MMM Newsletter Extras

NTA Director, Ron Pantry; Report Continued from the MMM Newsletter.

Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act (Introduced in House)

HR 3710 IH

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3710

To end the use of body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 1, 2009

Mrs. LOWEY (for herself, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. FARR, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. BERMAN, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. STARK, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. CONYERS, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. HARE, Mr. MARKEY of Massachusetts, Mr. HOLT, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. CROWLEY, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, and Mr. WU) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the committee on Natural Resources

______________________________________

A BILL

To end the use of body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act.

SEC. 2. POSSESSION OR USE OF BODY-GRIPPING TRAP PROHIBITED. The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

SEC. 6. POSSESSION OR USE OF BODY-GRIPPING TRAP PROHIBITED.

Web: www.montanatrappers.org

September 14, 2009

Update on the ballot initiative to ban trapping on public lands in Montana.

Association Presidents, NTA Directors, Fellow Trappers & Supporters:

…A brief history: After having a few free roaming domestic pets “accidentally” caught in traps, Footloose Montana (FM); whose Executive Director is Anja Heister (moved to the USA from Germany 9 years ago) and the FM President is Marty Essen (Minnesota native and award winning author whose latest book is a children’s book about the value of predators) began as a non profit organization in western Montana whose purported purpose was to educate pet owners of the risk that traps presented to their free roaming pets and to hold work shops on releasing these free roaming pets from traps.

Their true colors soon emerged, in 2007 the first rumors surfaced that FM would launch a 2008 ballot initiative campaign aimed at banning trapping on public lands. A telephone poll in the fall of 2007 educated FM that there was not sufficient voter support to pass the initiative.　 FM backed off a bit, there were reports of a few more “accidental” canine catches and in January 2008, a golden eagle flew into the Missoula area (valley of the antis) with a 220 body grip on its leg.　 The eagle was taken to a veterinarian, where euthanasia was preformed, as its leg was fractured. This of course made very good fodder for Anja & Marty’s letters to the editor and guest editorials.　 No mention was ever made as to why the eagle wasn’t placed in one of the raptor rescue programs.　 FM also produced a 30-second video on traps vs. bird dogs; meant to pit the hunter against the
trapper.　 This was aired on Western Montana TV stations.　 Throughout 2008 FM continued to gain members and strength.

May 15, 2009 - By motion of the MTA Board of Directors - Pac/West, an Oregon based media group, who have successfully waged campaigns, which defeated anti Ballot Initiatives in Oregon and Alaska, was contracted to combat the anti trapping sentiment being portrayed in the media.

July 15, 2009 the ballot initiative to ban trapping on public lands was sent to the Montana Secretary of State by Tim Provow, M.D. Anesthetist & Board member of Footloose Montana.　 The petition to gather signatures to place the initiative (designated by the MT Sec of State as I – 160) on the November 2010 ballot was approved and a portion of Footloose Montana morphed into “Montanans for Trap-Free Public Lands” (MFTFPL) a Ballot Issue Committee, with Dr. Timothy Provow as its Chairman and is in the process of gathering 24,337 signatures; this number must include 5% of the voters from 34 of the 100 legislative represented districts in Montana.　 If gathered and verified, then I – 160 will be placed on the November 2, 2010 general election ballot.

September 14, 2009 August 27, 2009; Jim Buell filed organizational papers with the Montana Sec of State Office which created a Ballot Issue Committee opposed to I -160. The committee is named “Montanans for Effective Wildlife Management” (MEWM) and is chaired by Tom Barnes (MTA President); the MEWM Treasurer is Jim Buell and the Deputy Treasurer is Terry J Sheppard (MTA Treasurer). Organization of a BIC is a must in Montana, if organized opposition is planned against an Initiative.

September 10, 2009; Footloose Montana/MTFPL held a wine tasting/petition signing fund raiser at the “Ten Spoon Vineyard” in Missoula MT.　 Ten Spoon wines are sold throughout the West; the vineyard is owned by Andy Sponseller & Constance J. Poten and has held fundraisers for FM in the past.　 Constance J. Poten’s name appears as the Vice-Chair of MTFPL Committee and the name Connie Poten is the Secretary of FM.　 Bloggers and wine tasters take note – to support “Ten Spoon” is support given to the antis.

Below is a sampling of the statements which appear in the initiative language and is being presented to voters for signature gathering:

“Traps undermine the safety of public land.”

“..the placement of tens of thousand of concealed traps on public land, directly endangers adults, children and pets.”

“Species targeted by trapping, such as marten and otter, are severely
depleted…”

“….wolverine and fisher are at risk of extinction in Montana.”

“Trapping is the leading cause of the steep declines in these species.”

“Trapping undermines sound wildlife management.”

“Currently, tens of thousands of traps are camouflaged on public lands throughout Montana.”

“…no reliable data exist that document the species and numbers of animals killed in traps.”

“There is no “fair chase” in trapping.”

“Trapping creates wanton waste.”

“Trapping is largely unregulated.”

There are many more untruths in the initiative; these will give you an idea of what we are up against. If your Association is able to join with those who have already sent a donation, it will be greatly appreciated.

We do have the help and support of many outdoor groups in Montana, such as the Montana Cattlemen’s Association, the Montana Woolgrowers, Montana Shooting Sports Association, Montana Furbearer Conservation Alliance and the Montana Outfitters & Guides Association to name a few and each day we contact others for their support.

I am in the process of packing the trailer to head for Lewistown MT and the 2009 NTA Western Regional/MTA Rendezvous.　 While in Lewistown we plan to hold a strategy meeting with those coalition members who are present. The Initiative will be heavy on my mind, however being around supportive individuals and fellow trappers will make the long weekend enjoyable.

Take Care

Jim Buell