Trapping license question

A while back I asked which states combined trapping in with the Sportsman’s package. This has been tossed out there for Kentucky. I am concerned that true trapper numbers will be somewhat suppressed by lumping us in and not having specific one license one trapper accountability. Have any of you seen anything of this manner occur? I was told California used this to water down and do away effectively with trapping. I think the intent may not be suspect but for things to change things are changed and I don’t want to see us having to fight a battle in five or ten years.

HERE IN TENNESSEE IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR YEARS. I HAVE HAD THE LIFETIME LICENSES FOR 5 YEARS AND I CARRIED A SPORTSMAN LICENSE FOR PROBABLY 15 YEARS BEFORE THAT, AND IT WAS ALWAYS INCLUDED. THERE HAS AT TIMES BEEN SOME CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT BEING UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE TRUE NUMBER OF TRAPPERS IN THE STATE. HAVING SAID THAT, AS FAR AS I KNOW IT HASN'T CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO STAY ON TOP OF ANY CHANGES IN YOUR TRAPPING REGULATIONS. YOUR STATE TRAPPERS ASSOCIATIONS NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET WITH THIS WORK.

California had effectively shut down fur trapping well before using the excuse of too low of numbers to justify hiring game wardens to monitor them.

Our resident N.C. lifetime hunting and fishing license does not include trapping. Older licenses do not require a separate saltwater license but current issued do.

In many places they keep it separate so they can collect another fee rather then lump it into one license.

If you look at pa license sales reports, they list 40 some thousand furtaker license sales, and is often reported that way by the media.

Trouble is, there are another 50 thousand sold as combination licenses, so in reality, Pa sells around 100 thousand furtaker licenses.

We are, I’m pretty sure, less than 2,000 licensed trappers and it may be 1,000 now. On its face it seems like it’s ok but I’m concerned someone will be able to use it for nefarious reasons down the road. At this time in the fur trade we must strive to keep our numbers and identity in every state. They can divide and conquer but I’m worried about lumping in and conquering.

I have an Indiana lifetime hunting and fishing and I still have to buy a trapping license here. It's always been a separate license here.

When I lived in Ky they sent every trapper a survey each year after the season closed to get harvest numbers, days trapped, etc. If they are still sending the surveys will they have to send it to every combined license holder, many who will not trap at all? If so, that seems like an unnecessary expense.

Why are you shouting?

It use to be that way In WI but we fought to have a separate licence.

Completely separate in Louisiana. Even youth need a trapping license here.

I’m not aware of any license not covered by the Sportsman’s Paradise license here, other than the trapping license.



I’d like to also see a Recreational squirrel trapping license/season added here, just in case someone is listening....

We can trap squirrels and rabbits here. I’m not sure it was legal until 10 or 12 years ago. Lots of rabbits taken in box traps years ago.

Yep, Box traps or "gums" were heavily used for rabbits for many years.

I remember seeing them as a kid in the 1960's, in the overgrown RR right of ways.

I AM NOT SHOUTING. I WRITE IN CAPITOL LETTERS SO I CAN READ MY OWN WRITING, D#%&*D SMART A&# YANKEE.