Trap tags

[Moss Back]

Okay I have read previous posts,and my questions have not been answered....I looked all over my license and cannot find any# except my wild id#...do I need to apply for a number or is it the number on my trappers ed card. i'm trying to stock up on supplies while I got the cash..I want to order tags soon,so any help would be appreciated ...THE G :dunno:UYS.....

[rasbo]

its the number on your plastic card,why buy tags make your own..

[Heredoggydoggy]

The wdfw site should have a section on the trapping regulations; www.wdfw.wa.gov/ I believe is the URL.  I haven't trapped since I was a kid back in the Stone Age, so i'm not very much help. 

[Moss Back]

I do not have a plastic card.all I have is my paper card from trappers ed and a current license.I bought it to find my license # .  All I can find is my wild id # and a document #. My neighbor across the street is a wild life officer and he can't answer my question. The rules only say identification # or name and address. That's the answer he gave me.that's it. I learned my lesson in Wisconsin to not give your name or address. The greenies trashed my place..

[Humptulips]

I'll start out with a little history lesson. Way back when your only option was your name and address.
Then we were given the option of applying for a Trapper ID#. If you have that they are still good to use.
Then they started issuing the plastic credit card sized licenses which had a permanent # attached. They stayed the same theoretically as long as you bought a trapping license. At that point they stopped issuing Trapper ID#s as they were no longer needed. You could use the number on your license. If you ever had one of the plastic credit card type licenses you can use that number.
Then they decided as a cost saving matter they would discontinue the use of the credit card style license and issue them through licensing agents. These new licenses have no number on them that is legal to use on a trap tag.
So right now WDFW has two different type Trapper ID numbering systems which you can be grandfathered into but you can't get a new number.
This leaves you with only one option if you are a new license holder. You have to use your name and address on your trap tags.
WSTA has been round and round with them on this but no action yet has been taken yet.
My only suggestion is if you are worried about putting your address out there it is not neccesary to put detailed info on the tag. Before you could get a number my tags simply said Bruce Vandervort, Humptulips, WA

I know it's a fouled up system but there doesn't seem much impetus to fix it.

[Moss Back]

THANK YOU!!! I appreciate the history lesson...now my question has been answered...

[Alpinist]

Perhaps the WSTA could step up and offer a trapper ID numbering system. It would be very simple to set up a database with numbers, names, and addresses. Fish and Wildlife could be supplied with a username and password to access the information on the rare occasion when they need it. IMO putting your name on a trap tag is dangerous, as Moss Back found out. Anyone can look up a name on Google to find your address.

[rasbo]

THANK YOU!!! I appreciate the history lesson...now my question has been answered...

Problem/Nuisance Wildlife
Sean Carrell, Problem Wildlife Coordinator
Sean.Carrell@dfw.wa.gov
360.902.2926

[Humptulips]

Perhaps the WSTA could step up and offer a trapper ID numbering system. It would be very simple to set up a database with numbers, names, and addresses. Fish and Wildlife could be supplied with a username and password to access the information on the rare occasion when they need it. IMO putting your name on a trap tag is dangerous, as Moss Back found out. Anyone can look up a name on Google to find your address.

I really think this needs to come from WDFW. This is a law enforcement issue when you get right down to it. It's their responcibility and I think there would be some real problems with a non-governmental organization taking this on.

I didn't want to do it but I'm thinking about asking them to make the WILD ID# a valid trap tag #. It would be easy for them so it might actually happen.

[Alpinist]

I wonder if a phone number would be acceptable in place of name and address. It would allow enforcement to contact me if they needed to, but the number is unlisted so no troublemakers could trace it to my address. It might be a good question to ask Fish and Wildlife. The WILD ID# would be better, of course.

[pnwmtnmn]

The thing about the ID number is if someone finds your trap and goes to the Fish and Wildlife dept to get your name and address. Is that they have to give their name and address first and the trapper gets a copy of that. So its not just a one way street.

[Alpinist]

The thing about the ID number is if someone finds your trap and goes to the Fish and Wildlife dept to get your name and address. Is that they have to give their name and address first and the trapper gets a copy of that. So its not just a one way street.

That's the way it should work. Unfortunately it seems that the state has dropped the ball and is currently refusing to provide new trappers with ID numbers.

In this day and age, I believe it is dangerous to put your name and address on your traps. By requiring new trappers to do so, the state has exposed itself to litigation. Consider this scenario: A radical anti-trapper sees you running your trapline and finds one of your traps. They now know where you live and that you are not at home, so they go to your home and cause mischief. In my opinion, the state would be liable.

What if this where the case with automobiles? Say the state required a license, but did not supply numbers, forcing you to put your name and address on the licence plates on your car. No one would stand for that.

The only way it might be safe to put your address on your traps is if you have a PO Box.

[pnwmtnmn]

Your first Initial, your last name and the town your address is in is all you are required by law to have on the trap tag. That is all Fish and Wildlife needs to track you down off of your trapping license. It adds a degree of difficulty to others trying to track you down.

[ElmerFudd]

"This leaves you with only one option if you are a new license holder. You have to use your name and address on your trap tags."

Received my trappers ed cert at the rendezvous and wondering if this is still true? Thank you.

[fast60eddie]

Dan Boes told me that the number on my paper card is my number T####
Edward Simpson

[ElmerFudd]

I never received a card. I did get an 8 1/2" X 11" piece of paper titled "Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Trapper Certificate." There is a five digit "Authorization Number" on it. Is this the one I use?

[Humptulips]

I really should have updated this thread.
WSTA asked to have the Wild ID# on your license to be allowed as a Trapper ID# on your traps. I first spoke with Brian Caulkins about this when he became the Fur Bearer Section Manager. It finally happened last year.
So now you can use Your Wild ID#, Your old Department issued Trapper ID# or the number that was on the old plastic Trapper License cards.

Seems kind of fouled up having so many option but we asked to keep the old systems in place so people wouldn't have to change out their old tags.

The only number new trappers can get is the Wild ID# which is permanent.

I wrote about this in several places but overlooked this thread. Sorry for not posting sooner.

[ElmerFudd]

Thank you very much for clearing this up for me. I also appreciate your timely response.

[Humptulips]

I never received a card. I did get an 8 1/2" X 11" piece of paper titled "Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Trapper Certificate." There is a five digit "Authorization Number" on it. Is this the one I use?

No, that is for WDFW to confirm you have passed Trapper Ed so they can issue a license.
As I said the number you use on your trap tags is going to be your Wild #. It is on any license issued by WDFW. If you have an old hunting or fishing license it is at the top.

[ElmerFudd]

Got it. Thank you again.