I get all that, but just from the little I see here the Wisconsin course seems excessive. (If there really is homework and 700 some questions - I don't honestly know)

Mike you said it all and keep up the correspodance course as is. Throwing in differant tests is good idea and bringing up possible scenarios in trapping.
Doing great job.

Well said

I agree Mike pretty much nailed it. He has done more for trapping in state of WI than many others.
If you think it's to complicated to trap in WI. Maybe just need to go to MN then.

Mac

When I took the class they gave us free of charge 1) duke 1.5 coil spring and a 5 pack of rubber gloves. I thought the class was good too.

Is there a cost to participants?

To summarize; the state's trapping website has conflicting information regarding the education requirements to obtain a license. The online course was designed to "encourage" people to take the in-person course but it's whimpy to call this a barrier. It's definitely not a barrier based on the quantity of licensed trappers in the state, but we're one dog incident away from losing trapping in this state due to limited acceptance of trapping. If it saves just one (dog's) life (or at least the potential political ramifications of said dog incident) the end justifies the means. And if you don't like it you can get out.

I'm not disparaging your guys contributions to training, working with state regulators, etc. I know I've benefited from some of your knowledge shared in this forum in the past. But in my opinion the quantity of questions l in the graded homework is excessive. For example, he trivia questions on colonial period trapping while interesting and which speak to o the traditions and history of trapping probably don't move the needle much on ensuring trappers today are aware of the specific requirements of say bodygrip size and enclosure requirements for land trapping.

Historical perspectives often give insight into how we got to where we are today. Why not? Questions on specific requirements for trap placement, size, and restrictions follow later in the course.

If you don't like it you certainly don't have to get out. You must have Wisconsin confused with Minnesota. Here we embrace our nonresident brothers and sisters. All we ask is you take the course and pass it before obtaining a license

Now if you had spent as much time on your homework as you have whining here, you might have knocked out half the homework questions already. Keep us posted!

I took the course . Mike snail mailed me back and forth. I don't believe in Mandatory Trapper Ed courses. As a seasoned trapper then, who had trapped previously in Wisconsin as a resident, I thought of this as a barrier. I almost didn't trap with my childhood partner because of it. I still wasn't able to trap coon legally in October at that time as a non-resident, Somehow I missed that in the class. Good class for a beginner. How much they will retain is anybody's guess. I could have just read the latest Wisconsin trapping regulations to be updated on the new conibear restrictions. Still never knew about the new ROW restrictions on town roads. Mike did an outstanding job making it happen, but I don't believe he had to worry about me harming any dogs.

I understand the benefits of the course information provided and calling the course itself an abomination was hyperbole and I should have written that differently. There is a lot of good information in the handbook, I just disagree with the premise that it should be required for a certification that really should be to ensuring a prospective trapper operates or at least understands how to operate in a legal and ethical manner. I'm just griping on my homework breaks :), so half done is about right. As to the if you don't like it get out statement, you didn't say that but you don't have to go many posts above this one to see that paraphrased sentiment. Anyway back to my studies.

20 bucks

Thank you.

It was not that many years ago that you could not get a non resident trapping license at all in Wisconsin.


Be Happy.

Give the Beav credit for spearheading the nonresident trapper in Wisconsin movement.

Yes, Thanks Beav. It was not an easy thing to get done. He and several others were active posting on this site and others.

AKG, just a bit of history ... The original trapper's ed class was 32 hr of in person instruction when I took it many moons ago. As a farmer, I didn't need to take it; but I learned so very much from my instructor, which even today I ask about different trapping approaches. Today's classes, whatever the communication method used, has been reduced to an approximately 16 hours time investment of the student's time.

Over the years, Wisconsin has listened to the input and evaluations of students and instructors; something you will have the opportunity to due upon completion of the course) and as a result, the program content is what it is today. In addition every year, all the individual trapping citations are gathered and analysed as to violation type and trapped education method, whether online, correspondence, in- person, or out of state acknowledged. Each year those statistics are used to indicate where the trapper ed course needs to improve and be more focused, which is why Wisconsin continues to have one of the BEST TE courses, copied by many other states.

At one point, Wisconsin didn't allow non-resident trapping, it was latter allowed with reciprocal education and trapping rights. It is only in the past few years that Wisconsin has required non-resident trappers to take the Wisconsin TE course. I could speculate as to why that change came about; but I can ensure it wasn't about creating a barrier to non-resident trapping in Wisconsin.

I guess my key take away ...
Required mandatory TE training in Wisconsin, don't look at it as a barrier; but, as preservation of the long trapping heritage that Wisconsin has cultivated through education in ethics and Wisconsin's specific trapping laws. Keep in mind, that little pamphlet put out each year is a summary of regulations and yearly changes. It is not all of the statutes and regulations students need to understand to become successful, ethically, and lawfully trappers in Wisconsin. And there is only one way to aquire that knowledge; through the Wisconsin Trapper Education course.

I wish you success in your class! And one benefit of Trapper Education in Wisconsin is your first trapping license is free upon successful completion.

I thank you all for the efforts put forth. I'm sure I will get a license as time allows. Your power dam controllers seem to always be looking for someone capable to catch problem beaver.