should be so, it is so.
- unions in states that are not right-to-work states. Again, people will debate whether this should be so (IMO no), but it is.

Aside from examples like that established by law, organizations are not entitled to support. If they want it, the burden is entirely on the organization to justify why a person ought to support them.


I'm not a member of any trapping association. I started trapping last year. I see far more value provided by this site than I think I could get from any association membership.
If Paul posted that the ad revenue isn't covering costs and asked people to contribute - I would probably throw him some $
If a trapping association was actively working on some legal issue and soliciting $ to help their fight, I would consider it.

Outside of that, if I (a light duty hobby trapper) was to contribute $ to a trapping association I think in practice all I would be doing is subsidizing the the activities of the serious trappers who belong to that org.

I trap, I only belong to natca.

That may be your theory, but it's not the case. Everyone in Manitoba or Saskatchewan involved in this program or paid any attention to it knows this. We all know there was guys using them, legal or not. There's still guys using free hanging snares and even the RTL guys won't be able to use them in a few years so to say it's the metis is really stretching the imagination.
MTA may still be an old boys club, but they're the voice for Manitoba trappers to the provincial government. We've been lucky the last few years having trappers working in the Wildlife branch.
Another poll should be.....if you consider yourself a trapper, why aren't you a member of an organization?

I trap
Member of the PTA and NTA

I trap but never really looked into any of the associations . . always figured I'm just lining somebodys pockets joining those things

Life member of NTA, osta , and Georgia trappers association. Don’t always agree with them, but!!! The long game is to protect trapping.

Life member NTA. ITA member.

I refused to be an ITA member after the old president ran me down constantly when I was a kid. All the way from when I was 16 until I quit attending the Illinois conventions at the age of 25 due to his constantly riding me and saying I was a free loader by not being a member- even though I was a member! He was so rotten to me I told him off and never went back. Great way to get members- not.... Recently I met some of the new leadership and decided they were decent guys so I became a member. I guess you could say I dropped my membership because I got tired of putting up being verbally abused by the president. It took me about ten years to find out I had asked to trap on one of '' his'' spots when I was 16 and he was offended by it. This actually pushed me out of my home county and it started me long lining at 19 for coon, mink, and coyotes. So it was good for me in a way. I eventually ran traps over 7 counties in Central IL and caught a pile of fur I never would have gotten if I would have stayed there and been a happy local trapper. Caught so much I could not find the time to skin and ended up selling once a week to the rat wagon to Groenewald. Now I attend all I can and have found trappers to be the nicest folks to spend time with and here I let one idiot get under my skin and spoil it for me. I liked pulling in to sell though with a squatting pick up full of coons and rats each Friday night and seeing him burn because he didn't have as much as the ''stupid kid'' did. Water under the bridge now.

So while Alberta and Saskatchewan were allowed to use common snares for coyotes and Manitoba was not, does that mean the MTA did not represent Manitoba well enough to have it legalized here from the get go?

Same reason why there’s Moose seasons for Manitoba hunters that aren’t Indian.

Manitoba wildlife would have had that shut down years ago across the Province, not just pockets. No one wants Indians to have the right and no one else.

I’m not giving MTA credit for this one.

Last time I joined at a fur sale o never got anything in the mail. last convention I put in every raffle to support each group.

Not sure what you’re talking about, nothing to do with Indians & white moose hunters….lol. I can’t speak for Alberta, but Saskatchewan thanked us for pushing them, they’re always a year or two behind us and stuck using Rams until this next coming up season. I think you’re grouping all sask trappers into one big rule book, it doesn’t work that way. Or you could just talk to Marty or Corey and get it from them, maybe they’re full of it?….lol
Free hanging snares will be done for our RTLs here soon enough, but there’s metis that’ll still use em. Most don’t follow any rules anyway.
Like I said, if you weren’t involved, you’ll come up with weird theories on why things change.

Life Member of the MN Association, active member of the FTA .

Free hanging snares will be done for our RTLs here soon enough, but there’s metis that’ll still use em. Most don’t follow any rules anyway.

So,..this is okay I guess?

