Not a fan of them myself. It has only been about 8-10 years that Idaho has required it. When they first opened a wolf season they required a wolf trapping class be taken, and that was a concession they made to appease the antis. Or rather it was one that they made so that when arguing with the antis (who will never be appeased) they looked more responsible to "impartial observers." The original wolf trapping class I took was fairly decent, they were given either by Jack Whitman or other government trappers that had trapped wolves, when no one else in the lower 48 had (at least legally) and they gave out a lot of trapping information, including going out and doing set demos. Later, after they had made a class mandatory for new trappers (they do not accept any other states license or class) I have sat through both the trapping class and the wolf trapping class twice, once with a 12 year old kid, and once with my wife. It is an absolute joke, there is no instruction on how to trap in either class, it is an eight hour course on ethics, and the personal opinions of the instructor. The instructor for the wolf trapping class both times after considerable obfuscation admitted to having never set a wolf trap in his life. In fact, he has never trapped anything but water animals.

During covid, it was required that you take the classes before trapping, in person, but no classes were offered for almost two years. So no potential new trappers could obtian a license. My dad was an instructor and had taught the mandatory trapping class in a neighboring state, but because he hadn't had an Idaho trapping license within the span of years that they grandfathered you in, he was required to take the mandatory class before he could obtain a license. And to the best of my knowledge it is still required for an nonresidents to attend each class in person, in Idaho, before they can obtain a license. So anybody planning a trapping trip to Idaho, must first sign up for one of the limited classes, months ahead of time, and make a seperate trip out to Idaho to take a class, that will teach them nothing about trapping.

Montana does allow non resident trappers. The state you come from must allow non resident trapping for the species you intend to trap in Montana. You purchase the license online and then send in a signed affidavit saying your state allows non resident trapping along with proof and you get your license.
As far as the trapper education course and the field day I took it a few years ago despite having trapped my whole life in a different state. The field day is an excellent course and Montana uses it to educate trappers to make good decisions to avoid conflicts with other users of public lands. They are very intentional about teaching trappers to make ethical decisions and also impress upon you that decisions you make can impact future trapping not only in Montana but in all states. Many of the students in my class were young kids with their parents getting ready to become new trappers. I also saw women in the class getting into trapping. Overall a very positive experience that focused on doing everything the right way. I felt it was the perfect way to educate new trappers and trappers with experience.

Can I ask why trappers have to shoulder so much of the burden of the “conflict?”

I might be wrong about this. But I believe it was Gerry Blair that named his Mag. 10 Moose dick. He did a lot of writing in the early years of the Trapper magazine.

Why would someone wish to travel to another state to trap animals they can trap in their own state? I think for most people, the allure of trapping in a state other than their own is to catch animals that are not available to trap in their home state.....

money yotetrapper 30

In Montana you could pay for that 250 with one bobcat. Most states don't have 1000 dollar bobs. If I read the regs right, non res who has trapped before just pays 250. New trappers in Mt. spend more than that getting their first license.

Higher population,better pelts worth alot more money,trapping with a friend,etc.

Montana has Non resident trapping licenses. I have one in the cab of my pickup.

I believe you’re correct. Not home at moment to grab his book to verify but also pretty sure it was Blair. He used it in the Arizona brush best I recall. Remember Boddicker more as maker of “critr call”

You have to take a trapping class to trap on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and they offer a snaring class too that in conjunction with using breakaways gives you a 7 day check on them. The problem is they offer it once a year and barely advertise it. This year the refuge never even announced it, the Kenai Trappers Association did and then only the day before the class was held. Know several people who wanted to attend but couldn’t on such short notice.

40 hour course here in ONT Geared towards furbearer management.
Includes skinning and fur handling and setting traps snares etc.
The course is administered by the provincial federation and trappers are the instructors.
We have instructors all over the province.
Prospective instructors are put forward by the local trappers councils and they also are required to take the instructors course.
There is a fee to take the trapping coarse and it includes the trapping manual.
The instructor provides all the fur used in the course for the students to skin flesh and put up.
Some instructors will instruct one or two trappers on his trapline at a time,other instructors will work together to give the coarse to a bunch of students at the same time in a classroom setting with one day in the field..

