I like the idea of trapping because it's a skill worth having. The question is, are there ways to make it more safe for untargeted animals, rather than just banning it outright.

People thinking too much (or too little), not looking past their noses, and losing touch with reality. Bringing ethics into this keeps pushing the definition further to the left. Eventually hunting could become unethical. Then the eating of meat.

If wildlife agencies figure out that they can't control the wolves with hunting, that leaves trapping ... or poisoning ... or very expensive management by wildlife professionals.

It sounds like several of these "arguments" are completely lacking in substance - do they have any evidence that trapping kills endangered or threatened species? And if so, what species and how many has it killed?

If you read the article, this Initiative was started by someone whose dog was killed in a trap and is now on a crusade to stop trapping.

I agree with MLH about the ethics issues. We as hunters do need to act responsibly, but we need to be very careful about calling other hunters (or trappers) actions unethical. For the antis to destroy hunting, they will first seek to divide it and attack those aspects of it that have the fewest participants.

"Trapping conflicts with hunting ethics by indiscriminate killing of many species, including endangered, threatened and sensitive species" I would like to see the stats, is this a true statement based on documented facts, or just what someone thinks must be happening??? Trapping is hard work, and when done right can be an effect means of control for various species, and a good trapper can prevent the accidental trapping of non-targeted species...most people behind these bills have no knowledge of what they want to rule over, it just sounds like the "Bambi" thing to do and makes them feel important at their wine tasting and cheese eating parties....(nothing against wine tasting and cheese eating, I like both)

I doubt that it would pass in Montana. If it does it will be a very sad day, and everyone better look out.

I'm guessing that he's right one one point. Trapping is the only means of selling wildlife.
However on all the other points he's as wrong as someone who's never trapped can be.
I've sold a lot of beaver, a lot of mink, a lot of muskrat, a lot of weasel (ermine) to the Hudson Bay Fur Company and collected bounty on a lot of coyotes.
Thats a lot of work, from setting the traps to running the trap line skinning and stretching, it's all a lot of work.
It is ethical, and for sure it's fair chase, it does not take animals other than those the trap is set for. There is no profit to be made trapping the family pet or some protected species.
This is someone attacking a sport ( or job) he knows nothing about.

I dont think all the things they mentioned are a big deal. How many people trap? Now how often do those people kill endangered species? As for quick deaths, animals dying of natural things probaly suffer just as much.Trappers I do belive know how to prevent certian things from happening, so most of their arguuments are invalid.

I use traps on occasion, both live and killer (Conibear)type traps. I've yet to catch something I didn't intend to, though I have been surprised by some of the things I did catch. Trapping, just like guns or wrenchs, is a tool, nothing more. Someone didn't like getting their dog in a trap, the dog shouldn't have been running around loose. And while I didn't sell skins I'd shot to the furbuyer, my brother used to keep himself in pocket money doing just that, first with my (borrowed).22 and later with an old 8mm Mauser that those skins paid for.

so now when these hunter's that are against hunting with traps get a mouse in their house what do they do? grab the shot gun or what? interesting perspective. bassically what these people are saying that they have "NEVER" made a bad hit on a critter, smells like a little b.s. to me. the sad part is that the anti'e will win in the end just because like some of you said trapping is a lost art and those who know are slowly dissappearing. and then it wont be missed until it's gone, when the rats over populate and and screw up the ecosystems in the ponds, and the farmers and the ranchers lose livestock and harvists to critters that are not normally hunted then and only then will the trapper be missed.