By The Numbers:
Attacks on trapping
A recap of legislative bills that targeted trapping in 2017
In 2017, there were 19 state bills and three federal bills targeting trapping nationwide. Two bills passed
while 20 bills remain inactive or failed to pass.
In western states, a strong push to ban trapping on all public land continues on the heels of Montana’s
Initiative 177 in 2016, which would have banned all trapping on public land in the state. The Sportsmen’s
Alliance coordinated strategy for sportsmen’s groups and successfully defeated the ballot issue.
While 20 of the 22 bills were defeated, sportsmen are likely to see similar iterations of them in
2018. Here’s a look at the most egregious attempts to end trapping and to undermine scientific wildlife
management and the North American model of conservation.
Ban on Public LANDS
SB 286 New Mexico – Died in Committee
SB 365 Nevada – Died in Committee
On the heels of Montana’s 2016 Initiative 177 ballot issue, which sought to ban trapping on all public lands, bills in
three other states have been filed that would accomplish similar goals.
In New Mexico, Senate Bill 286 would have banned trapping on public grounds. After pressure from the
Sportsmen’s Alliance, trapping groups and others, the committee tabled the bill and asked for more evidence.
Likewise, Senate Bill 365 in Nevada tried to ban trapping on public grounds. It didn’t pass, but was used as
leverage to lower the time frame of checking traps and forcing the registration of traps with the state.
In 2018, it continues with Wisconsin Senate Bill 774 attempting to ban trapping and hunting in all state parks.
While the vast majority of wildlife management takes place at the state level, almost every year a couple of
animal-rights zealots in the federal government push for restrictions or outright bans on hunting and trapping.
The legistlation can take multiple forms, from species-specific restrictions and m ethods of take to limitations
on equipment ownership and commerce to outright prohibitions on federal lands.
In 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives saw two bills introduced that were egregious and direct attacks
on trapping nationwide – and what’s more, they’re usually introduced every year!
U.S. HR 1629 restricted the use of steel-jaw leghold traps and conibear traps on animals in the United States
using claims of public safety as justification.
U.S. HR 1438 would have banned trapping on all national wildlife refuges nationwide.
bobcat trapping
SB 1182 Arizona – Failed to Pass
HB 3399 Illinois – Signed into Law
SPORTSMEN’S MONTHLY
January | February 2018
Often a state of controversy when it comes to
hunting, New Jersey legislators continue an out-and-
out assault on trapping.
In 2017, four bills sought to make one form of trap
or another illegal in the Garden State.
Assembly Bill 4407 and the identical Senate Bill
2750 sought to ban the manufacture, sale, possession,
AB 3110/SB 179
New Jersey – Refferred to Committee
importation, transportation or use of foothold, body-
gripping and leg-hold traps.
Assembly Bill 432 and Senate Bill 1309 were
companion bills that prohibited the use of snares.
So far in 2018, Assembly Bill 3110 and Senate Bill
179 ban the manufacture, sale, possession, importation,
transport or use of foothold, conibear and cable traps.
SB 3062 New York – In Committee
HB 5615 Connecticut – Died in Committee
US HR 1629 – Referred to Committee
US HR 1438 – Referred to Committee
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AB 432/SB 1309 | AB 4407/SB 2750
New Jersey – Died in Committee
Local Government Control
FEDERAL LEGISLATION
With the rise of legislation and initiatives aimed at
public-land use, we also see species-specific threats.
Arizona’s Senate Bill 1182 sought to list bobcats
and cougars as protected to prevent any hunting or
trapping. The Sportsmen’s Alliance worked with others
to kill the bill, but now HSUS has started the signature-
gathering process to qualify a ballot initiative in 2018.
Equipment Bans
An Illinois bill banning bobcat trapping ironically
created a season. Senate Bill 1981 banned trapping but
was, under pressure from SA and others, postponed
and then amended to allow it in the Southern Zone. It
all became moot when the governor signed HB 3399,
which banned bobcat hunting in 35 counties where
bobcats have never been seen and opening it elsewhere.
Local government control bills can seem benign on the surface. But, if every county or town in a state
created their own laws concerning trapping (or hunting), scientific management goes out the window and is
replaced by city councils and political appointments who use emotion and personal opinion to overrule state
biologists and wildlife managers – setting the stage for confusion, conflicting laws and outright bans.
Such is the case in New York, where Senate Bill 3062 proposes to allow just that: each county within the
state could limit, restrict or prohibit trapping within its municipal limits, and provides that municipalities may do
so by local law or ordinance. The bill still in committee.
Likewise, Connecticut House of Representative bill 5615 expressly authorized local trapping bans and
provided for local control of trapping throughout the state.
Proximity & Time Mandates
SB 6 Oregon - Died committee
HB 1771/S 1446 Minnesota – In
committee SB 364 Nevada - Signed into law
HD 4142 Massachusetts - Pre-filed
Death by regulation can increase the costs of
trapping and thereby reduce participation.
Oregon Senate Bill 6 required trappers to put signs
around a trap and to check them every 24 hours.
Two Minnesota bills mandated traps be 4 feet
above ground (instead of 3 feet) and increased the use
of bait around conibear traps from 20 feet to 100 feet.
A pre-filed docket in Massachusetts banned the
baiting and trapping of coyotes within 300 feet of a
any trail. It has yet to receive a bill number.
A Nevada bill forcing NVDOW to place signs at
trailheads or anywhere a trap may be present, and also
requires registration of traps. A proponent of the bill
threatened the lives of trappers and legislators.
January | February 2018
SPORTSMEN’S MONTHLY
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