Seeley Swan Pathfinder -

The Montana Trappers Association (MTA) is hosting a free Pet Release Clinic Oct. 18 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Community Foundation West Wing. This is an educational opportunity to learn how to release a pet if it is caught in a trap. Also across the state, the Montana Fur Harvesters and MTA are hosting educational clinics on the responsible strategies and techniques for snaring wolves. 

Ovando Trapper Bob Sheppard will teach the Pet Release Clinic on Monday. The clinic will cover a variety of different traps including foothold, conibear and snares. Sheppard will provide information about the various traps and how they work. There will be an opportunity to work hands-on with the traps to learn how to release them.

For more information about the Pet Release Clinic call Rob Henrekin, 406-677-3502.

Snares are now permitted for wolves on public and private lands consistent with trapping season dates, with the exception of those areas federally designated as Grizzly Bear Recovery Zones.  

Since snaring for wolves is new in Montana, members of the Montana Fur Harvesters and Montana Trappers Association want to ensure trappers are knowledgeable about the equipment and the regulations associated with snares to avoid non-target captures. These educational clinics will include demonstrations and explanations on how to set up snares and explanation of regulations. 

Free educational clinics are scheduled for:

• Saturday, Oct. 16 - 9 a.m., Columbia Falls, Fur handling clinic & snaring education, 287 Midnight Lane 

• Tuesday, Oct. 19 – 6 p.m., Missoula, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office, 3201 Spurgin Road 

• Thursday, Oct. 21 – 6 p.m., Polson, Johnco Storage, 801 5th Street East 

Before setting a wolf trap in Montana, a person must complete a one-time Montana or Idaho certification course. For more information visit https://fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter-education. To learn more about trapping wolves in Montana visit https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/regulations/wolf. 

For more information about the Montana Trappers Association, visit https://www.montanatrappers.org/. To learn more about the Montana Fur Harvesters, visit https://www.facebook.com/MontanaFurHarvesters.