Wow! Been some discussion while I
was at a convention! Good.
NC currently does NOT require a
course. I expect they will in time.
When it DOES become mandatory, the
state employees will be responsible
for teaching and administrating the
course. No state can mandate that a
trapping association do it without
compensation.
That said, NCTA most likely will want
to remain in some way involved. At least
I would think so.
Thanks for your opinions and input.
That is exactly what I wanted.

David Try looking at things from a different perspective.

1) You are concerned about recruitment numbers because of required courses that you think are inevitable.

2)You seem willing to let The DNR be responsible for providing them unless they compensate whoever else would conduct them.

Budgets are tight everywhere and I doubt if trapper education has a very high priority.

Would it not be better for your association to take a proactive stance and approach the DNR with a plan for providing the instruction? Would not the goals of the NCTA have a better chance of being fulfilled this way?

I just assuming but I suspect that one of the purposes of the NCTA is to protect and ensure that the trapping privileges in NC are maintained.

"No state can mandate that a trapping association do it without compensation."

I don't see how any state could compel a private organization like a trappers' association to conduct these courses -- regardless of compensation. Trappers' associations are not publicly founded or funded.

The Ohio State Trappers Association members who participated (and continue to participate) in these trapper education projects, neither asked for nor received compensation for their efforts. It is a volunteer program. It is a proactive program.

If you truly see the inevitability of mandatory trapper education, then it would greatly behoove the North Carolina Trappers Association to some way or another become involved in the promulgation of the program. I quote you from an earlier post: "A young person in NC can find a man to follow into the woods on any given day." Am I to believe that this same cadre of persons would not be willing to volunteer their time for a trapper education?

I am still slightly confused here. This voluntary "trapper ed" course that is being conducted currently -- is this the model for a future mandatory course? Again, I would like to point out the home study course we offer in Ohio. That is, in my opinion, the best route to follow.

It is growing apparent to me that if the trappers of North Carolina, and especially those of the NCTA, do not take a proactive approach to this issue, they will end up having something crammed down their throats.

-- Hal

Quite the contrary, Hal. NCTA wrote the text
book years ago, and developed the program.
We have offered the course for several years.
As I said, I'm sure NCTA would want to remain
involved. Online or mail order, or hands on
as it is now. Guys from east to west are doing
the courses now. The same group of volunteers
have gotten certified and conduct hunter
safety classes too. Not a matter of willingness.
NC is 503 miles long, 100 counties. Might
require a lot of participants if it were ever
mandatory.

My god! Why is it so gol-darn hard to get the whole freakin' story here???!!!!

-- Hal

Call me sometime Hal, we can talk.....

Wasn';t trying to tell a story.
Just interested in what yall think.
I type slow, and not very well.

Dated for search.