A greeting from the NTA President

June 1, 2018

Fellow Trappers,

I welcome you to the National Trappers Association 2018 Western Regional

Convention. The NTA is very thankful for the support and efforts of all the

volunteers, vendors and those attending…for making these conventions a success.

Without your support, there would be no conventions and more importantly ~ we

would not be able to fight and win many of the anti-trapping battles!

We certainly would like you to thank the Montana Trappers Association and their

volunteers for making this convention a success.

You should find an assortment of dealers and demo’s that provide not only

merchandise, but tips and pointers on supplies and methods for your next trapping

season. Thank you for supporting these events! Have a great time, and a safe trip

as you travel home.

Thank you,

Chris McAllister, President

National Trappers Association

#1 Selling Bobcat Meat Paste Bait in America!

1) Online at www.markiuneslures.com

2) Mail to: Mark June's Lures Inc.

7446 FM775; LaVernia, TX 78121

3) Telephone: 830-947-3490

Volume 1 (120 minutes)..... $19.95 each

Volume 2 (120 minutes)... $19.95 each

Orders under $50 add $9.90 shipping

Orders $50 to $100 add $14.90 shipping

Orders over $100 add $22.90 shipping

Vendor Company Name Booth # Adrian Romero Fine Arts 116, 117 Allan Minear 140 Backwater Bait 135, 136

Fur Bearers Unlimited 142 - 146 Foundation for Wildlife Mgmt. 152

Fur Takers of America 112 Harris Traps 118

Idaho Trappers Assoc. 153, 154

J & M Fur Demo Barn

L. P. Trapline Supply 164

Missoula Beetle Works 165 Montana Trapper Bags 0

Montana Trappers Assoc 158 - 161

Montana Vets-Montana Waters 163 Montgomery Furs 121 - 126

Moyle Mink & Tannery 155 MTSFW 101, 102

NAFA 141 National Trappers Assoc. 156, 157

No-BS Lures 127 - 130

Petska Fur 110, 111 Pioneer Creations 151

Safari Club SW Montana 174 Sterling Fur 131-134

Teton Trap Co. 169, 170

Top Lot Stretcher 113 - 115 Universal Select-a-Catch 173

Utah Trappers Association 172 We Trap Em Supply 171 - 173

Weiser Western Lure 0 Western Cats 119, 120

Western Montana Fur 166 - 168

Wildlife Damage Mgt. LLC 147-150 Wildlife Solutions 162

Schedule of Events Emergency telephone number –

call Vickie Wright 231-907-0977

Thursday – May 31

8:00 AM Inside dealer and tailgater

REGISTRATION/SET UP

6:00 PM Dealer Buildings Closed

Friday – June 1

8:00 AM Dealer building open

Tailgaters

FBU raffle all day

Sign up for trap setting contests –National

Trappers Association Booth – OPEN TO ALL!

Sign up for the skillet toss contest –

NTA booth – Open to all females

Demos all day starting at 9:00 AM (Beef Barn)

5:30 PM Dealer Building Closed

5:30 PM Friday night banquet

6:30 PM Auction Registration

7:00 PM Live Auction

Saturday – June 2

7:00 AM Breakfast Served

8:00 AM Dealer Buildings open

Tailgaters

FBU raffle all day

Sign up for trap setting contests – NTA booth –

Open to all

Sign up for the skillet toss contest – NTA

booth – open to all females

8:00 AM Demos all day starting at 9:00 AM

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Skillet toss Contest

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Trap Setting Contest

Speed – Under age 12

Speed – Ages 12 - 16

Speed – Ages 17 & Up

Conibear – Speed – All Ages

4:00 PM Silent Auction closes

6:00 PM Dealer Building Closes

6:15 PM FBU Raffle

*DON’T FORGET TO GET YOUR BANQUET TICKETS

AT THE MONTANA TRAPPERS ASSOCIATION BOOTH

2018 DEMO BIO’S

Chad Esche – Chad is the owner of We Trap Em Supplies and lives in southwest MT. He and his wife Valerie,

are long time supporters and contributors of the Montana Trapper’s Association and are a trapping team when

the season is on.