Wasn't that Gerry Blair's slick line?

Yes, you beat me to it.

I met Major Boddicker once at the National Coyote Calling Championship in Rawlins, Wyoming. Class act that man. He gave a calling demo for the other coyote callers at the dinner and had some of his calls for sale.

.


X2
Wisconsin is always looking for feedback to improve it's Trapper Education Program.

X2
Wisconsin is always looking for feedback to improve it's Trapper Education Program.[/quote]

We have been through this before, it is very involved for what it is. The "online" class is not truly online, the in person class is multiple weekends, I have not tried the mail option.
After reading the above responses to mandatory training - do you feel like Wisconsin is encouraging others to come there to trap? I appreciate the effort and thought that went into the content and I get that you don't want jackwagons making trappers look bad but should the history of trapping in Wisconsin or what animals are commonly eaten be a required test subject to obtain a license?
If it was a normal online test or a 1 day in person class, I would love to spend money in your state and add to your associations membership.

When Wis. first opened NR I was told I had to physically go there
for education. That's a long trek.

I'm sure that info was wrong OR this has changed OR
I am not "educated" enough to trap there.

After that and the trip through the Wis websites the
urge has passed and the resident nephews are no longer interested.

The NR simple button might be some
good feedback.

AND, thanks for the thankless tasks that
are much better handled by TA rather than the alternative.

The Beav led the charge and others backed him up years ago to allow nonresidents to trap in Wisconsin and also allow Wisconsin residents to trap elsewhere . . .except in Minnesota, of course. Many nonresidents have successfully completed the online or field course to take advantage of the opportunity to trap here in Wisconsin. And here you are whining about Wisconsin's lack of efforts to encourage others to trap here. "Should" . . . . the history of trapping in Wisconsin be important enough to be included in the successful completion of the course.

Let's take a look at the questions on the test that must be presenting a stumbling block for nonresidents to obtain their trapping certificate here. First, the multiple choice questions on the history of trapping in Wisconsin:

1. The first North American fur trading post was established in 1608 by the
a. English b. French b. Spanish c. Portugese

2. Early on, almost all trappers were
a. Europeans c. Mexicans
b. Native Americans d. mountain men

3. The fur trade declined to a low about 1850 primarily due to
a. habitat destruction c. unregulated take of furbearers
b. use of silk in making hats d. all of these contributed to decline

4. Which attitude probably came first in North America?
a. Extermination c. Conservation
b. Utilitarian d. Subsistence

Everyone who takes the test is allowed unlimited opportunities to keep coming up with different answers until the correct one is achieved. These four questions are, apparently, enough to discourage others to come here to trap?

Hmmmm . . how about those daunting questions in the test that cover the eating of critters off the trapline. Well, looky here. There aren't any. The homework contained some, which might have caused you to crack open the student manual long enough to look up the answers. Nope, not a required test subject.

Apparently you're still butt hurt about having to take an educational course here in Wisconsin to obtain a certificate to purchase a nonresident trapping license. You would love to spend money here in Wisconsin if it was a normal online test? What's normal? Are you referencing the Kalkomey version of online trapper education that some states use? I've taken that "test." It's an absurdity. Period. Looks to me like you're more concerned with getting this "out of the way and over with" as soon as possible instead of possibly learning anything about trapping here in Wisconsin.

Hopefully you were able to complete the course and obtain your certificate to purchase your nonresident trapping license. I'm assuming you did. Since 2020 there have been thirteen Michigan residents who completed the online course to obtain their certificate. I can provide comments received from these graduates if you'd like to read their reactions to taking the course. Most of them were quite positive. Some were appreciate of the opportunity to come here and trap in Wisconsin. And some . . . believe this or not . . . related they actually learned something new by taking the course.

Since we're not converting to the Kalkomey online test or coming up with "one day" in-person training courses in the near future, looks to me like Wisconsin is going to miss your hard earned money and our association membership will suffer one annual "could have been." I think we'll get through it okay.

Have you knocked on Minnesota's door?

Well......... that didn't age well.

Two documented deterrents. I adapted and overcame. I believe I took money away from Wisconsin though. The classes you will do to make a few bucks. That is an ever increasing pile.