Hello Trappers,
It’s hard to believe another trapping season is here. Seems the time flies by faster every year. I’ll remind everyone again, please be careful where you set 220’s and snares. Stay away from public trails, roads, or anywhere people could be hunting or walking dogs. Our privilege to use 220’s and snares depends on it.
The 2026 legislative session starts on Tuesday, February 17. The MTA will be pushing to get a hearing on HF275/SF277. This is our bill to get a 3-day check on snares, opening day set time from 9:00 to sunrise, make dog-proof raccoon traps legal near water before the water season opens, and take away the 10:00 P.M. end to trap tending. It didn’t get a hearing last session because it was a budget year and with the late start to the legislative session they just never got to it. Hopefully this year will be different. It might be an uphill climb to get the whole bill passed even if it does get a hearing because the DNR doesn’t approve of some of the provisions, a three-day check on snares is an example, but we will certainly try. We will also be discussing non-resident trapping again with the environmental committee chairmen to see if it’s even a possibility this coming session. I’m not optimistic. We need the Republicans to gain control of both the House and the Senate in the 2026 elections to have much of a chance of getting non-resident trapping in this state in the future.
Unfortunately, our lobbyist at the legislature, Tim Spreck, has decided to retire. We will certainly miss him. He worked very hard for us and was worth every penny we paid him. He will be very hard to replace. He worked very well with us from the MTA, and he was instrumental in helping get all the bad legislation killed the last few sessions. Thanks Tim, and enjoy your retirement!
We will likely be having our annual Trappers Day at the Capitol again in March. Watch the MTA website or Facebook page once the legislative session opens in February.
Be safe out there,
Randy Goldenman