Rusty Kramer – Rusty is currently the president of the Idaho Trappers Association and is a very avid canine

trapper. His love for the sport of trapping has gotten him involved with the ITA and he stepped up and became

president, which as we all know is a huge commitment.

Dan Helterline – Dan is a very experienced trapper from northwest MT and consistently puts up big numbers

of coyotes and wolves. He is always willing to help out other trappers and is very involved with the Montana

Trappers Association and is currently the director of District 1. He and his daughter Alexis, are quite the

trapping team and when they are trapping, the coyotes and wolves better watch where they step.

John Steuber – John is the Montana State Director for the USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services Program and has

been with them for 32 years. He has worked for Wildlife Services in Texas, Washington, Colorado, South

Dakota, Hawaii, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Joe Bennett – Joe is the Nevada East District supervisor for USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services Program and has

been with them for 40 years. Joe has had years with catches of coyotes. He grew up in Arizona and started

trapping at an early age. Joe has worked for Wildlife Services in both California and Nevada.

Kendall Obermier – Kendall is the owner of No BS Lures and K9 Extreme traps. He is a very avid trapper

from Iowa and prides his business on quality lures and traps made in the USA.

Greg Petska – Greg and Ken Petska are the owners of Petska Fur located in central Nebraska. Petska fur is one

of the oldest and arguably the largest over the road buyers left in the industry. They maintain routes in ten

different states and specialize in coyotes and lynx cat. They also buy carcass animals, antlers and most of all

furbearers.

Jr. Gundecker – Jr is a long-time trapper from Montana and his favorite animal to trap is bobcats. He is a

master at cage trapping bobcats and is always willing to share his knowledge with other.

Andrew Pershern – Andrew is from Montana and is a very accomplished wolf trapper. He also enjoys fine

tuning traps for wolves and designing new ones that fit his liking.

Les Derkachenko – Les is from Saskatchewan and is a very accomplished trapper. His favorite animal to trap

are the pale coyotes that call his trap line home. He also enjoys going after muskrats in the spring.

Tracy Truman – Tracy is from Nevada and is regarded as one of the top bobcat trappers in the west. He also

enjoys trapping grey fox. Tracy is involved in the fight to keep trapping alive in his home state and across the

country.

Jack Whitman – Jack is a wolf trapping expert and has years of experience trapping them. Jack grew up

trapping in Idaho. He has 47 years of experience trapping in Idaho, Alaska, Russia, Mongolia and the

intermountain west. Mainly for large predators and mostly wolves.

Keith Gregerson – Keith is from Montana and is a coyote snaring expert. He is the inventor of the Gregerson

L4 snare lock which is one of the most popular snare locks on the market.

Robert Helms – Robert and his daughter Reilee Helms are the owners of Western Cats Inc. Predator Lures.

They call Utah home and run their trap lines there for bobcat and coyotes.

Guy Kempthorne – Guy is a trapper from Missoula, MT. He grew up trapping in southwest Wisconsin and

then moved to MT in 1987. His favorite animals to trap are marten, bobcat and coyote. He owns and operates a

fence installation business in Missoula and traps in the winter.

DEMONSTRATIONS:

