Relax, Everything is Going to be Okay!

[brymoore]

Trapping seems pretty terrible, but I don't know much about it.

Trapping is slowly going away everywhere. It’ll slowly get voted out in every state. Trapping is not popular even with other hunters.

 

[Irrelevant]

What I was really thinking is which Blue state hasn't actively had some of it under attack for non-science based reasons. The alerts about the WA commission and removing spring bear season support the narrative of blue states being more at risk of anti-hunting movement IMO.

If the threshold is "no limits or restrictions that come from an anti-hunting stance" then IDK of any. Vermont?
But I do find it odd that WA still has better black bear hunting than the Rocky mountain states, with regard to both in opportunity and quality, yet we're somehow inferior.

 

[SaskHunter]

Trapping is slowly going away everywhere. It’ll slowly get voted out in every state. Trapping is not popular even with other hunters.

It always blows my mind when trappers post pictures and videos of animals trapped in footholds. Regular people, and most hunters, do not want to see animals scared and suffering in a trap, yet plenty of idiots post it for the world to see. When it comes to trapping, ignorance is bliss, and showcasing the worst of it to the world will only hurt trapping. Trappers, like hunters, are their own worst enemies.

 

[Irrelevant]

It always blows my mind when trappers post pictures and videos of animals trapped in footholds. Regular people, and most hunters, do not want to see animals scared and suffering in a trap, yet plenty of idiots post it for the world to see. When it comes to trapping, ignorance is bliss, and showcasing the worst of it to the world will only hurt trapping. Trappers, like hunters, are their own worst enemies.

idiologically I see the value in it, 100% organic, sustainable, superior. But I can't get there to actually take it up myself.

 

[Archer86]

But I do find it odd that WA still has better black bear hunting than the Rocky mountain states, with regard to both in opportunity and quality, yet we're somehow inferior.

How are you judging it as being better?

I have hunted washington and wyoming bear and I will say I prefer to hunting wyoming bear then washington.

 

[brymoore]

It always blows my mind when trappers post pictures and videos of animals trapped in footholds. Regular people, and most hunters, do not want to see animals scared and suffering in a trap, yet plenty of idiots post it for the world to see. When it comes to trapping, ignorance is bliss, and showcasing the worst of it to the world will only hurt trapping. Trappers, like hunters, are their own worst enemies.

I agree. Trapper numbers are declining, demand for fur is declining, trapping is slowly whispering away. I try to trap where civilians will not be near my trap. If I think people or dogs will be around, I’d pull it.

I really hated catching red fox as a by product. I went through rodeos to release them my last trapping year. I didn’t see a reason to kill them for $10. Plus I really like red fox.

In Idaho my traps must have name tags to be legal. IDFG will provide an anonymous number to replace name and address. I use the number so that civilians aren’t in front of my house with torches.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

Colorado seems to be enough of an example. What Polis has done in the last 7 years and continues to do to hunting in that state is extremely concerning.

Yep and we could note all the anti-hunting bills proposed in the General Assembly sponsored by democrats. Most have been discussed on this forum. Polis has completely remade the wildlife commission, filing the seats with anti-hunting activists.

That being said these bills and some appointments have been opposed by some Colorado democrats. Mostly ones from outside the Denver/Boulder metro. It’s not a binary assessment. Nothing is that simple in politics.

 

[Irrelevant]

How are you judging it as being better?

I have hunted washington and wyoming bear and I will say I prefer to hunting wyoming bear then washington.

IDK, I suppose that's purely speculative. I can't imagine bear hunting being any easier than WA. I pass on bears every year without really trying. We have more bears (25-30k), lots of public land, and you can shoot two of them each year. And I've never run into another bear hunter.

 

[bayoublaster7527]

The last part is interesting. I disagree this is a republican Issue only. Taking managment out of professional hands has Been the anti hunters play book most recently I will go back to Washington spring bear as a great example of that.

The commission appointed by a Democratic Governor directly ignored the biologist recommendations and removed the spring bear hunt. Sounds like maybe the tides are turning with that issue we can only hope

Worse than that. The anti-hunting group Washington Wildlife First was hand-selecting commissioners under Inslee. This was only uncovered by the hard work of the Washington hunting community.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

IDK, I suppose that's purely speculative. I can't imagine bear hunting being any easier than WA. I pass on bears every year without really trying. We have more bears (25-30k), lots of public land, and you can shoot two of them each year. And I've never run into another bear hunter.

Better hunting vs hunting being under attack by prevalent politics are two different things.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

As far as trapping goes, i dont have a ton of interest in doing it for leisure. I do it in my yard to protect chickens and that's about it. I can see the value in certain places and want to protect it. Certainly can help species sensitive to nest predators and general predation.

 

[Irrelevant]

Better hunting vs hunting being under attack by prevalent politics are two different things.

I agree. And I have spend an inordinate amount of time fighting that damn spring bear BS, but in the grand scheme of things, it's painted out to be worse than it is. Regulations and restrictions are not appreciable limits to the quality or quantity of hunting WA. It's more that we have 9 million people.

 

[elkduds]

I agree what i was getting at is this ideology comes from the democratic side everytime and democrat politicians will run with it even if its a small number that support it.

Democrat sportsman/women need to push back on these ideas more then they have so the thought doesnt even cross their mind.

I don't belive every democrat hates hunting and fishing. i do belive every dem politician will run with a anti hunting bill if those supporting it are louder then those against it. We see that time and time again.

This is the essential point. We outdoor sportspeople have to step up our organization and advocacy if we expect to be heard over all the well-funded opponents to hunting. FFS, get involved if you aren't, get more involved if you can. Plenty of great advocates on HT to stoke the fire.

 

[shoots-straight]

Trapping is slowly going away everywhere. It’ll slowly get voted out in every state. Trapping is not popular even with other hunters.

Well it had a chance here a few years ago and failed miserably. I thank the wolf reintro for saving trapping.

 

[BigHornRam]

 

[Laszlo Cravensworth]

This is the essential point. We outdoor sportspeople have to step up our organization and advocacy if we expect to be heard over all the well-funded opponents to hunting. FFS, get involved if you aren't, get more involved if you can. Plenty of great advocates on HT to stoke the fire.

Something like 300k hunters in Oregon and only 12k of them are Oregon Hunters Association members. My chapter has around 700 members. 8 people do all the work and only 20 people ever show up.

Been beating this same drum for almost 10 years. Folks don't turn out.

 

[Nick87]

Trapping seems pretty terrible,

Why?

 

[Irrelevant]

View attachment 401552

 

[Irrelevant]

Why?

I mean, like many people not introduced to trapping, I can't get the leg hold trap out of my mind. Some critter stuck there, in pain, trying to tear its foot off, trying to get out for hours and hours...

 

[elkduds]

Something like 300k hunters in Oregon and only 12k of them are Oregon Hunters Association members. My chapter has around 700 members. 8 people do all the work and only 20 people ever show up.

Been beating this same drum for almost 10 years. Folks don't turn out.

Good news! (Possibly). The threat of loss of something that is actually evolved into our DNA has the potential to get people riled up. We must make sure they know about it. Clearly your org is walking the talk much appreciated. Does your org. have strategic partnerships w groups with similar values? Such partnerships are the fastest way to build coalition size, which is something CO state government emphasizes: They ask "How many groups with how many members support (or oppose)" every issue.