TRAPPING: IDFG wasn't listening

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game invited the public to comment on trapping rule changes. This hearing had a good turnout and the overwhelming majority, at least 80 percent, wanted some reasonable changes to the trapping rules.

The next day the commissioners decided not to allow any changes.

Obviously, the public hearing was only a charade. The commissioners had no intention to consider even reasonable public input.

Expensive videos and pamphlets are produced to show how to free a dog from a trap. This beautiful color brochure suggests to carry a heavy duty wire cutter on your walk through the woods. And by inference to also bring along the pamphlet. Ridiculous.

While a trapper presumably understands how to open traps, most people, especially in a panic situation, will not be able to easily follow the illustrated instructions of this pamphlet.

Presently, a trap cannot be within 5 feet of the center of a road or trail. If a trail is 4 feet wide a trap could be set 3 feet from the trail. A dog even when on a leash or a kid could easily be in reach. My research did not find any leash laws in National Forests other than in specific recreational areas.

In high density recreational areas such as English Point trapping should absolutely be prohibited.

If trapping must be tolerated since it is enshrined as a god-given right in the Idaho constitution, live traps should be used so unintended catches could be released unharmed.

This is not Idaho of a hundred years ago. There is more and more people activity in the forests that belong to all of us.

JUERGEN NOLTHENIUS

Coeur d’Alene