June 1

9 am: Beaver Trapping with Chad Eche

10 am: Canine Trapping with Rusty Kramer

11 am: Wolf/Coyote Trapping with Dan Helterline

1 pm: MT/NV Wildlife Services Coyote Trapping with John Steuber & Joe Bennett

2 pm: Canine Trapping with K9 Extreme Traps with Kendall Overmier

3 pm: Fur Handling, Harvest Windows, Carcass Care and Fur Quality as the season

progresses - with Greg Petska

4 pm: Caging Bobcats with JR Gundecker

June 2

9 am: Wolf Trapping with Andrew Pershern

10 am: Snaring Coyotes with Power Rams with Les Derkachenko

11 am: Bobcat Trapping with Tracy Truman

1 pm: Open Questions & Answer on Wolf Trapping with Jack Whitman

2 pm: Snaring with Keith Gregerson

3 pm: Bobcat Trapping with Robert Helms

4 pm: Marten Trapping with Guy Kempthorne

XPERIENC THE WEST RN DIFF RENCE

Part of our 2016–17 catch taken in 39 days by Robert and Reilee Helms

Now is the time to start planning your upcoming trapping season. Fur prices are on the rise, so why trust your catch to any other lure/bait manufacturer. Put your trust in Western Cats, Inc. lures and baits and I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Visit our online store at www.westerncatsinc.com or find our products at these fine dealers. Montgomery Fur, F&T Fur Harvesters, and Cum- berlands Trappers Supply. Or simply call or write us for a free catalog.

Follow us on Facebook and on Instagram

WCI P.O. BOX 100006, ALTON, UTAH 84710

E E E E

FurBearers Unlimited 2815 Washington Ave. Bedford, Indiana 47421 Phone 812-278-9677

Habitat, Conservation & EDUCATION

17th Annual Western Regional

National Trapper Association Convention

Park County Fairgrounds, Livingston, Montana ~ 2018 FurBearers Unlimited will be hosting a Silent Auction, General Raffle, and

Gun of the Year Raffle! Silent Auction Closes at 4pm Saturday

General Raffle Tickets 5 chances $ 20.00, drawing held Saturday evening,

you do not need to be present to win!

Donations have been received from several businesses and individuals from across the country.

The following items will be featured: “Marten” 2018 Print of the Year

2018 Gun of the Year ~ Ruger ~ Predator .204

• Ergonomic, lightweight synthetic stock designed for quick, easy handling blends a classic look with modern forend contouring and grip serrations.

• Ruger Marksman Adjustable™ trigger offers a crisp release with a pull weight that is user adjustable between 3 and 5 pounds, allowing shooters to make that perfect

shot.

• The one-piece, three-lug bolt with 70° throw provides ample scope clearance and utilizes a full diameter bolt body and dual cocking cams for smooth, easy cycling

from the shoulder.

• Patent-pending Power Bedding®, integral bedding block system positively locates the receiver and free-floats the barrel for outstanding accuracy.

• Offers minute-of-angle accuracy that can make every hunt a success.

• Heavier tapered, threaded barrel (1/2"-28 thread pattern) is cold hammer-forged, resulting in ultra-precise rifling that provides exceptional accuracy, longevity and

easy cleaning.

• Features a visible, accessible and easy-to-actuate tang safety that provides instant security.

• Offers a reliable rotary magazine that fits flush with the stock and offers the smooth feed that has become the hallmark of Ruger® rotary magazines.

• Soft rubber buttpad is crafted for maximum recoil reduction.

• Factory-Installed One-Piece Aluminum Scope Rail

• Equipped with a factory-installed Vortex® Crossfire II® 4-12 x 44 riflescope with the Dead-Hold BDC reticle.

• Also includes - magazine; sling swivel studs.

• Capacity 10 rounds

Please pay close attention to each tagged item to see who has sponsored these events.

Make sure you tell them Thank You ! When you see them!

Mike Murray, Murray's Lure ~ Gerald Schmitt, Schmitt Enterprises, South Dakota Trappers Association ~ Utah Trappers Association ~ Duke Traps

Crit r Call Major & Jan Boddicker ~ Fur Commission USA ~ Montgomery Fur Moyle Mink & Tannery ~ Iowa Trappers Association ~ Jeremiah Wood

Friends of Trapperman.com ~ Montana Trappers Association ~ USA FOXX Slim Pedersen ~ Stan Bassett, ALCC FURS ~ Sterling Fur, Keith Winkler

Nevada Trappers Association ~ Dr. William Boehme ~ Tom Krause Oregon Fur Takers Association ~ Hal & Miz Sullivan, Sullivan Scents

Ray & Colleen Milligan, Milligan's Brand ~ Trappers World~ Ron & Betty Leggett Tim & Nancy Caven, Minnesota Trapline Products ~ Reilee Helms, Western Cats

