There's been a lot of misinformation and back-stabbing of the Minnesota Trappers Association recently regarding the non-resident issue. I've posted this on other sites but I'll post it here for those that havent seen the explanation of why the MTA hasn't recently tried to introduce a non-resident bill.
The MTA would be stupid to try to introduce a bill with the current makeup of the legislature. The legislature is currently completely controlled by largely anti-trapping metro democrats. There would be ZERO chance a bill ever makes it out of both the House and Senate environmental committees, especially the House. And if by some miracle it did make it out of the committees, there's ZERO chance it would pass the House, Senate, and then get signed by the governor. I've personally been told by legislators or their assistants that the trappers (specifically the MTA) have one of the most active lobby groups at the capital. The MTA has a very good handle of what the "temperature" of the legislature is regarding trapping related bills. For some to say the MTA does nothing are just plain ignorant.
Why a zero chance? First of all we would need bill authors in both the House and the Senate. That part is possible. But after a bill is introduced it would then go to the respective environmental committees. Thats where the possibilities end, especially in the House. The House environmental committee is made up of 16 members, 10 are democrats. Some of those democrats have been our enemies for years. Even one democrat thats favorable to trapping on the committee is dead set against non-resident trapping. The first thing he told us in a meeting last year was if we are going to pursue non-resident trapping he would not help us in our battle against the horrific anti-trapping bills we were facing. Our worst enemies, both the bad bill's author and co-author, are also on that committee. The chairman has not been favorable to us in the past. There's no chance any of the rest of the democrats on the committee will go against their party regarding trapping. This is the same party that voted to require tampons in public men's bathrooms, beginning January 1st, because they say men can menstruate. They are metro minded through and through. At the Trapper's Day at the Capital last year our display table was on the democratic floor. Unless I missed one, (I wasn't at the table the whole time) not one democrat stopped to see our display and talk. We had lots of Republicans though. Theres some very good pro-trapping republicans on the environmental committees, but they are far outnumbered.
So when there's no chance of a bill passing, the MTA would be foolish to try. All it could possibly do is motivate the anti-trappers to push their current bills forward. Theres no good that can come out of it, only bad. The MTA has a committee set up for the express purpose as to pursue non-resident trapping. The chairman is in Texas right now trapping, nobody is more pro non-resident trapping than he is. He and the others understand now is not the time, at least until we have a safety net. Right now there's nothing we could do to stop the bad bills if they want to push them forward. The MTA worked extremely hard last session against these bills and were successful. But they are still alive this coming session. The bills are active for two legislative sessions. The last thing we need is for them to get motivated when they hear we want to increase trapping in this state. For those of you that dont know, the bad bills would basically severely limit or even end snaring, dryland and 1/2 submerged bodygrips, dog-proof traps, loss of license if a dog is caught (even if it's on your own land) and written permission to trap on private land. The bills would be devastating to us. Lots of people would just quit.
Also remember, when the vote was taken by the MTA on the issue, it only passed by a few votes. There will be plenty of trappers contacting their legislators against non-resident trapping. So even the pro-trapping Republicans arent guaranteed to vote for the bill. It will likely depend on how much pressure they get from either side. And we'd need every Republican plus Democrats to get a bill passed.
So again. When there's no chance of a non-resident bill passing, it's wisdom to wait until theres at least a safety net. By a safety net I mean the Republicans having control of at least the House or Senate. I'm very encouraged for the future. I was hoping for a couple new legislators with some type of trapping experience. I am astounded by the amount of new legislators I've talked to that either trap, have trapped, or have a close relative like a brother or dad that traps. There's 12-15 between the House and Senate at least. We havent met with all the new ones yet, but we will, hopefully there will be more. The MTA was all ready to go forward with a non-resident bill before the last election, fully expecting both the House and Senate to go Republican. All the polls ended up being wrong. Instead we ended up with a bunch of anti-trappers controlling the whole legislature. Thats why the MTA hasn't pursued a non-resident bill. One of the main purposes of the MTA is to protect trapping. The MTA's not going to do anything to foolishly jeopardize what we have.

Thanks for the update and info.

Thank you for the very informative update and information. Keep up the good fight.

That is a very informative and welcome post. Thank you Goldy!

Thanks for the update, Goldy.

Thank you for the update and support.

Got to continue pushing back, otherwise the entire state will end up like the Lynx Zone of NE MN….

Thank you goldy for that explanation, timing can play a huge part as you say. Thank you for all you do for us and the MTA!

Is there a written bill prepared, How many democrats have been approached one on one.?

Nothing formal, but it wont take long to put a bill together. One of our officers has experience drafting bills. We've had meetings with some democrats, most wont even talk to us though. Believe me, we've tried. If we get meetings through their assistants, the legislators themselves cancel. Most meetings we have been able to get are because a constituent asks for one, and we go with the constituent.

So the Explanation is they don't think it will pass so they are not going to do anything about it.If people never did anything because they didn't think something was going to pass nothing would ever get done.We haven't been able to pass non resident trapping in the past this is just the Latest excuse. Anti trappers will always push for anti trapping legislation no matter if we present a bill or not

So the MTA should just introduce a bill knowing full well it has no chance of passing? That the only thing that could possibly come out of it is motivation to the anti's? Thats just plain foolish.

Mn. legislature is at a poor place for introducing a NR bill,,, it will never be, ever, in Mn., a good legislature for it.

There was lots of research and discussion about suing the state. But it would cost at least $100,000, likely far more. Good luck raising that kind of money from trappers

I don't have a solution but waiting for a better legislation in Mn, ain't it. IMO. Too many democrats there for it to ever change for the better. Sad for the guys who would like to travel to or from there to trap, but as stupid as the NR regulations are, I don't see a way to ever change it. You're right of course about getting that kind of money. I wouldn't donate simply because I feel it would be throwing away the money.

In 2011 both the senate and house in Minnesota were controlled by the republican party.
A small group of us were successful in having bills sponsored in both the senate and house that would have removed the requirement that a nonresident could only trap on land they own.

https://legiscan.com/MN/text/SF1585/2011

Those bills were killed in committee primarily because of the MTA leadership. I was told this by my State rep that sponsored the house version.

One only need to look at wisconsins success in opening nr trapping to understand that the overstated risk to trapping by opening it to nonresidents is a straw man argument.

Why did the MTA stand against the lawsuit against the state on this issue 10 years ago and now they think it's a good idea to do it? Do you and Gary not understand how laughable it is when you bring up a lawsuit?
The money was in fact raised by trappers. It's been done several times.

Never once has the MTA publicly stated their position on the matter. The actions over the years really show the position they (he) holds on the matter.

Anyone that wants the truth on the matter should listen carefully to what BobMo types on the issue.

This sure didn't take long.....

The truth ? I sat in meetings with key legislators and witnessed a prominent member of the MTA make arguments against NR trapping.
Bobmo is 100% accurate in his statement ! The MTA could have joined in the effort to promote and pass NR trapping in MN at that time. They chose not to support the endeavor despite the MTA members expressing their wishes by a paper ballot vote. The CTM had reached out to the MTA President prior to jacketing a Bill and prior to hiring a Lobbyist, We were told if we made the effort by the MTA they would not interfere.

Now reread Bobmo’s post on who fought the effort !

Thanks Goldy

Not against non resident trapping But free hunting for coyote was wrong .They come here from all over but if we go there we pay and pay some more . Everything should at least be reciprocal