Here are the arguments.
1-24 hour trap check will concentrate trappers near towns this will.
a.Decimate local populations of furbearers.
b.Drastically increase interactions with domestic dogs.
2-Huge safety issue, send a guy out into the wilderness in a snowstorm at 30 below zero and your asking for a dead man.
He has no option of waiting for the storm to break.
3-Gives no leeway for vehicle breakdowns, getting stuck, sickness, family emergencies, on and on. Make the point that there are very few daylight hours in the deep winter months. Getting stuck for half a day makes you a criminal against your will.
4-Other states having 24 hour checks.
a-Most states with 24 hour checks are mostly private land, this
creates a situation where the trap check is really a function of
interaction with the landowner and the trapper. This creates a
"feel good" regulation that can be largely ignored.
b.Eastern states have furbearer populations that generally are
far more dense than western states.
5-Make the point that with say a 72 hour check that the animal doesn't stay in the trap for 72 hours because he doesn't get caught the minute you walk up and leave. Most animals have no chance of getting caught until the following night which is maybe 10 hours from when you visit.
Statistically the odds are twice as much that an animal will spend 48 hours or less than 72 and three times as much that he will spend less than 24.
6-Should we be overly concerned about this if we consider the other alternatives these animals have to die in nature?
a-when a coyote loses his 1/2 step on a rabbit from old age (5+ years) his quality of life starts to suffer. As his teeth wear out from crunching bones instead of eating soft dog food his ability to kill and digest his food becomes compromised.
b-So his choices are to slowly die of starvation.
c-Die of parasite loads that thrive in older animals and suck the life out of their compromised systems.
d-Make the point that these animals live in a harsh environment without veterinary care. There chances of taking longer than 72 hours to die a miserable death are almost 100%.
7-Feet in traps. Make the point that these animals don't wear shoes. Their feet are designed to work at 50+ below zero and walk in snow and on ice. In the summer they walk on sand and rock that exceeds 100 degrees. They are exposed to abrasive materials on a daily basis. The foot goes to sleep relatively soon after capture and the trauma isn't anywhere near what most people believe.
8-Make the point that a 72 hour (or whatever) doesn't require a trapper to wait for 72 hours. Rather it gives him a framework to work within and some leeway for accidents, emergencies, or simply time to come to town for gas and restock a remote camp where we aren't bothering the city folks.
Some species require checking sooner than 72 (or whatever)
If you want us to descend on the city with a trap under every bush on the outskirts of town then pass this foolish law.
There is more in my brain but this gives you something to work with.
Don't assume that this is a lost cause but I will give you one piece of advice when it comes to the legislature. Don't wait until the day of the hearing to make your arguments. You need to get down there and lobby the members of the natural resource committees. They need to know that somebody gives a nuts. Remember they don't like controversial stuff, if you can create the illusion that there will be controversy you stand a better chance of getting it shoved in a drawer after one hearing never to resurface.
Get your allies involved, I know Oregon has timber, ranching, fishing, and other commercial consumptive users that should help you out. Make the point to hunter and fishermens groups and get them to testify and send letters or make phone calls.
If someone takes the lead and creates the energy this is a very winnable issue. Like I say the legislators need to know that someone is on the other side that cares.