Idaho Trappers Association, Kansas Fur Harvesters Association Andy Weiser, Weiser , Western Lure~ Nevada Trappers Association

Protecting Wild Things and Wild Places

series!

ountain Men Hist

from the

contacts, maps, and lots, lots more! includes area items of interest, restaurants,

“downGet a complete

guide:

FFuurr TTaakkeerrss ooff AAmmeerriiccaa

GGOOLLDDEENN AANNNNIIVVEERRSSAARRYY RREENNDDEEZZVVOOUUSS!! June 28 - 30, 2018

Central WI State Fairgrounds 513 E. 17th Street,

Marshfield, WI 54449 Contact: Pam Mather 648 S. Main Street, Oregon WI 53575

Phone: (608)835-7561

Email: wta.convention@frontier.com

Come Celebrate Our 50th With US!

Kids & Family fun! Contests for Kids and Adults!

This is a family-friendly event, and will highlight some of the best trapping information to be had! Plan your trip today, and don’t

miss this unique event. We will be having a host of special items in honor of the Golden An- niversary of the FTA! Wisconsin

Trappers know how to run a good show, so we are confident that “A

good time will be had by all!!”

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ica.com

Meet & Greet Tom

and Nancy Oar,

M ory Channel’s

PLANS NOW!

906-789-1000

Magnuson Grand Pioneer Inn and Suites 2635 Ludingtonn Street 906-786-0602

Lincoln Host 620 North Lincoln Rd 906-789-6000

Sunset Lodge 6386 N, 11th Street 906-786-2804 www.sunsetlodgeescanaba.com

Quality Inn Suites 2603 North Lincoln Rd 906-789-1200

Super 8

2415 North Lincoln Rd. 906-786-1000

Terrace Bay Hotel - Host 7146 P. Road Gladstone, MI 49837 906-786-7554 Online code: NTA18

Hiawatha Motel 2400 Ludington Street 906-786-1341

Call For Trapper Discount Rates

10:00 a.m. * Nick Beder - Beaver/Otter 11:00 a.m. * Scott Welch - Coon

Noon Harry Nestell - Winter Coyote Trapping

1:00 p.m. Bob Noonan - Mink 2:00 p.m. * Gary Leistico - Cats in Cubbies 3:00 p.m. * Gary Shuman - Muskrats 4:00 p.m. Joe Zaffuto - Nite Calling

FRIDAY, JULY 27 9:00 a.m. Jim Comstock - Cage Trapping

10:00 a.m. * Chris McAllister - Bobcats 11:00 a.m. * Mark Zagger - Coyotes

Noon NAFA 1:00 p.m. Trent Masterson - Coyote 2:00 p.m. * Mike Fischer - Otter Trapping 3:00 p.m. * Mike “Red” O’Hearn - Mink

Trapping 4:00 p.m. Tom Miranda - “Make Your Own

Luck”

SATURDAY, JULY 28 9:00 a.m. Mark Steck - Snaring

10:00 a.m. * Mark June - Canines 11:00 a.m. * Doug Lansburg - Marten

Noon Fur Harvesters 1:00 p.m. Tom Miranda - “How Trapping

made me a better Bowhunter” 2:00 p.m. * Ralph Scherder - Raccoon 3:00 p.m. * Kevin Angulsk – Muskrats A to Z

* NTA MEMBERS ONLY DEMOS 17 & Under: No Membership Required for Member-Only Demos

Spouses of MEMBERS are allowed into Member-only Demos

VENDORS A Trap Life Adrian Romero’s Fine Art Alabama TA Association of Fish & Wildlife Backwater Bait Bark River Knives Barnes Hide & Fur Basswood Fur Stretchers Bays De Noc CVB Berkshire Gold Bethel’s Wildlife Control Big Game Forever Big Game Gut Glove Blue Ridge Outdoor Supplies Chocolay River Knives Comstock Custom Cage Coyote U - Mark Zagger Cumberlands NW Trappers

Supply, Inc. Dakotaline Snares Dobbins Products Duke Traps Dunn Knives East Fork Predator Bait F&T Fur Harvesters Trading