I would never join an association which would even consider the likes of me to be a member.
Having said that, I was at one time, years ago, a District Representative for the VTA against my will.
The former Representative for that district was elected President of the VTA.
One day I asked him who was the new District Representative once he vacated.
He said, "You are!"

I try to support the OTA ......it's a thankless job running one of these associations or foundations.....

A guy should help and or donate when possible

Lol … good on you partner

I only just started last year so I only belong to trapperman.

I disagree.

https://www.alaskatrappers.org/

here you go.

Trapping ain't a club; its a way of life. No membership required.
No one is taking it away anytime soon IMO.

How can getting common snares approved in one area and banned in another a win?

I guess if you’re now allowed to use them it’s a win for you. And a loss for the guys no longer allowed.

I guess the sticker MTA sends you in the mail makes you feel warm and fuzzy lol.

Most state associations have direct contact with their state's DNR/wildlife agency. Communication is made when laws/regs affecting them are being considered for change...at least here in Georgia..this is the case.

Public information and education (on a state/local level) is carried out by most associations at trade shows, schools, & other outdoor events annually.

Membership in your state association helps fund accurate and very important actions that directly affect what we love to do...TRAP!

If you don't support (at least your state) association, then you are dead weight and a freeloader.

Membership affords it's constituents a voice ,..it's encumberment of those to exorcise their concerns.

They took it completely away in California and curtailed it in a number States and it keeps getting worse.

They can "take it away" and put it on paper all day long. Really does not matter.
I guarantee you that there are people still trapping in California and don't care about that stupid law that cannot be enforced.

If the state of Texas banned trapping tomorrow, then I would give them a big middle finger and keep on trapping. Let them come stop me.

They don't have the time or resources to enforce such a ban. Just appeasing idiot liberal greenies and ticking off old men.

Trappers, our trade is under attack. If you don't feel like it's worth your time or money to be involved you will have nobody to blame except yourself when your rights to enjoy this lifestyle are finally taken away.

Agree!

A couple of comments about dues lining the pockets of someone. I have been either a director or an officer of the State or National organization for 25 years and it has done nothing but cost me money. All our money (WSTA) goes to lobbying, magazine and events to benefit the membership (Trapper Education, Trapper Workshops, Fur Sale and Rendezvous). I have never been reimbursed for travel, lodging or meals. What a great gig. I wouldn't change a thing but it does burn me to hear that for an excuse to not join.

When you can't sell your furs because trapping is illegal what will be your point for trapping even if you can dodge the law?

I Barely trap due to time constraints running a small business and raising a godly family, but I do love it (brand new this year, looking forward to next season and building fur shed)

I am with Nova scotia trappers association here in Atlantic Canada. It's only 20 bucks for a whole year, I spend that on coffee in a week so I'd like to see it go towards something I love. People aren't getting paid to put together rendevouz, host workshops, rent hall space or do the mentorships. the least I can do is support those folks being so selfless and teaching greenhorns like myself. I may even donate a good chunk anonymously at some point, not because I'm rich but because these guys love what we do, work tirelessly at it, line things up, defend our trapping rights as trappers seems to come under attack every so often. I know if I did that much logistical work at my job, there would be a pretty hefty bill attached.

I notice as well, hunters and fisherman aren't nearly ( I think ) as close knit as trappers are. it felt like family reunion at my first rendevouz rather than a meeting/workshop etc.

Just my two cents.

Carpenter

The Senneker/lightsout snares are approved in open areas, not the common snare…… I’m guessing you haven’t done much research into snaring in general……lol? The intent is to ensure a quick and humane kill.
I can probably get you a pen or get stickers made if you want, but I don’t think that’s the real reason you’re anti trapping associations? Something must’ve happened.

The NTA does not consider it a trade. It seems to be sportsmen's club. The problem with the trade is it doesn't earn enough to funnel money to the battles. Trapping would be far more acceptable as a trade similar to commercial fishing and those people make decent money and spend money to protect their livelihoods. BTW Comfish is always under attack, but not for what they do, but for how they affect the resource.

