Commission Proposes Mandatory Trapper Education

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has elected to choose education over restriction concerning the use of Conibear and similar body-gripping traps in Idaho. Use of these body-griping traps came into question after the two dogs were killed last year in Idaho. The Commission feels these are isolated incidents that will be better avoided by teaching trappers how to use Conibears and other traps safely. Rather than making new rules affecting trapping mechanics, Commissioners prefer to explore mandatory trapper education including training, safety, and ethics (like the state requires now for hunters and wolf trappers) to reduce recreational area conflicts and incidental trapping of nontarget species, especially dogs. Commissioner s believe a change in trapping rules would be too restrictive, and have instructed the department to work with trappers to develop a proposal for requiring an extensive trapper education course. In January, the Commission will hear proposals resulting from that work. The Fish and Game Communications Bureau is also producing a second informational video concerning the use of traps. This video, which will help viewers learn how to identify traps and trapping activity in an area, follows a video and brochure on how to release dogs from traps, already available at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/?getPage=141.