Post FBU Florida Trappers Association Full Stretcher Lures Fur Fish Game Fur Harvesters Auction Fur Hats Fur Takers of America Gerald Giese Great Northern Fur Groenewold Fur & Wool Co. Hoosier Trapper Supply Hutton Valley School of

Taxidermy J & J Furs J.C. Connor J3 Outdoorz Jackyl Gear Joe Goodman Prints Kains Lures Kansas Trapline Products Linda Dushane LKL School Lone Wolf Lures Maine Trappers Association Mark June Lures

Michigan DNR - Wildlife Division

Michigan Trappers & Predator Callers Association

Mill Creek Trapping Minnesota Trapline Products Missouri Trappers Association Mountain Man Mike Moyle Mink & Tannery Mud River Bait & Lures Mudd Hog Mud Motors Murrays Lures NAFA National Trappers Association Neverlift Chassis Works North Carolina Trappers Assoc. Oneida Victor PCS Outdoors PDK Snares Pennsylvannia Trappers Assoc. Penny Maddox Povitical Croatian Predator Control Group QSR R & M Lures Rapid River Knifeworks Inc Richard Clark

Rugs by Nancy Rusty Johnsons Predator Lures Sawmill Creek Baits & Lures Schmitt Enterprises Southern Snares & Supplies Springfield Missouri CVB Stan Heolf Sterling Fur Co. Sullivan’s Lures Tennessee Free Trappers Tennessee Fur Harvesters Three Tracks Turkey Call Tomahawk Live Trap Trappers Post Trapping Time TV UP Trappers Assoc. USA Foxx & Furs, Inc Virginia TA (in with Blue Ridge

Outdoors) Volkers Wire Cubbies Webster’s Predator Control Welch’s Lures & Baits Winter Wildlife Control Wisconsin Trappers Association Wolf Creek Products Wolfen Bait & Lure

For further information please go to the NTA website www.nationaltrappers.com or contact

Vicki Wright, Convention Coordinator, at 231-907-0977 or vwright@nationaltrappers.com

HOTELS America’s Best Value 2301 North Lincoln Rd.

MAKE YOUR DEMONSTRATION LIST THURSDAY, JULY 26

9:00 a.m. Karen Linkhart

2018 NTA Convention & Sports Show

Escanaba, Michigan July 26-28, 2018

We Trap’em Supplies and Service

Now handling my own Esche Lures from Glen Hanson’s recipe book, and

still available my Horse Whisper Bait. I have a variety of general

trapping supplies. Please contact me with your trapping needs. Wanted

used #3 Bridgers, in need of repairs. Also, fox tail key chains & barrettes.

Chad Esche 17

Alison Dr.

Absarokee, MT 59001

406-696-9404

wetrap@nemont.net

SHIRAS MOOSE PROTECTION &

RECOVERY ACT

he dramatic decline of America’s

moose populations is emerging as

one of the most important American

conservation issues in decades. Shiras

Moose, whose worldwide distribu-

tion is limited to the Northern Rocky

Mountains of America, are in serious

trouble. Since wolves were intro-

duced in 1995, moose populations

have declined by as much as 90%.

The Wolf Reintroduction Environ-

mental Impact Statement predicted

just 7-13%. Key moose populations

in Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, and

Idaho, which once numbered in the

thousands, are now down to just a

few hundred moose.

The Shiras Moose Protection and

Recovery Act is needed now. The

focus of this bill is to allow state

wildlife agencies to aggressively and

proactively recover Shiras Moose

populations. It also ensures pro-

tection of the few remaining stable

moose populations in Colorado,

Utah, and Southern Wyoming. The

most important factor for moose

recovery and protection is improv-

ing survival rates of calf moose. By

restoring state wildlife management

authority over Shiras Moose and their

predators, states can save, protect, and

restore America’s moose.