I dispose it when some calls trapping a hobby. It’s extra income for me and more importantly, a way of life. Some people dick around in the bush, then there’s trappers. Trappers care about what they do, support their organization and stay up to date on changes, the future and all things going on trapping wise.
I still get “trappers” saying that they’re not going to set steel for a $15 marten or are waaay out to lunch on their regulation knowledge….lol

^^^^^^^^^^


IBEW lineman? How important is that trapping income? You would be losing money trapping most species today. I'm not touching $15 marten either. I need to earn income when I trap, not lose money.

Utk officer and life member. I trap for fur not as a means to control nest predators.

Member of the Idaho Trappers Association and F4WM. I don't do life memberships to anything any more, if their direction changes I want to be able to withdraw my support. Or if they are going in the direction I want they can continue to earn my support on a yearly basis.

H*** Ya, I Do. Not those stinky dogs though.

Always looked at membership this way. Was about 30 year member of NTA. 3 year terms. 2 reasons; every 3 years new cash to NTA. If NTA changes their positions, I could change my support. Which I did. I believe most lifer's do life memberships, because in the long term it is far cheaper and easier than annual renewals or bi or tri.

Sure TX game wardens have the time and resources to enforce the law. They are paid to do so.

Between a trapper having to sneak around and violate the law and pay repeated fines (that may lead to privilege suspension...what the heck would be the purpose to keep at it?

Trust me .....you can be stopped from violating the law. People are stopped everyday.

I trap and belong to NJTA and NTA

They try all the time, it makes sense to band together and have someone lobbying for us

Yes^^^^

And supporting your state trapping association is not for us....its for our kids and grandkids...so hopefully they can continue to trap.

Well put swamp wolf.

I am required with our enhanced beaver reporting to say whether a beaver was caught for damage control, recreation, or other. I always report "other" because I'm a fur trapper and there is not a category for that. Bet those hardy souls in the 1820's and 30's didn't consider themselves recreational trappers either.

You missed the point dirt......lol

I trap and I’m a member of the Illinois trappers association, and fur takers of America. I let my NTA go because I’m not comfortable with the politics going on in the organization.. the focus should be strictly on protecting trappers interests and not the personal interests of the elected.

I get it Shakey. That man is thinking about how many $15 marten it will take to afford that trip to the Caribbean he's always dreamed of.

That was the point right?

I can answer the question for him. I'm not sure $15 marten would even cover expenses? Around here it wouldn't. If it did, be about a thousand.

I'm pretty sure I'm not one of those Bush dickers?

What was the question?

I actually have one. When's the last time you've seen $15 marten? I only looked back 15yrs or so.

19 -21 LG were in that range. 97- 04 similar situation. More likely low twenties. Many years $30 averages for marten 97-04 Pretty sure you may have to go back to early 70's or 60's to see AK marten average in the $15 range. In those days that would have been a solid price.

Check FHA August 2020 sold Catalog. Plenty of LG and Some 1X were close to or at $15 minus 11% commission and 75 cent drumming fee.

Gotcha. I stopped at 2012. This was an old trapper talking about $15 marten. I told him I'd buy his $15 marten for $30 in the whole after I got my buyers licence. Told him that they're just going to end up at FHA then told him the averages. He said $25 a piece will do....lol. Too far to drive to bring them in I guess.

Sitting in a conference center parking lot right now in Georgia, about to go to the dinner and the auction that ends our annual conference. Had a talk about trapping and how the state trapping organizations and the trappers in those organizations are an integral part of what we do and how we can help get things done.

State organizations are the backbone of helping educate and recruit trappers. And help get good trapping laws and regulations implemented.

My state organization no longer exists, but, there are a few of us who still work hard to get things done.

It's just about, or maybe as important to have membership numbers as it is to have membership money. There is strength in numbers. IMO there should be an option of cheap annual memberships with out publications for every trapping organization like Iowa has. For $10/year you can be a member, if you don't care about the magazines.

Joining local, state or national organizations is the direction we need to go if the tradition and heritage of trapping is to continue. Whether it works in our favor is debatable, but those who want to stop what we do are very organized, have an abundance of money and resources. We need to work together with the same goals if we are going to succeed. But whether or not to join is an individual decision, but numbers are important when dealing with politians. The more members we have the more seriously we will be taken.

