I don't post on here much but was trying to get some healthy debate on reciprocity laws. In Idaho we don't have the Arizona reciprocity law we have a slightly more restrictive law. Example, I can trap in Kansas because Kansas folks can trap in Idaho. I can't trap marten in Kansas because I can't go to Kansas and trap marten (doesn't matter that marten don't exist there). The other thing is if your state has banned trapping (California) you cannot trap in Idaho. Four big points that a lot of folks don't realize:
#1 Wolf trapping is completely exempt from this reciprocity rule because they are listed as big game animals. Anyone from any state can trap wolves in Idaho if they take the wolf trapper ed class. This has been the rule since the first wolf trapping season in 2011.
#2 Less than 25 non resident trapping licenses are sold every year in Idaho (most for wolf trapping). And that includes years with high coyote and cat prices
#3 It is already legal, yes legal for anyone from Washington, Oregon, Montana, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, both Dakotas, Nebraska, Texas, Kansas, and many more states to trap in Idaho. (If you have a similar trappers ed and buy a non resident trapping license of coarse) Has been this way for decades and decades. This will only change things for a very very small number of folks. We only sell a handful of non resident trapping licenses in Idaho from out of state because it is really expensive to state hop to trap. It is not like fishing, hound hunting or pheasant hunting where a person comes over for just the weekend.
#4 59% of ITA's membership is from out of state including 52 life members from out of state! That is not a misprint, 59%......I know I represent as the Idaho president but we cannot do any fight alone and I feel like I represent trappers from all over. Trappers are discriminated against all over the United States. It hurts my heart to see fellow trappers not have a opportunity to trap because of what their drivers license says. We are currently in a federal lawsuit trying to take away your way to trap and probably will be in another one soon. More money from that lawsuit is going to come from trappers from out of Idaho than inside Idaho. When I hear folks that are stationed at Mt Home Air Force Base but cannot trap for 5 days on their Christmas break because their home state is California it breaks my heart. People that fight for our country for gods sakes! When I hear a fellow ITA life member that cannot allow his 12 year old grandson to set muskrat traps on his Thanksgiving break because he is visiting from California something just doesn't sit right. He could trap a wolf but not a skunk or muskrat? We are all trappers regardless of the state on our drivers licenses and I don't want to discriminate fellow trappers. How about others thoughts?
Thank you Rusty Kramer Idaho Trappers Association President

I think we should let Californians trap in Idaho. It’s not like these few trappers are the Woke California Liberals we don’t want moving into our state. Also, it isn’t their fault a wacko Liberal Governor outlawed cage trapping.

What is your total number of members in your trapping org.
What percentage of resident trappers there are members?

Depends on the resource. If you have a bag limit, or a draw for residents, why would you allocate your resource to non-residents?

Boco,
We have a little over 900 members in our association. The percentage of Idahoans that buy a trapping license that are ITA members is around 42%. Too low and something I am working on feverishly.
Rusty

Dirt,
We have zero draws for furbearers. The only thing we have a quota on is otter which is a personal and regional quota. We are concerned with overharvest with bobcats and might look at non resident bobcat quotas.
Rusty

We have no reciprocity law. That is IMHO the best way to handle non-resident trappers. If they are not threat to the resource, no need for these laws.

Rusty, You're absolutely right! Why dosen't Idaho Game and Fish realize that punishing trappers because those trappers are being persecuted in their home state makes no sense. They can't all be that stupid. While you're at it, stop and think about why you have a huge license fee for out of state furbuyers. That eliminates a a whole lot of craft people.

Reciprocity is the worst. Greed and selfishness

Although low, I think it is one of the highest percentages of any states. The last I heard, Pennsylvania has over 30,000 furtakers licenses sold, their Trappers Association has about 3,000 members or 10%. Although, some of the licenses sold are hunters only, it is still a low percentage of trappers involved in their membership.

The one thing I’ve found out over the years is people don’t fess up to the restrictions they have in their own states while they make comments about other States rules. A lot of folks omit the delays, draw's and restrictions that their own State imposes on Non Residents but don’t like your States rules. A lot more states have NR restrictions than you would think the people admit.

Wy Wolfer, we just pushed through a 3 day non resident furbuyer license last year. Hoping to pull some more craft guys into our sales with that.
Rusty

Dirt, that is what we are proposing. Lifting all reciprocity.
Rusty

Any other state requiring Georgia residents to post a bond to get a nonresident license?

If not they should because that's what non residents have to do here.

I once upon a time had planned to trap bobcats in Idaho. Bought the license and was gearing up when I found out I was only going to be allowed to catch five, like in eastern Oregon. It was explained to me that even though I reside in western Oregon where there is no bag limit on cats the rule is whatever the most restrictive bag limit or quota your state has then it would be the same for trapping in Idaho.

To Idaho’s credit they did refund my license fee after I returned it since the regs were hazy on the subject.

Alaska doesn't have trapper Ed. Are we still able to get a non res license?

You would have to take the Idaho course in person.

We have none here, non residents operate under the same rules as residents. There is no biological need for not allowing non-residents.
How many states that have trapping have an outright ban on non resident trapping? Why?

There are a couple states that have an outright ban on trapping. Hawaii and California come to mind.

Of the states that allow some form of trapping only one has an outright ban on Non Resident trappers. That would be MN.

I see that license is $76.50 think that will be low enough to draw in the public, flea marketers, tailgaiters, etc.?