A committee set up by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is suggesting changes to the state’s trapping laws. They could include new educational opportunities for trappers and the general public, signage in trapped areas and mandatory purchase of conservation stamps, but the suggestions don’t go as far as some activists hoped.

The department organized the committee after two groups concerned about the sport’s safety issues presented petitions to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission earlier this year.

Commissioners in April denied a petition by WY TRAP FREE-mont County and supported by Wyoming Untrapped to develop trap-free zones in the state. But in July the commission charged the department with studying the issue and recommending possible fast-tracked changes. The changes were made outside of the normal regulation rotation of once every three years, due in 2022.

In partnership with the University of Wyoming Extension Office, the committee held five public stakeholder meetings focused on regulations. Almost 200 individuals attended the meetings with assistance from 22 department employees around the state. Participants included legislators, Wyoming Game and Fish commissioners, trappers, non-trappers, public land users, hunters, woolgrowers, county predator management boards and Wildlife Services, according to the department.

Participants discussed the merits of ideas based on information received from open-ended questions during stakeholder contacts.

“These meetings gave us the opportunity to further vet the ideas prior to developing recommendations for Commission and Department consideration,” Jason Hunter, Lander Region Wildlife Supervisor, said in a report to the commission.

Proposed changes include developing a more formalized educational information campaign similar to the Bear Wise Program and promoting safe recreation, as well as clinics for pet owners on how to release a pet from a trap.

The meetings weren’t designed to decide on a “definite course of action or to collect official public comment on any potential ideas,” Hunter said. Some of the ideas discussed would be up to the commission to implement, but others are not within the jurisdiction of the department and would require changes to state law.

Among the Trapping Committee’s recommendations are: mandatory trapping education (with exemptions), beginning with online classes; new rules for trapping setbacks at campgrounds and public recreation areas (boat ramps, picnic areas, etc.) that would require action by the Legislature; and the prohibition of some large power snares through regulation.

The committee also recommended the Game and Fish Commission look into implementing improvements to public education (through their website and signage), workshops on how to release pets from traps, the redesign of the department’s furbearer brochure, voluntary reporting of non-target species caught in traps and the creation of an internal furbearer working group. They also propose re-evaluating the implementation of any of the recommendations after three to five years, to determine the effectiveness of the change and whether further adjustments are warranted.

Lisa Robertson, president of Wyoming Untrapped, said the recommendations were “far from recognizing the urgent need for action.”

“We appreciate that mandatory trapping education may move forward,” Robertson said in a press release. “However, traps and snares will remain legal directly on public trails, ensuring that additional injuries or death to pets will continue this year. Wild sentient animals will continue to suffer long brutal deaths with lengthy trap-check times. Non-target animal reporting will remain voluntary which does not allow for data-based management of furbearer animals.”

The group is seeking a long trapping reform list. Their top priorities include trap-free areas on highly recreated public trails, trap and snare setbacks from all public trails, mandatory reporting of all domestic and wild non-target animals and 24-hour trap checks for all traps and snares. Regulations currently call for a 72-hour trap check.

“Politics have grown tiresome for us all. It’s time for compassion instead. We remain hopeful that the honorable Wyoming Game and Fish Commission members will use their authority appropriately to address our urgent requests for action,” Robertson said in an email.

The commission is set to discuss the committee’s recommendations during its Nov. 17-18 meeting.

The Wyoming Constitution guarantees the opportunity for citizens to fish, hunt and trap. Trappers seeking predators in certain areas of Wyoming are allowed to do so without permits.