MONTANA LEGISLATURE
2019
Bills to expand trapping reared up in the 2019 legislature: remove setbacks from seasonally-gated roads for wolf traps; pay wolf trappers’ expenses.
Footloose Montana fought these bills - which ultimately failed - by:
Despite a public spurred to support these bills, the legislators did not pass these bills that would have created meaningful, common-sense additions to trapping regulations.
Bills to expand trapping reared up in the 2019 legislature: remove setbacks from seasonally-gated roads for wolf traps; pay wolf trappers’ expenses.
Footloose Montana fought these bills - which ultimately failed - by:
- supporting a lobbyist (with the Sierra Club Montana Chapter) to testify to the negative impacts of these bills; and,
- running a public awareness campaign that resulted in Montanans directly testifying against the bills and/or urging their legislators to vote against the bills.
Despite a public spurred to support these bills, the legislators did not pass these bills that would have created meaningful, common-sense additions to trapping regulations.
Montana Ballot initiatives
Footloose Montana has doggedly pursued statewide voter-approved legislation that would prohibit trapping wildlife on public land.
2016 Trap-Free Public Lands
Ballot Issue: I-177 Subject: Prohibit the use of traps and snares for animals by the public on any public lands within Montana, with certain exceptions. Type: Statutory initiative Received by MT Secy. State: August 20, 2015 Status: Qualified for general election ballot as of June 30, 2016. REJECTED BY VOTERS. Signatures received and tallied by MT Secy. State: 33,026 of 24,175 total signatures needed; qualified in 49 of 34 legislative districts needed. |
In 2016, the Montana trap-free public lands ballot initiative won over 37% of the general vote despite being outfunded by a web of national pro-trapping groups and the MT Trappers Association (which receives most of its money from brokering the sale of MT furbearing animal pelts).
2013
Ballot Issue: I-167 Subject: Prohibit trapping of certain animals by private individuals on any public lands within the state of Montana. Type: Statutory initiative Received by MT Secy. State: June 3, 2013 Status: Petition was approved for signature gathering as of September 6, 2013; insufficient signatures filed by the deadline. |
2010
Ballot Issue: I-160 Subject: Ban commercial trapping of wild mammals and birds on any public lands within the state of Montana. Type: Statutory initiative Status: Petition was approved for signature gathering as of September 8, 2009; insufficient signatures filed by the deadline. |
Anecdotal evidence during campaigning showed that:
- 60% of people talked with had no idea about trapping and/or did not know that trapping was still allowed in Montana.
- 60% of people, who supported our initiative have had experiences with traps (sometimes lethal for their dog), or knew someone who had.
- We also heard stories about people themselves getting hurt by traps set on public lands while they were enjoying other outdoor activities.
- Several people hurt themselves as they were frantically trying to free their dog caught in a trap.
- A man stepped in a smaller-sized Conibear trap set on public land while bird hunting.
- Another man was injured from stepping into a foothold trap in 2009. A year later, he stepped again in a foothold trap and injured his knee.
- Most people who encountered traps on public land did not think of - or know to - contact MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
MONTANA fwp regulation
MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) regulates the trapping of wildlife. The Fish & Game Commission sets fish and wildlife regulations, in addition to approving certain rules and activities of FWP.
Proposed increased setbacks on given set of trails.
FWP proposal to increase setbacks (from 50 to 300 feet) for lethal and nonlethal traps along 25 identified urbanized trails out of a network of over 15,000 miles of public trails in Montana is misleading, minuscule and ineffective, disregarding the clear and present danger traps present to the public and companion animals. The Department of Livestock (DOL) is responsible for coyote and predator control. FWP therefore does not have the legal authority to regulate traps set for species classified as predators. FWP will not be able to enforce or monitor these proposed increased setbacks.
2013/2014 increased trapping quota of bobcats and swift foxes and the continuing trapping in critical wolverine habitat.
FWP wants to increase the number of bobcats (from 250 to 275) that can be trapped in one district while decreasing the quota in another district. The overall quota of nearly 2,000 bobcats killed in traps and snares every year is appalling and is often exceeded in many districts. Trapping bobcats poses a significant risk to endangered lynx.
2013/2014 Wolf Hunting and Trapping Proposal
Footloose Montana respectfully opposes the proposal to increase the trapping of wolves to 5 per individual trapper, opposes the use of trappers to collar wolves, and opposes shooting wolves over baited traps.
FWP proposal to increase setbacks (from 50 to 300 feet) for lethal and nonlethal traps along 25 identified urbanized trails out of a network of over 15,000 miles of public trails in Montana is misleading, minuscule and ineffective, disregarding the clear and present danger traps present to the public and companion animals. The Department of Livestock (DOL) is responsible for coyote and predator control. FWP therefore does not have the legal authority to regulate traps set for species classified as predators. FWP will not be able to enforce or monitor these proposed increased setbacks.
2013/2014 increased trapping quota of bobcats and swift foxes and the continuing trapping in critical wolverine habitat.
FWP wants to increase the number of bobcats (from 250 to 275) that can be trapped in one district while decreasing the quota in another district. The overall quota of nearly 2,000 bobcats killed in traps and snares every year is appalling and is often exceeded in many districts. Trapping bobcats poses a significant risk to endangered lynx.
2013/2014 Wolf Hunting and Trapping Proposal
Footloose Montana respectfully opposes the proposal to increase the trapping of wolves to 5 per individual trapper, opposes the use of trappers to collar wolves, and opposes shooting wolves over baited traps.