Mercer's cage traps soon to be useless in Ca.

HUNDREDS of Mercer's cages WILL SOON BE WORTHLESS on Bobcats in Ca. after the upcoming Aug 4 2015 probable state wide closure, on bobcat trapping.                                                                                                                                              Ca. trappers are sitting on a time bomb. I'm thinking all these new Ca. trappers will be coming to surrounding states soon.  some can't so look for cheap deals on cages.

I do not understand why you act happy that California may be losing trapping ? Wont hundreds of Schroeder and Briar patch cages be worthless as well ? From reading your posts I have come to the conclussion that the traps may not be what is worthless....... It seams to me that you have a beef with Mercer and it has poisoned your thinking to the point of just being bitter about trapping in general ! Anybody that calls himself a trapper and acts happy that a state with fellow trappers may be losing their priveledges is truly a friend of the people that want to outlaw all trapping and hunting.

Extremely upset that were facing closure. you misread,, I'm even more furious that after the 34 yrs i've trapped in ca. this guy Mercer comes along and does a interview on the front page of the L.A.Times,, giving all the anti's just what they wanted,, delivered to their front doorstep.. That is when their stampede started. I'm pretty sure that if he would have asked our opinion of doing this interview that represented all of us,,, 99 % would of said not too. They are the richest and biggest anti's in the U.S. they baited and trapped him w/ their invitation for his interview. as for fellow trappers if you can please e mail ca. gov. ,, etc.. w/ proof of detramental effects on wildlife from high populations of predators during current drought periods may help.

You don't have the slightest idea what you are talking about and have now begun to make stuff up.

You haven't been involved for two years and you are so far behind that now your attempts to help will only cause harm.

Do the trappers of California a favor and yourself by just going back to doing nothing but sending me hate mail and letters telling me that if you loose your trapping you will "be the best friend PETA ever had and tell them every dirty little secret they ever wanted to know"

I would be more than happy to post the letter.

ml

I think Mr. Mercer got thrown to the wolves in a short period of time. Seeking out counsel, trying to find a legit lobbyist, chasing down donations. Listening to other leaders who had some legislative expierence. At times putting his family in danger for what he believed in. So kudos to him as he rest of the keystone cops wandered around trying to figure out what they needed to do. For the time and effort he put into it, he surely bought some time.

Hind sight is always 20/20 and there would certainly be things he would have changed or pursued. Fact of the matter is, he almost single handly stood up for CA trappers when no one else would. There was help from money trappers and non residents, state assoc, and national Assoc. who bellied up to help.

I listen to the old trappers never did that stuff back in the day. Ray Milligan showing a complete barn full of pelts, pushing the envelope of marketing to tell the world his lures would make great trappers. O'Gorman pushing lures and educations. Most anyone who had something to sell was in the publics eye at some point and time. Its a fact of business if that's in the business your in. People cant find you if you don't put your name out there.

Do it good enough and you become a household name as long as your product backs your sales pitch. In all honestly, being from a cage only state I think two individuals in cage trapping has made a difference. Mercer for pushing his products to all aspects, and John Schroeder for making something everyone wants, and willing to drive it to where ever. Want a bear trap, we make them, lion traps have you covered, special marten trap for inverted sets done.

Its easy to sit back and point fingers at people who have been successful. Most are butt hurt because they do not have the want or the ethic to get to that platform, so when someone else does, its easier to chop the platform down because it makes them look better. Happens in every trade in the nation, and if it didn't there would be nothing to compete for. Mercer will probably one day become a Hall of Famer for the work he has done trying to complete Reid/Stacy ideas. Must have worked, because people are eating it up. Kudos to him to keep the fire alive.

Just remember, there are only a select few that are willing to take the fight to someone and to do it with class. NV has many of them, Joel,Tracy,John,Bill,Joe. Mercer tried with very limite resources and very little help. Colorado has a new leader who is no doubt afraid to take the fight to whoever. Those guys will be the saving grace in our future. The cool thing about them is this though, even if we are pissed at who they are, or what they have done. They will continue doing it for you, the younger generation, and the generation that is blind to it already.

I go out of my way everytime and shake those guys hands, mainly for friendship, but mainly its a cheap atta boy, and they realize it.

Excuses and finger pointing get nothing done. Getting results is what moves things on, and knowing how to beat them at there own game. Some states have that down to a science.