Trapping on Weyerhaeuser land

[jasnt]

It has to be frustrating to argue against that type of empty justifications, would be easier to take if they just came right out and said we don't want you doing it.

Could certainly respect the honesty that way even if it isn't the answer that was being looked for.

   

[jhawk13]

That absolutely blows...

[pnwmtnmn]

They will get USDA or somebody else to come in and take care of their problems.

[wags]

It would be great if we could get the hunters to boycott buying Weyco permits. If Weyerhaeuser won't support trapping they won't support hunting either; when the pressure comes.
But I doubt that will happen, it's too bad that most outdoors-men are sell-outs.

[JakeLand]

It would be great if we could get the hunters to boycott buying Weyco permits. If Weyerhaeuser won't support trapping they won't support hunting either; when the pressure comes.
But I doubt that will happen, it's too bad that most outdoors-men are sell-outs.

 

[klikboom]

I don't think it's about hunters being sell outs at all. I will probably buy a permit this year and I trap on occasion. I actually think if anyone is selling out as you call it its trappers because they literally sell their harvest. I have a personal distaste for selling wild animal harvests and that's my opinion which I'm entitled to which is why I don't sell anything and just use the resources for my own consumption. ive tried to state my position in a non incendiary manner. I think having trapping on land that you pay to access with the purpose of selling on the market would encourage trappers to get as many animals as possible to justify buying the permit. This would lead to rapid depletion of the resources in these areas especially with limits not clearly defined.

[Humptulips]

Kilkboom,
Trappers sell their catch but to say this can cause a depletion of the resource shows a lack of understanding about how most fur trappers operate.
Fur trappers tend to be very defensive of their trapline area. We like to have a good place to go back to every year, so to over harvest an area is shooting yourself in the foot.
The problem comes when someone like Weyerhaeuser can deny fur trappers access. The population grows and before you know it they have a problem, in this case probably beaver plugging culverts and flooding timberland. They then hire someone, maybe USDA, to come in and kill everything. In that scenario all those animals will most likely be thrown away, just a terrible waste plus any dams the beaver have blown out with a subsequent loss of habitat.
When I met with Weyerhaeuser representatives I offered to go along with any restrictions they wanted. A representative from The Oregon Trappers Association was there and he said they would be fine with restricting themselves to cage traps in Oregon. That is quite a concession for a State not required to use cages.
We also talked about  a special access to trap that would be money in Weyerhaeuser's pocket. Trappers would pay plus they wouldn't have the burden of hiring trappers when they have a problem.
Also I truly do not understand this adamant opposition to selling wildlife. In my mind if wildlife management is practiced what does it matter whether the harvester uses it or another. History shows how bad market hunting was but it was not because of the selling it was because of a lack of management. I say let the State set harvest guidelines through seasons, bag limits and quotas but after the animal is dead there can be a regulated trade without harming any wildlife management objectives.

[Machias]

 

[JakeLand]

Well said Bruce
He consumes everything he traps hmmm I would think the fur would be pretty hard to pass through the intestinal track ! I prefer to put on stretchers

[predatorpro]

Well said Bruce
He consumes everything he traps hmmm I would think the fur would be pretty hard to pass through the intestinal track ! I prefer to put on stretchers

Ive heard bobcat fur is especially hard to digest....atleast thats what i read n the internet once...

[klikboom]

I only learn the hard way, I've been picking cat fur out of my teeth for the last 2 days!

I fully realize that my opinion is a minority among trappers, but then my opinions are a minority among conversationalists as well and I fall somewhere in the middle.

Specifically with regards to Weyerhauser trapping which wasn't really addressed was the group of trappers are paying for drive-in access in order to make a profit from trapping. It is more likely that trappers as a whole would take more animals since they first must pay back the access cost just to break even than in an area that provides walk in only access (can't carry as many traps etc or range as far). I acknowledge the fur-bearers are a resource and can be managed as such but limits aren't currently defined maybe Weyerhauser would do that? Was that part of the discussion? The concern is not that 1 trapper takes too many animals its that too many trappers take a just a few.

The current state of salmon fishing provides a lot of the basis for my point of view. The regulations are such that as a sports fisherman, my cost per pound of salmon is maybe 5 times the cost of in store salmon? Now that could be because I'm a terrible fisherman. In the case of salmon, there would be more harvest available for those willing to work to provide their own if there was no commercial market. Now maybe that doesn't apply directly to trapping. Recreational trapping is such a niche hobby. I do it only to collect some fur to make some cool stuff. I'd like to make my boy a beaver blanket but haven't trapped any beavers yet, only tried for a few weeks since i live in a suburban area.

Maybe it's not the commercial market competition at all that drives this post. It could be it just feels wrong to sell resources from the wild. When you associate a monetary value to something of limited supply you risk over harvesting and even if you don't over harvest it still cheapens, no pun intended, the morality of the sport. Killing to make a blanket for your kids versus selling it to the chinese does feel different to me. And maybe you get defensive because you feel bad about it too but are trying to ignore those feelings...

Or maybe I like to play the devil's advocate and this is me trolling you. I don't know! All i know is hunters who buy permits are not sell-outs and sometimes people have different opinions.

[bear hunter]

This is way we as hunters, fisherman, and trappers lose more rights, because people like you.... I support all sportsman and women. Even If I don't like or support what they love to do. Yes everone has there opinion. But why must you start sh#t with trappers. Do you think your better then everone here. I don't think so........ I don't judge people that sell, keep or there furs. If you love to eat rat sh#t or brains of legal killed monkeys. I don't care  Just stop the Bull Sh!t and come together as a whole sportsman to fight PITA and Others. 

[klikboom]

Hey man if you can't bear to hear a differing opinion maybe a public forum is not the right place for you. My comments are on topic specifically related to trapping on Weyerhaeuser. I don't judge anyone that recreates or operates within the law and or rules but we can certainly have a discussion about the rules. If not on a hunting forum than where? I love the strategic aspect of trapping it's a really unique way to be out in the woods. Does that mean I have to agree with any and all who participate just to participate?

About three years ago I called emailed  Weyerhaeuser about trapping even had a friend who logs often on their land ask one of their reps. I would trap on their land if it was allowed. I also see reasons why they wouldn't allow it.

[bear hunter]

Hey man if you can't bear to hear a differing opinion maybe a public forum is not the right place for you. My comments are on topic specifically related to trapping on Weyerhaeuser. I don't judge anyone that recreates or operates within the law and or rules but we can certainly have a discussion about the rules. If not on a hunting forum than where? I love the strategic aspect of trapping it's a really unique way to be out in the woods. Does that mean I have to agree with any and all who participate just to participate?

About three years ago I called emailed  Weyerhaeuser about trapping even had a friend who logs often on their land ask one of their reps. I would trap on their land if it was allowed. I also see reasons why they wouldn't allow it.

I can BEAR it.... I just don't under stand why you think trappers that sell there fur's are sell outs. Yes...Your right you do have the right to speak your mind. But as soon as you start turning against trappers on a trapping form. Thats not cool.  Weyerhaeuser has lots of land and we as trapper won't even put a dent in the critters that rome there.   

[huntingfool7]

If we all kept track of our trapping expenses like it was a "for profit" venture.  Very few of us would use something other than a red pen in our ledgers.  By and large, we do this because it's our recreation.  My cash outlay is every bit as large as my elk burger priced out by the pound.