August 12, 2021 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) –The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF), the most respected and trusted sportsmen’s organization in the political arena, and the two foremost trapping and trapping policy organizations in the United States -- The Fur Takers of America (FTA) and the National Trappers Association (NTA) -- announced a formal partnership through a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during both organizations’ annual conventions this summer. This agreement will strengthen the relationship among CSF, FTA, and NTA, enhancing the ability of each organization to influence trapping policy across the United States.
CSF, FTA, and NTA individually possess resources designed to advance conservation and policy goals that benefit trappers. Establishing a recognized partnership between all three organizations at both the state and national level will allow each organization to leverage the others’ abilities to further promote trapping as a science-based resource management practice and protect our trapping heritage for future generations. CSF, FTA, and NTA recognize their mutual support for each other's mission, ensuring that all organizations continue to operate on behalf of the nation's trappers, both in the field and in the halls of government.
Through the partnership, FTA and NTA members will work closely with CSF’s policy staff to identify and track legislation that affects trapping, including issues revolving around methods of take and access. These conservation and policy experts will leverage the resources of each organization to better serve trappers and wildlife management, highlighting their role in efforts to reduce human-predator conflict and ensure heathy populations of furbearers and other wildlife using proven science-based management practices.
CSF is committed to working alongside the FTA and NTA staff and their respective members to champion policies that promote conservation, habitat restoration, and access through legislative and administrative processes at both the state and federal levels.
"Both the FTA and NTA are leaders in protecting and advancing the rights of trappers to use humane, science-based management practices,” said CSF president and CEO Jeff Crane. "CSF looks forward to strengthening our partnership with the FTA and NTA as we formally start to work together on conservation policy efforts that positively impact trappers and our wildlife resources.”
“The Fur Takers of America are very proud to be forming alliances with important conservation groups such as the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation,” said Dave Hastings, president of FTA. “We see that all traditional conservation factions share in managing wildlife successfully; we are all part of one big puzzle, and we also see that traditional conservation methods groups have a clear need to be working in concert."
“The National Trappers Association is excited to be a part of our recently signed MOU with the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation and Fur Takers of America,” said John Daniel, president of NTA. “We look forward to a long and prosperous joint commitment to improving conservation and management efforts of fur-bearing species across America.”
CSF, FTA, and NTA look forward to collaborating in support of a long-term strategy that delivers successful outcomes for trappers. CSF will continue to identify relevant policy priorities and pursue opportunities to engage FTA and NTA staff and members in support of our shared outdoor heritage and trapping traditions.
