Trappers?

[Rooster]

Can somone give me info on how to get my trappers license? I found a number somewhere but was unable to get ahold of somone. Somone said I need to leave info on the answering machine, but what am I supposed to leave? I never got a call back.

[billythekidrock]

Let me guess. You are trying to contact Chuck?
Keep calling and leaving messages.

[Krusty]

Guys,

You're doing it the hard way... 

DO NOT go through the State agencies, if you want to do it the easy way.

Call George Brady, at Cascade Biological Supply.
(509) 923-2326

You probably get his answering machine too, but it will give you his cell phone number and you should call it.

Next person I'd call is George Sovie, at Cascade Trappers Supply.
(253) 537-3277

Both of these gentlemen are with the Washington State Trappers Association, who have been charged by the state with a large part of the Trapper Ed program.
George Brady teaches several classes each year.

Barring that, I'd try Sean Carrell, at the Olympia Office of the WDFW, he's the head of enforcement.
(360) 902-2936

Chuck Ray is a VERY VERY BUSY man, he pretty much runs the eastside, and is on the road a lot.
You can keep trying him, but you do need to be persistent. The earlier in the day, you try, the better your chances of connecting with him.

Rooster,

If you call any of these people, and have to leave a message;
Tell them you are interested in Trapper Education, and leave your name, shipping address, and a phone number.

The State will hook you up with the home study course, and the WSTA will teach it to you... it's your choice, but not many people are successful doing the home study.
It can take a week or more to wade through the educational material on your own, or a few hours sitting in a class.

I had to do a lot of searching for basic information, glossaries of terms and the like, when I first started working on the Home Study program.
*I was actually involved in beta testing the first versions of the home study course... and was sorely disappointed in how much of the original draft was lost.

If I can be of any assistance, or answer any specific questions once you get the process going, feel free to contact me.

Krusty

[WildlifeAssassin]

I spoke with WDFW last week and they informed me that Chuck Ray is no longer in charge of trapper ed. So go one of the other directions because I promise Chuck will not return trapping related calls, I tried for months.

[Houndhunter]

you have to go to the eastside to take the course, dont know why they dont do them over here anymore. i took the test and failed with an 88%, you have to get a 90% to pass. i realize the mistakes i made now, a few Q's on the test arnt clear and the people giving the test dont know how to explain them but over all its not to difficult to pass

[Krusty]

There's at least one question, that I believe their answer to, is wrong...

The question is; When is an ecosystem at it's best, when it's below the carrying capacity, at the carrying capacity, or over the carrying capacity.

Their answer is, over the carrying capacity... but from everything I've ever read, being over the carrying capacity is when a system breaks...

Too many animals means more competition for the same resources, and starvation, disease, and habitat destruction are the results.

To me, that's not the best.
The best case, would be when a given ecosystem is at the carrying capacity, with enough food for everyone, and with enough browsers to keep things from overgrowing, to spread seeds, and to fertilize and till the ground.
To me, that's the proper "balance".

I got one wrong, on my test, and that was it.

Guys, seriously, contact George Brady... in the past, he was willing to come over and teach a class here in Seattle... there's other instructors too who live on this side, a class has been held in the Olympia area before (and I tried to get one together, there, last year... but got tied up in personal life matters, and wasn't able to follow through).

I'm no longer involved with the WSTA, like I was in the past, or I'd try again.

If enough of you guys show interest to the right people, they'll put something together... and George Brady, is the right person to contact.

Krusty

[Rooster]

Thanks alot guys, I'll have to call and get some info. :-D Never hurts to have the papers to study then goto the class. :-D Thats what I did for my hunter ed and I think I only missed two questions. They gave out the old patches for the WDFW Game wardens to the kids if they got 100%. I wish I had one. :-(

[Fishhunt223]

I took my home study course with George and it wasnt too bad.  Just get him on the phone and ask questions when you need to, or write him an email.  He is a great guy and understands the situation with the state and such.  He is also a retired wildlife enforcement agent and knows the laws very well.  Good luck.
Travis