Nevada Senate Passes Restricted Trapping Laws
OutdoorHub Reporters 04.07.17
For 2 hours on April 4, the Senate Natural Resources Committee discussed legislation that would create more strict trapping laws in the state of Nevada. Senate Bill 364 would require outdoorsmen to identify their traps and register them. They will also need to check their traps every 24 hours, rather than the current law of checking traps every 96 hours. This bill will also require signs to posted on public lands where trapping is permitted. The bill could also require trapping permit cost to be increased; currently, trappers pay $42 for an annual trapping permit, and $5 per pelt to the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
Over 70 percent of the Nevada population resides in the Las Vegas area, and the rest of the state is rather rural. Trapping is popular pursuit in those rural areas.
John Sullivan, vice president of the Nevada Trappers Association, said requiring a trap check once a day is the worst part of the bill. Joel Blakeslee, president of the Nevada Trappers Association, said legislators have looked at the issue for years and not changed the 96-hour requirement.
In my opinion, this bill could change the way of life for many trappers in Nevada. These types of bills are requested by those who lack an understanding of conservation, and the joys of hunting and trapping.
Sadly, the only connection that many people have with nature is through TV. Animated TV shows and movies are effective at convincing people that hunting is inhumane and wrong because animals have human-like emotions. However, most of these same people wear leather belts and eat cheeseburgers at fast food restaurants.
They are convinced that farming livestock is okay but hunting and trapping isn’t? It doesn’t make sense.
Hunting and trapping are amazing conservation tools – pursuits that builds memories with loved ones, bring us happiness, food and resources, and show us the wonder of a Creator. For us not to hunt would be abnormal because we’ve done so for over 4,000 years.
Let’s fight for our rights to hunt and trap so that we can pass it on from generation to generation!
Editor’s note: Click here to check out Blake Alma’s book about hunting rights and animal activism titled, The Hunter’s War: Vegans Vs. Hunters.
