Trapping in Right-of-Way

[Chen rossii]

The following bill has been been introduced into this session of the state legistature.

LB743 - Eliminate restrictions on trapping wildlife in county road rights-of-way

[jimk]

keep 'em outta the ditches.

[OldBaldGuy]

Originally Posted by Chen rossii

The following bill has been been introduced into this session of the state legistature.

LB743 - Eliminate restrictions on trapping wildlife in county road rights-of-way

Eliminate all restrictions, Chen? I couldn't find any details yet on the Legislature's web site.

[playin4funami]

just for anyone's info. the roadside trapping ban has had a major impact on furbearer harvest imho. with diseases like distemper,mange,rabies and about a hundred other things running rampant among the furbearer populations,the ability to harvest furbearers in ditches is a major benefit to all sportmen and pet owners. As in other sports a bad apple can make an entire group look bad,as was the case last year. As a brother outdoorsman I hope everyone supports the trappers in getting the law on right of way trapping reversed,the next thing you'll see the anti's go after is hunting. The anti's now think that they have a foot in the door in Nebraska to end trapping,hunting,fishing here. You give them an inch and yes they'll try and take a mile or three. So, Please support your fellow sportsmen in their rights to their favorite hobbies. united we stand.

[Alex T.]

Playin4funami,
Where are the stats for all the diseases running rampant across the furbearer populations?? Is this ban that is already in place because of Antis?? If so,who(which Anti group) is behind this ban?? Just curious.

Alex

[bigquackattack]

I don't get why Hudkins would want to trap birds of prey in right-of-way. Not the same bill as above but amends the same law.

LEGISLATIVE BILL 865

Introduced by Hudkins, 21.
Read first time January 11, 2008
Committee: Natural Resources
A BILL
1 FOR AN ACT relating to raptors; to amend section 37-513, Revised
2 Statutes Supplement, 2007; to allow trapping of raptors
3 within the county road right-of-way; and to repeal the

4 original section.

[adammd]

Originally Posted by Alex T.

Is this ban that is already in place because of Antis?? If so,who(which Anti group) is behind this ban?? Just curious.

Alex

Published Friday | May 18, 2007
Nebraska roadside trap ban advances
BY LESLIE REED
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU



LINCOLN - Call it "Basil's law."

State senators voted 27-4 Thursday to make it illegal to set animal traps in county road ditches.

Basil was a 5-year-old corgi dog killed last November when he was caught in an illegal trap that had been set in a roadside ditch near Colon, Neb.

Owner Kristin Gottschalk had taken Basil and three other dogs for a walk along the county road near her home. Basil ran into the ditch and never came back. The dog apparently was killed instantly when his neck was broken.

The trap that killed Basil was illegal because it was too big, unmarked with the trapper's identification and baited with a dead opossum. The trapper eventually was arrested and fined.

Gottschalk asked the Legislature to take up the matter because she was shocked to learn that traps were allowed in the county right of way.

State Sen. Carol Hudkins of Malcolm offered the roadside trapping ban as an amendment to Legislative Bill 299, a measure dealing with hunting and fishing licenses.

After adding the trapping ban, lawmakers gave the bill second-round approval on a voice vote. It now awaits a final vote by the Legislature.

Hudkins said she considered provisions to give the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission or counties authority to set up rules for roadside trapping, but she concluded that an outright ban would be the simplest way to address the matter.

"Frankly, it's not safe to have traps in the right of way," she said.

Sen. Mark Christensen of Imperial argued against the ban.

"I don't want to discourage another industry, just because of the emotions of one dog getting killed," he said.

Sen. LeRoy Louden of Ellsworth, however, said caution is needed, particularly in areas where many people live on rural acreages.

"I've probably trapped more coyotes and muskrats than anyone else here," he said. "Trapping is a dangerous business. Children, dogs, pets, especially children can be caught in these traps. If you want to set a coyote trap and still have your thumbs, you'd better know what you are doing."

Hudkins said she would be willing to consider modifying the ban next year, after learning more about safer trapping methods. Game and Parks Director Rex Amack said the agency will gather more information about roadside trapping.

"We are always concerned about public safety and welfare, and we don't want trappers to inadvertently hurt someone or their pets," he said. "But trapping is a very important aspect of wildlife management in the state."