Default Mono Sans Mono Serif Sans Serif Comic Fancy Small CapsDefault X-Small Small Medium Large X-Large XX-LargeDefault Outline Dark Outline Light Outline Dark Bold Outline Light Bold Shadow Dark Shadow Light Shadow Dark Bold Shadow Light BoldDefault Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%Default Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%The 20th annual U.P. Trappers Association Young Trappers Workshop included demonstrations, a variety of furs to view or purchase, and trapping equipment to buy.

By Dan Groeneveld

Published: Feb. 1, 2025 at 5:27 PM PST|Updated: 18 hours ago

HERMANSVILLE, Mich. (WLUC) – On Saturday, trappers came together to learn and share tips and tricks with the less experienced.

The 20th annual U.P. Trappers Association Young Trappers Workshop included demonstrations, a variety of furs to view or purchase, and trapping equipment for sale.

The workshop also had free gifts for kids and a can raffle for adults.

Browning Kittleson likes to trap foxes and muskrats. He says he found the trapping demonstrations at the workshop helpful.

“It’s been really educational with the weasel demo and the raccoon demo we just did,” Kittleson said. “I learned a lot about raccoon trapping, and I might want to try it sometime later. So, it’s good to learn right now, to learn different traps and tricks.”

U.P. Trappers Association President John Gunville hopes people at the workshop took away the importance of trapping as a means of animal population control.

“A lot of people are building houses around lakes and then they got nice big poplar trees in their yard and all at once a beaver moves into the lake or on a river and they start cutting their poplar trees down and they’re mad because they’re killing all the trees,” Gunville said. “Well, the beaver doesn’t know any better.”

Raccoon Trapper Stetson Oman encourages you to give trapping a try.

“I think more kids should get into trapping because it’s really fun, you get outside, and we need more trappers for the next generation of trapping,” Oman said.

Children under 11 were given a free weasel box and children over 12 were given a dog-proof trap.

Friend,

View this email in your browse

We are so pleased to announce, HB 222 creating an open season on wolves, DIED on the House Floor 40:60, afternoon of 1/30/25!

We applaud the wonderful Montana representatives who spoke out against HB222!

A shout out to all our supporters who helped us contact the representatives and who provided opposing public comment.

And especially to both the Republicans and Democrats who in their vote 40:60 demonstrated, ENOUGH is ENOUGH! 

You can view/listen to the 1/30/25 debate of HB 222 on the House floor.
 

Never ever think you cannot make a difference!

We still have a number of battles ahead for wolves, i.e. HB176 remove quotas on the House floor any day, extend the wolf season, extension of wolf bounties, and more trapping bills  to come.

But for a moment, at least this horrendous one failed! Celebrate! And feel motivated that against the odds, we can have some wins!

Here again are the various ways to participate and speak up for wolves, other wildlife, and against trapping.

Here are phones numbers and the email address to call or email Montana legislators. You can find your own, legislator, here.

Please take a minute to thank those who voted to stop HB222. Click on the voting numbers to the right and scroll down.

Thank you Friends of Trap Free Montana Public Lands (TFMPL)

& Trap Free Montana!