90% Moose Population Decline

Shiras Moose Distribution Worldwide T

Clarence Dies (615) 924-3549 34 Lock 5 Rd., Lebanon TN 37087 www.3trxturkeycalls.com

2018 NTA SE REGIONAL CONVENTI0N October 5-7, 2018

DEMO LIST

2018 NTA SE Regional Convention

Alabama Trappers

and Predator Control Association

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2018

9:00 AM Chip Davis 10:00 AM Steve Phillips & Marty

Ham10n l l :00 AM Lesel Reuwsaat

12:00 PM Hal Sullivan l:00 PM Shaw11 Phillips

2:00 PM Jeff Mangus

3:00 PM Jack Robertson 4:00 PM Clint Locklear, Chip

Davis & Tim Roper

6:00 PM NTA Trappers Feed

7:00 PM NTALive Auction

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2018

A11atomy of a Trap, Building Better Traps Beaver and Otter Trapping

Bobcats and Coyotes

Targeting Bobcat Specifi c Trapping

Predator Management for Improving Your Deer Herd

Fur Handling - Mor e for Profit

Trapping and Co11trol of Wild Hogs

Trapping Question and Answer Round Table

Do nations Accepted

"

www.atpca.org

Northeast Alabama Agri-Business Center

Rainsville, AL October 5-7, 2018

GENERAL ADMISSION: $10 for 12 and over for the

whole show.

9:00 AM Chip Davis Live Market Trapping

10:00 AM Lesel Reuwsaat Dry Land Snaring

11:00 AM Ronny Vincent Starting anAnimal Damage Control Business

12:00 PM Doug Massey Bobcat and Gray Fox Trapping 1:00 PM Patri ck Duprey Advanced Otter Trapping

2:00 PM Rusty Johnson Coyote Trapping 3:00 PM Clint Locklear Bobcat Trapping

4:00 PM Shawn Phillips Predator Trapping Year Round: Changing with the Seasons 4:00 PM FBU Silent Auction Ends

CAMPING FEES: $30.00 with electric, and $15.00 prilnitive (no hook ups) per day. No reservations for cainping. First co1ne first serve basis.

*Camp fires are permitted on the grounds

A Big Thank You to the following:

MONTANA TRAPPERS ASSOCIATION FOR HOSTING THIS

CONVENTION.

WEISER WESTERN LURES FOR SPONSORING THE TRAP-SETTING CONTEST PLAQUES

J & M FUR FOR SPONSORING THE VOLUNTEER T-SHIRTS.

BIG GAME FOREVER FOR SPONSORING THE EVENT PROGRAM

MTSFW FOR SPONSORING THE DEMO AREA

TO ALL THE VENDORS AND THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL TRAPPERS ASSOCIATION.

Make sure to attend the 59th Annual National Convention on July 26 – July 29th, 2018 @ ESCANABA STATE FAIRGROUNDS – 2401

12TH AVE. N, ESCANABA, MI 49829

See you there!

National Trappers Association

2815 Washington Avenue

Bedford, IN 47421

Phone: (812)277-9670 Fax: (812)277-9672

E-Mail: ntaheadquarters@nationaltrappers.com

*Required Information

*Name____________________________________________________________ *Address___________________________________________________________ *City_____________________________*State_______*Zip_________________ *Daytime Phone __________________ Evening Phone___________________ *Birthday___/____/____ Email___________________________________

New ______ Renew______ ____DO NOT SELL ___One Year Membership $30 ___Two Year Membership $55 ___Three Year Membership $80 ___Junior (15& Under) Membership $15 ___Family NTA Membership $15 (One household person must be a regular NTA member) Name of regular member:_________________ ___Annual Canadian Membership $50 (US Funds) ___Annual Foreign Non-Canadian $60 (US Funds) US Lifetime NTA Membership (Under Age 70) ___$750/one-time payment Payment Plan (Includes Handling Fee)

___Payment Plan 1: $80 down/bill me $80/9 months ___Payment Plan 2: $80 down/charge credit card $80/9 months

___US Senior Lifetime Membership (Age 70 and Older) $200 ___US Lifetime Membership (No Magazine) $350 *Pay By: ___Check ___Credit Card

Credit Card Number:________________________ Exp. Date:___ /____

Security Code: ____ Signature:______________________________

FAQ’S

What is the National Trappers Association?

