The initiative that could have ended trapping as we know it in the state of Montana will not be on the ballot this November. With the deadline past for supporters of I-160, the effort to ban trapping on public lands in Montana, to gather enough signatures to put the question to the voters in November, signature numbers have fallen short.
Although the animal rights groups came very close to gathering the number of signatures needed to qualify the question for the ballot (20,318 of a needed 24,337), the shortfall signifies that there isn’t enough support (yet) for a ban on traditional trapping practices in the state.
Trappers dodged a bullet this time around, with Montanans for Effective Wildlife Management leading the charge to educate the public on why the trap ban would be a terrible idea. Coming this close to getting the needed signatures, however, means that these groups will most certainly be back, and hopefully Montanans will be ready to fight them off again.
Trapping in Montana is a time honored tradition and a well-regulated wildlife management tool in the state even today. The trap ban would have hindered the ability of Montanans to manage wildlife populations, control predator numbers and prevent animal damage.
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