I can’t believe there are trappers think that trapping will not go the way of the dodo bird if it is completely banned. Maybe some ADC trapping will occur but fur trapping will go into non-existence. Who would you sell your furs to? How would the fur trade support itself ? Are fur dealers going to depend on illegal trapping? First of all, it can’t be done due to lack of numbers and if they did how would they get away with it. I personally know or knew hundreds of trappers in my life time and I don’t know of any that would continue to trap illegally. Sooner or later you would get caught and end up having your hunting and fishing privileges suspended and eventually have a lifetime suspension if you continue to do it. Anyway, who would want to look over their shoulders all the time. Most trapping dealers and probably all trap manufactures would go out of business due to lack of customers. ADC trappers would eventually have to improvise once their equipment gets outdated with nobody to supply them with the proper items. A few dealers may exist to help out ADC trappers but would it be enough? Here in Idaho, I doubt trapping would exist if it wasn’t for our State Trapping Organization. They work hand in hand with State Fish and Game to ensure trapping continues.

Anybody that would suggest on a public forum that trappers would intentionally trap illegally in their respective states is a poster child for how the antis wish to portray us. Low down poaching scum.

Not smart.

I'm a member of 5 trapping organizations NTA, FTA, NYSTA, Erie county and Cattaraugus county trappers
And I trap for fur. And put it all up

When your state association refuses to back you they can kiss my one brown eye. And yes the mta.

ABSOLUTELY!

ABSOLUTELY!

…. I’d start trapping game wardens… use an old lady fishing without a license for bait lol

The human vs human game is one I enjoyed playing as a GW.

I really liked dealing with the ones that thought they were smarter than me.

…. If you never met one smarter …. Come out of retirement and ride on over lol

I thought the warden never gets to meet the ones actually smarter than him.

You're likely a creature of habit....easy to catch....I'd just follow the empty RedMan pouches along the route that Tacoma goes.

… I don’t litter for several reasons lol

I would imagine that rural Georgia is similar to rural Texas. GWs never catch the good ones around here without landowner help. We had a very good GW here for 30 years that retired and then became Sheriff. Completely respected within the community and died in office after serving 4 or 5 terms as Sheriff. He always worked alone except when he got in a storm, he'd call the State troopers or deputies. He treated everyone with respect, but was also a ball buster if you needed it. He went to church with us and his kids went to the same schools. Since he's been gone, we've had several of them come and go. Young, not from around these parts, and seem to have a chip on their shoulders; not polite. They also seem to run in pairs and start with accusations rather than being friendly.

With that said, because they can't get help from the landowners to gain access for launching boats in the river or just don't get combos to gates, they are forced to give the old lady without a fishing license a ticket or write some other chickencrap ticket to someone. They have to do this because their bosses are bringing the heat on how many tickets they write a month. The new ones don't care about the resource or the community; all they care about is writing tickets because the state wants revenue. Writing chickencrap tickets to locals brings bad blood and further complicates the relationship.

A few differences in Ga than what you've stated about Tx:

1) a good GW has landowner cooperation. GWs in Ga work for the landowners. Both are on the same team with same goals.
2) there is no GW ticket quota in Georgia.
3) Ga GWs focus on public safety and resource damaging violations. Other cited violations are simply for compliance.
4) all GW citations are adjudicated in county courts. State receives NONE of the fine money. It all goes to the county where citation was issued.

….buddy of mine had a deer processing building in town … game warden would hang out half the day….go through his tag book and give people tickets for inking out the date rather than cutting it out… lazy useless pos

… I talked so much trash to him in there one day I thought he was gonna draw on me lol

I used to take county wide age, weight, and antler data at deer processing facilities back in the day. GW informed me to let him know if there was a deer in there that violated antler restrictions. I never called him.

… good man Chancey

…. I never ran into that one in the woods or on the water

…cause I don’t think he ever went there

It was always good to know who a GW could depend on to cooperate in the community.

I learned real quick.

…. Did yall have a report button lol

It was "word of mouth". Outlaws can't shut up!