So, I've been wanting to join the MTA (Minnesota Trappers Association) for years but kept putting it off. I remember years ago, the last time I looked at it, it said lifetime membership was $200 without a subscription to trapper's post, $400 with the subscription. Now when I look at it, it says lifetime membership is $1500. Is that a typo?! When did they raise it to be that much?! And why? I thought $400 was a lot of money, which is why I kept putting it off. $1500?! Wow! I looked up how much it is to join NTA (National Trappers Association) just to compare the prices, they're only $1200 for lifetime ($500 without magazine subscription). Last I looked at it, it was like $800 or so if I remember right. So they went up in price too but there's a much bigger difference in how much MTA raised their price. And the MTA costs more then the NTA now? That just doesn't seem right to me. So really I'm just wondering what gives? I know inflation has affected a lot of stuff but I doubt that would have to do with inflation, or at least not only. Now I'm less likely to join cause I still think $400 is a bit much, $1500 is just crazy to me.

I don't know the answer to your question, but in general I would advise everyone to NEVER join an association for life. You might think it's the best thing in the world right now, but in one election cycle you can find the association you joined for life is actively working against the best interest of trapping.

Sure, it costs a bit more to re-up every year, but if you renew on a yearly basis, you at least know your money is going to an association that is actually fighting for what is best for the trapping community.

No idea why association's still offer lifetime membership's to be honest. Watched Krause and Charlie Rath go back and forth for a day long ago about what the actual cost to service a member is, never did get a straight answer on that one but whatever it was im sure that cost is alot higher today than it was over 20 years ago. I joined FTA for life in 1985 for 150.00 bucks, i get a magazine every month 12 months out of the year, how much has it cost FTA to keep my membership serviced through those years?

Last I looked NTA is north of 4000 LT members! What's the cost to them to keep those members serviced?

Oh how we miss Charlie Rath . . .

Ask the MTA folks themselves. We can all speculate, but they can give you the real answer.

Good advice. That is where I am at right now. Times and politics change.

Lifetime memberships are money losers for any organization, unless the member happens to pass away within a few years of joining and the survivors call to have the magazine stop coming.in.

Me too!

I believe I paid $350 for my Life Membership. I recognize the cost of servicing my lifetime membership with the Trappers Post and volunteered to opt out.

I believe I have seen 5 separate administrations since being a Lifer.

One reason the cost increased is the cost of servicing a member has skyrocketed. With interest paid on the Lifer account way down the cost had to be adjusted to remain solvent.

The MTA recently did an audit of how much it costs to service a member. They cant lose money, so the increase in dues reflected what it costs the association per member these days.

This right here

The high price will discourage people from becoming a life member, which is probably what the association wants. As Jackie and others pointed out, lifetime memberships are a losing proposition for the association.

I have some doubt that I'll join either MTA or NTA for life right now unless I get loaded with cash and don't have anything else to spend it on. MTA has a 3 year membership for $100 and that's a lot more digestible for someone like me so that's probably what I'll go with. I like the idea of not having to keep renewing, at least often which is part of why I want a lifetime membership. But oh well.

Honestly I didn't think it would cost much, or anything to run the association... guess I'm wrong...

Magazines eat up most of the membership dues you pay, even after ad revenue.

I became a life member of the Iowa Trappers Assn in 1988 for $250. Seemed like a lot of money at that time, but I have a concern that my magazine subscription is now a drain on the association. Not sure if I am even paying my own way. I hope they made a lot of interest on the $250 before gains became so small. Maybe I need to make another donation.

Could I ask you to enlighten me as to which trappers organization ever worked against the best interest of trapping?

Theres all kinds of expenses, some large some small. They all add up. Nobody wants to raise dues. It will likely cost members. But the association cant lose money or it will cease to exist. .

Thats a good question. If she means the Minnesota Trappers Association. She has no idea what shes talking about.

One factor of politics that has not changed is without the MTA and people like goldy is we would be trapping the way we do today. The politics in St Paul is we are target as often as not

Maybe someday 160 will explain what event happened to cause him to reach the conclusion he has.

Eventually lifetime memberships become a drain on budgets as the accumulated cost to service a member becomes far greater than what said member paid.

I have been told it currently costs approximately 30 dollars a year to service an average member every year. That figure is higher if the member is getting the trappers post. I don't know what , if any break the MTA gets from TP for a years subscription, if one purchases the subscription individually it's 21 dollars.

100 dollar 3 year membership is a bargain at those figures