Fellow Sportsmen,
Currently there are over 560 refuges and 38 wetland management districts encompassing more than 150 million acres in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Trapping is allowed on an estimated 300 of these refuges. On April 23 2015, Senator Booker (D-NJ) introduced S.1081 "Refuge From Cruel Trapping" which if passed would prohibit the use of or possession of snares, body-grip and foothold traps on our refuge system.
To date, working with others, we have prevented this bill from being heard.
Senator Booker has announced he will attach his bill as an amendment to the "Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act" which is strongly supported by sportsmen and sportsmen's organizations all across the country.
At this time we need lots of letters and emails to the members of the senate committee listed below. While the members of the committee are the priority, sending one to your own senator wont hurt either. Below is a draft letter. Please edit and modify and add facts and figures as you see fit.
The amendment is scheduled to be heard on Jan 20. TIME IS VERY SHORT .
....
I'm writing today in strong opposition to an amendment being offered by Sen. Booker of New Jersey to the Sportsmen's bill expected to be marked up by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on January
20. The amendment would prohibit the use of so called 'body gripping'
traps on National Wildlife Refuges by private professional or recreational trappers.
Trapping is a critical tool for conservation management and predator control. It also represents a proud livelihood and recreational
activity for many. Today's citizen trappers, whether professional or
recreational, make use of some of the most technologically advanced, humane and safe traps available, consistent with international treaty agreements on humane trapping standards. Trappers are subject to regulation and permitting, and often work hand in hand with state, local, and federal wildlife management and agricultural protection agencies.
To restrict trapping activities and the use of traps on National Wildlife Refuges will not only tie the hands of state agencies and wildlife managers, it will have a detrimental impact on the livelihoods and personal incomes of many of your constituents. The sale of wild trapped fur, meat and by products play a vital role in the economy and lifestyle of rural dwellers across North America.
Additionally, federal restrictions and interference into the long standing partnership between refuge managers and citizen trappers will erode the mission of the refuges as managers have to re allocate limited resources to trapping activities and focus more on 'nuisance control'
than population management and species protection.
Trappers play a key role as partners with wildlife managers in ensuring sustainable management of wildlife for human benefit Removal of nuisance animals to ensure human health and prevent the spread of wildlife disease.
Trapping is a vital tool for protecting agriculture, providing predator protection for crop and livestock management
I urge you to oppose this amendment as flawed and inconsistent public policy, and a blow to trapper livelihoods.
Thank you for your consideration.
.......
Below you will find your state Senators by state and the staff contact emails:
OKLAHOMA:
Sen. James Inhofe
Chairman
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Staff Contact: Hilary Moffett, hilary_moffett@epw.senate.gov
WYOMING:
Sen. John Barasso
307 Dirksen Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Staff Contact: Brian_Clifford@barasso.senate.gov
LOUISIANA:
Sen. David Vitter
516 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Staff Contact: Ward_Cormier@vitter.senate.gov
ARKANSAS:
Sen. John Boozman
141 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Staff Contact: Philip_Moore@Boozman.senate.gov
NEBRASKA:
Sen. Deb Fischer
454 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Staff Contact: Jessica_Clowser@Fischer.senate.gov
MISSISSIPPI:
Sen. Roger Wicker
555 Dirksen Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Staff Contact: Brandon_Elsner@wicker.senate.gov
DELAWARE:
Sen. Thomas Carper
513 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Staff Contact: Andrew_Shine@Carper.senate.gov
IDAHO:
Sen. Michael Crapo
239 Dirksen Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Staff Contact: Peter_Stegner@crapo.senate.gov
ALASKA:
Sen. Dan Sullivan
702 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Staff Contact: Erik_Elam@Sullivan.senate.gov
ALABAMA:
Sen. Jeff Sessions
326 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Staff Contact: Kerrie_Carr@sessions.senate.gov
SOUTH DAKOTA:
Sen. Mike Rounds
502 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Staff Contact: Amanda_Tharpe@rounds.senate.gov
