While doing work this morning I came upon another article focusing on LD1635, the bear trapping bill that is upon us in Maine. Yesterday it was passed on from the committee with a recommendation, Ought Not To Pass(ONTP). This meaning the house and senate should quickly pass this through and bear trapping will continue as it is, atleast for the time being. A referendum is sure to come within the next couple years. This will put the decision in the Maine voters hands. I have said it before and you will hear me say it several hundred more times that is why we need to educate the Maine people on this issue.
You can bet those who oppose trapping will be loud in their opinion. Of course, I am one who honors and respects everyone’s opinion and am a firm believer that this is a God given right. I just wish that they would get their stories correct. If you are going to state “facts” do some research and know what your talking about. One such incident is from the author of this article. The part that really shows this person has no idea and is completely biased in their decision is where they say
The argument against bear trapping, however, is not about the numbers but about the nature of trapping. There is no sense of a fair chase in catching and then harvesting an animal ensnared in a steel leg trap. It’s an execution, not a hunt.
The writer obviously is not aware that Maine trappers have already made the compromise of getting rid of “steel” leg traps. This is what the Maine people will hear. They will hear what horrible things the animals go through while waiting, caught, unable to move. Trappers are mandated to check their traps daily.
I personally am not a trapper, yet anyways. Although, I have friends that do and have seen first hand the “damage” done with a leg trap on a bear. That is easy to explain, there is none. I have seen catches above the knee and catches on the paw and everywhere in between. The skin is not even open.
These are the things the general public need to know about. Rest assured those out there who are on the side of the anti’s that have NO IDEA about trapping, these people have never set foot in the woods in most cases. They are going to pass on wrong information such as the one in this story. Educate the people in your area. If they take trapping away they won’t stop there. Next it may be what you love to do.
