Despite the success of trapping as a tradition, rural income source and wildlife management tool, there are always attempts by animal rights groups to ban the practice. Here at Trapping Today we try to keep you informed on the latest trap ban attempts. Here are a few from 2013.
In Montana, activists are gathering signatures to put a question on the 2014 ballot to ban trapping on public lands. A similar attempt took place prior to the 2012 election, but the groups weren’t able to gather enough signatures, particularly in rural areas of the state.
Oregon trappers were facing a proposal to ban virtually all trapping in the state in 2014, but the polls encouraged animal rights groups to postpone the ballot initiative until the 2016 election. Shockingly, poll results indicated that only 36 percent of Oregonians even knew trapping was legal in the state, but hesitated to restrict the rights of private property owners. This indicates a severe need for public relations on the part of trappers and wildlife managers here. Similar trapping bans were proposed in Oregon in 1980 and 2000. Both failed, but population dynamics are changing and the measure could be successful the next time around.
Maine trappers are again facing a battle against animal rights activists in the 2014 election. A referendum to ban bear trapping, as well as hunting bears with bait and hounds will be on the ballot. A similar ban failed by a slim margin in 2004, but Maine is another state with changing population dynamics and a lack of public knowledge of trapping.
In Michigan, a proposed wolf trapping season was eliminated by pressure from animal rights groups, and folks there are fighting for their ability to take wolves through both hunting and trapping.
Note that most of the trapping bans are done via the ballot box. That’s because animal rights activists can sway the opinions of voters through the media much more easily than they can in state legislatures. This makes it necessary for trappers, outdoorspeople and property rights advocates to raise funds to launch their own public opinion campaigns to defend their rights.
Do you know of any other attempts to ban trapping practices in your state? Feel free to post them in the comments section below.
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