The National Trappers Association is an organization of dedicated individuals who have joined together to promote and

protect the appropriate conservative use of many of the furbearing species. The NTA was established in 1959. For North

America's more than one-half million trappers, the purpose of trapping varies - from assisting wildlife biologists in

furbearer studies, to population and disease control, protection against soil erosion, and for food, clothing, and income.

Thanks to good management practices, furbearers are more numerous in North America today than 100 years ago. There

is no trapping of endangered species and that NTA continues to research and encourage the use of the most effective and

humane trapping techniques. Trapping has been an integral part of American Heritage, and NTA members want to ensure

that it continues to contribute to abundant wildlife and sound management programs.

Why is Trapping Important in Todays Society?

Interaction

In a world where humans interact with wildlife habitat in countless ways, management of certain animal populations will

always be necessary. Uncontrolled, many species can infringe on real human needs. We may only think of rodents or

insects in a grain storage facility to appreciate the need for action.

Urban Challenges

Parts of the world, like Western Europe, are now so heavily urbanized that the main challenge for conservationists is to

protect what little is left of wildlife habitat. Even in these countries, however, wildlife must be managed. In Holland and

Switzerland (often cited as places where trapping has been discouraged), state employees must now be paid to trap and

shoot muskrats which are seriously damaging dikes, canals and riverbanks. Uncontrolled muskrats are capable of

astounding rates of reproduction: females can produce more than twenty young each year, while females born in the first

Spring litter may produce their own young by Fall.

Renewable Resource

Some countries including Canada and the United States, are fortunate to still have vast undeveloped lands and plentiful

wildlife. The "surplus" produced by most wildlife species each year represents a valuable natural renewable resource for

people living on the land in these countries.

Regulated Trapping

Regulated trapping helps to smooth out the "boom and bust" cycles which characterize some wildlife populations when

Nature is left to do the managing.

Population Control

In many areas, animal populations must be controlled to protect human activities: bears destroy beehives; coyotes kill

livestock; wolves prey heavily on young moose, deer, and caribou which local people depend upon for food and income;

raccoons raid cornfields; hungry deer and elk ravage winter-stored hay; foxes, mink and weasels have a taste for domestic

poultry; beavers can flood farmland and roadways.

Disease

Wildlife can also serve as a reservoir for diseases (like rabies and tularemia) which are potentially dangerous to humans.

Beaver and muskrat can suffer horribly for weeks before finally succumbing to tularemia or other infectious diseases.

(Foxes with rabies also take weeks to die.) Natural, yes, but hardly "humane".

Household pets are susceptible to distemper, rabies, heartworm, parvovirus, mange, and leptospirosis, all of which can be

acquired from infected furbearers. According to Charles Pils, a Biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural

Resources: "While trapping is not the solution to every wildlife disease outbreak, under certain circumstances it can

reduce threats to the health of humans and domestic animals....By removing population excesses which promote diseases

such as canine distemper....in a localized situation, trapping can reduce and even stop the spread of a disease outbreak."

For all these reasons - even if furs were not valuable - trapping would remain an important wildlife management tool.

While addressing threats posed by inadequate wolf management is requiring a herculean effort, BGF continues to work on other issues related to protecting abundant wild game and the rights of sportsmen.

In September 2015, the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it would not list the Greater Sage Grouse as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This clear victory came as a result of tireless efforts by BigGame Forever, its supporters, and other like-minded groups. Unfortunately, at the same time of this announcement, heavy-handed restrictions to millions of acres of public land were rolled out by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). These regulations have more to do with restricting land access and resources than with real conservation. There is much work to do and with your help, we’ll continue to win these fights for sportsmen.

BGF’s mission is to recruit, organize and mobilize sportsmen in the fight. You are among the 80,000 American sportsmen who have already answered the call. Together, we are effectively countering efforts that would undermine our rights as sportsmen and threaten our outdoor heritage. Thank you for being part of the solution.