Sensible Discussion on Missouri Furbearer Season Lengths

[tjm]

Ar. just a few miles south of me has season from Nov.8-Feb.28, thinking.

[robertw]

Guys, you have to understand the furbuyers pushed for and insisted the season be shortened.

I was there representing the association.

[krank]

Yeah, and there are furbuyers that dont get my business because they were too outspoken about that. I agree that Nov 8 through Feb 28th is about right.....

[vikesbull]

Would a MTA member (I am not) please call or email the rules and regulation director below and formally request extending cat season to 2/28. Robbie says it must be requested by a member to this committee or brought up at the convention for them to consider, and that he would be for that.

Rules & Regulations - Kenny Wells
897 Co. Rd. 5410
Salem, MO 65560
[phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]

[pops]

I'll do just that, but I'm gonna ask that the whole general portion of the season be extended to the 28th of Feb, not just cats.

[bigjohn]

Aug 12, 2014 18:10:03 GMT -6 robertw said:

Guys, you have to understand the furbuyers pushed for and insisted the season be shortened.

I was there representing the association.

If I remember correctly Robert,the MDC sent out a survey the year before the change asking opinions of trappers on the season length. I don't know what percentage of the surveys were returned,but my guess would be many were in favor of it.I'm sure the furbuyers opinions had some weight,but the blame can't be fairly placed on their shoulders alone.

[robertw]

BigJohn,
The association went along with it because the furbuyers convinced the few at the spring meeting to vote accordingly. At the meeting with the MDC, over a dozen furbuyers present, each had 1 vote, I had 1 vote representing the trappers.!

FUBAR all the way around!

[bigjohn]

That's one of the problems I see affecting the way things are voted on at our spring and fall meetings.Not every member does or can attend those meetings,so the vote is never the majority of our members,just those that attend.If it is an issue that affects mostly say folks in the south vs the north part of the state,it depends more on where the meeting is held on how the vote goes(if that makes sense.)

Sending out ballots would be one way to handle that,but postage is very expensive and would be a drain on our stressed funds.Internet ballots might be another way,but not ever member does computers.Maybe having a vote on all the issues for the year on one prescribed date? I'm not sure,but there has to be a better way for it to be a whole membership vote.Anyone having an idea should bring it up at the meetings or to your district directer,if they can't attend the meetings.

[vikesbull]

All voting should be on TA website thru a member portal. Way higher percentage would vote then.

[robertw]

Bigjohn: "drain on our stressed funds"

Less than 1% return on tens of thousands of dollars dumped into the NTA & FBU doesn't look so good anymore does it?

[ozarkmountainman]

Getting close to straying again here fellers.

Dale

[pops]

Aug 13, 2014 22:10:14 GMT -6 vikesbull said:

Would a MTA member (I am not) please call or email the rules and regulation director below and formally request extending cat season to 2/28. Robbie says it must be requested by a member to this committee or brought up at the convention for them to consider, and that he would be for that.

Rules & Regulations - Kenny Wells
897 Co. Rd. 5410
Salem, MO 65560
[phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]

Sent an E-mail requesting the season run to the 28th of Feb. So will see if I get a response.

[vikesbull]

Thanks pops. I got call from Robbie. Can you send again and include reasons why. IMO cat fur is best thru February so better quality fur. On rats and otter to not waste resource while trapping beaver.

Also please all members do this so they know it is many trappers.

[trkyslyr]

Done.

[robertw]

We pushed for this when the season got shortened (leaving bobcats and badgers til feb 28th). The Dept wanted a simplified code book.

Another issue was coyotes....you can hunt them year round minus during turkey season so why not let trappers kill coyotes until feb 28th as well.

Now here is another tidbit, the furbuyers admitted that a couple of years, the coons actually held and were still good all season (just not every year).

[robertw]

We pushed for this when the season got shortened (leaving bobcats and badgers til feb 28th). The Dept wanted a simplified code book.

Another issue was coyotes....you can hunt them year round minus during turkey season so why not let trappers kill coyotes until feb 28th as well.

Now here is another tidbit, the furbuyers admitted that a couple of years, the coons actually held and were still good all season (just not every year).

[Walleye Joe]

I sent in my formal request to consider extending the season.

[ozarkmountainman]

We've been talking... The way we got the Fur Sale Date abolished was to start with an online prtition. A few hundred members can make a big difference in getting the MDC's attention. So I'll get on that.

I wanted folks to stand up and participate with this issue. I took the reigns on the Sale Date deal, and I don't mind helping here, but folks need to step up. Some of ya'll have, and it's appreciated.

Dale

[robertw]

Any move to lengthen the season would get alot of support.

[Robbie Page]

Aug 15, 2014 23:54:38 GMT -6 ozarkmountainman said:

We've been talking... The way we got the Fur Sale Date abolished was to start with an online prtition. A few hundred members can make a big difference in getting the MDC's attention. So I'll get on that.

I wanted folks to stand up and participate with this issue. I took the reigns on the Sale Date deal, and I don't mind helping here, but folks need to step up. Some of ya'll have, and it's appreciated.

Dale

Who is "we"? What do you need a petition for ? The process for this proposal is going in the right direction. Why would you want to screw that up? To my knowledge, the MTA doesn't oppose this proposal. I for one do not have a problem with it and wouldn't mind seeing it passed, but we must go about it the right way. There is no reason to be radical about it. I don't see any need for a petition, at least not at this point. As it has already started, people who are for it need to continue to send Kenny Wells their proposal and write a detailed message as to why they would like to see this change. Send proposals to: Conservation Director – Kenny Wells
897 County Road
Salem, MO 65560
[phone]
e-mail - [e-mail]

There is no reason to make it more complicated than it has to be. We all must keep our heads together and be patient. These things do not happen overnight!