For those of you that think they are not, read this months presidents report in the American Trapper magazine. A group called WildEarth Guardians filed a lawsuit in federal court to stop all exports of any bobcat, lynx, wolves and otter as per the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The NTA stepped in with their attorney who is also a trapper resulting in the federal judge to rule against this lawsuit. Joint the NTA as well as the FTA and your state organization to keep trapping alive.

The NTA attorney grew up on a dairy farm in MN and spends most of his time 80% or more in A related issues. He also does a lot in the natural resource area as well. He brings a real strong background in consumptive user issues and concerns. Plus being in a multi staff firm there is a lot of exposure to multiple issues and information that is helpful for our cause. Big write up in a national Dairy magazine the last issue about 3 lawyers who have strong farm backgrounds and are lawyers working for Ag and other commodity producer issues and Gary was one of the three.

Bryce

Nice save.

This is something thats been in the works for a couple years. (approximately)

This is a huge win for trappers.

Please join these organizations that are fighting for us.

Gary is the real deal and the NTA does have the trappers back.
We are very fortunate to have Gary in our corner.

Read that too. Great report.

Not to change the subject but how does bobcat fit in the endangered categories? I'm at a complete loss.

They are considered a "look a like species" under the cities treaties. River otter as well! It all comes down to, when someone tries to move a critter skin or part of that critter into another country, the inspectors that are not (smart) well versed enough in that species to identify it as the endangered species! Did you get that? If not, I'll try to explain it better!

yes the nta is working hard for all trapper we all should be members ,this is why I sell as many cash calendar as I can ,I'm not rich my any means, so I cant give money but I can sell raffle chances an everyone wants a chance to win ,so this year I sold 126 calendar that's 2520 dollars that goes to help fight . I believe we all could sell 10 really easy ,think about it if every member sold 10 that would be a big check , to fight the anti

Bobcats are on the CITES list because they are similar to Lynx. Wolf is similar to coyote and river otter similar to sea otter. Federal issue not state. Hope this helps. Some folks like the NTA some like the NTA some like most. Each to their own but there is a place in our given sport for both and neither should be bashed like I see on the internet.

Steelflight, Bobcat and River otter are listed on the Appendix II list because they are "look alike" species. They closely resemble the endangered Mexican bobcat, and European otter. Before they can enter the international fur market they must be certified/inspected "tagged" as a legal species that was legally taken.

Canadian lynx and the gray wolf are like-wise listed as an Appendix II species but not due to any "look alike" status.

The status of the gray wolf of course varies depending on the state, year, week and whims of whatever judge can be conned.

It is certainly a state issue since each state's management program must be certified/licensed by the Fish and Wildlife Service before Appendix II furs from that state can enter the intentional fur market. If FWS wasn't the licensee under CITES each state would have to be individually licensed under CITES. Some states would be unwilling or unable to do this and thus Apendix II species would not be exportable from that state.

Without getting too far into the weeds....this was precisely the issue of the lawsuit., The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) had determined that CITES reviews are excluded from National Environmental Policy Act. (NEPA) The Plaintiff were asking the federal court to require the USFWS to follow the procedures in NEPA before issuing export permits for Appendix II species under CITES. If the plaintiffs had prevailed, an environmental review could have been required on each species, in each state that wishes to export an Appendix II furbearer. These reviews are extremely time consuming and expensive, they go far beyond simply determining if the population can sustain the harvest.

The NEPA. What in the heck is this crap? It is amazing we get to do anything in this country. The whole look alike crap has always burned my buns too.

All right, had my rant now I can get back to squeezing those cites tags through eyeholes.

Thanks for the clarification.

As the old saying goes "I was close but no cigar" in my assessment. The exact interpretation was given to you by the President of the National Trappers Association. Right there is worth the price of admission to the NTA when the President comes on board and explains everything in the EXACT language. Thank you.

Thanks Chris for explaining AND a bigger THANKS for the time you spent as our NTA President!
Hope you stay in touch with the NTA for guidance as we vote in our next leader.
And a big THANK YOU goes out to Gary Leistico for his legal assistance for trappers.

I thought Lestico was the name of the attorney representing the Minnesota trappers association and working to keep non residents out of MN?

Tjm I'm not sure why the cost of a convention is relevant here. (two separate issues) This case was a wide reaching case. I can only speak for myself on this but I would much rather have an attorney representing my sole concerns,than one having to blanket cover a suit and hope the part that affected me was a priority.