Seeley Swan Pathfinder -

We were unable to attend the local trapping clinic last week but were told a question was asked regarding our dogs being snared while we were bird hunting last season on public lands, with one dog killed as a result. A clinic presenter, a Montana Trappers Association (MTA) rep, responded by saying our dog died because we had not trained it to be “leash-broke” and he “heard our dogs were out of control and running wildly.” It is a well-worn and sad MTA strategy to try to shift blame in this way for the consequences of trapper actions onto their victims.

In this case, we were license...