Just got the September/October issue of Sports Afield magazine. On Page 104, there's an article by Brad Fitzpatrick titled "Snaring Something Good".

Ostensibly, it's a 'feel good' article about turning illegal snares and traps in Africa into artwork/trinkets that supports conservation efforts there.

The problem is, Mr. Fitzpatrick doesn't make much distinction between illegal poaching and regulated/legal snaring and trapping elsewhere in the world. He uses prejudicial adjectives to describe these devices. One of the guys selling these items is quoted as saying "Snares are one of the cruelest hunting methods." The author also demonizes foothold traps ("gin traps").

I believe this article deserves a written response by our organizations

I've thought so for quite sometime now , then it needs to be taken a step further and show people the difference between the snares of the bush people of Africa and those we use here in the United States .

Not good… you’d think BEFORE writing an article you would inquire/ research the topic a bit more and ask experts like Allan or others who have snared successfully for years??
Also no mention of BMP testing… cable restraints?

One would think that would be the case Mike however their goal is the sensational news to make themselves appear more important is how I feel .

The anti consumptive users have been doing this very thing for years and sadly people just gobble this up and accept it as gospel truth when it couldn't be any further from the truth !

they did mention (briefly) that these were poachers' snares/traps; but there was NO mention about legitimate use of these tools for harvesting wildlife in a regulated/responsible environment.

instead, the tools themselves were being vilified.

That rag was a staple at Grandads coffee table.
That stopped when the fiction
of Frank Bodygrip article was printed.
Many issues ago.

I didn't even know that magazine still existed. Don't guess I've seen a copy of it in over 20 years.