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    • Join/Renew
    • Shop
    • Banquet
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    • Womens' Trap Camp
  • Home
  • Join/Renew
  • Shop
  • Banquet
  • Convention
  • Education
  • Calendar
  • Nuisance Animal Removal
  • Address Book
  • Contact Us
  • Scholarships
  • Future Trappers FTW Camp
  • Raffle
  • Board of Directors
  • Board Meeting Minutes
  • Hall Of Fame
  • Sweepstakes
  • Womens' Trap Camp

(WCTEP) Wisconsin Cooperative Trapper Education Program

"The future of trapping is through education."

 A cooperative educational program administered by the
Wisconsin Trappers' Association, Inc. and the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources


Why trapper education?
Trappers create a positive image when they engage in the responsible and ethical pursuit of our sustainable fur bearer resource. Trapper education courses teach basic trap line skills with an emphasis on ethical, humane and legal trapping methods. The trapper education course provides a solid foundation upon which a safe and successful trapping career can be built. It also helps trappers understand the importance of maintaining good relationships with landowners, other outdoor enthusiasts and managers of our natural resources. The knowledge and skills that you learn will be used every day on your trapline.  


Who must attend?
You are required by law to successfully complete a trapper education course before purchasing your first trapping license. An exception is granted to those actively engaged in farming as defined in Wis. State Statute 102.04(3). 


Wisconsin now offers youth supervised and mentored trapping so you can give trapping a shot before taking trapper education. Look in the trapping regulations for more details.


What classes are available?

By far our most popular class type is the traditional in-person trapper education class. This class offers the most opportunity for hands-on learning and is recommended for those new to trapping. 

For those who have some hands-on experience, there is an online and correspondence course trapper education class. The online course is done over the web while the correspondence course is done through the mail. Contact Mike Widner below for further details or to get started.


NOTE: The field test-out requirement for online and correspondence course students has been temporarily suspended. The age requirement for online students has been suspended through 2020. 


If you would like to become a WCTEP instructor, you can contact a coordinator to get started. You will need to fill out the apprentice instructor form found in the INSTRUCTOR RESOURCES section below.


Find an in-person class here:

https://gowild.wi.gov/customers/safetyedclass


Contact Information:
Jim Binder, WTA Statewide Trapper Education Coordinator
Email: wctep1@gmail.com
Tel: (920) 250-2515

Mike Widner, Online and Correspondence Course Coordinator
Email: trappereducation@yahoo.com
Tel: (608) 356-3621

WCTEP Trapper Education In-person classes and contact info

2019 WCTEP class Schedule (pdf)Download
2020 WCTEP class Schedule (pdf)Download
WCTEP district coordinators contact information (pdf)Download

WCTEP Graduate Reports

2017 WCTEP trapper education stats (pdf)Download
2018 WCTEP trapper education stats (pdf)Download
2019 WCTEP trapper education stats (pdf)Download

WCTEP Student Resources

WCTEP student manual Unit 1 (pdf)Download
WCTEP student manual Unit 2 (pdf)Download
WCTEP student manual Unit 3 (pdf)Download
WCTEP Student Manual Fourth Edition (pdf)Download

Additional Resources

Best Management Practices Fact Sheet (pdf)Download
Key Messages for trappers (pdf)Download
Lynx avoidance (pdf)Download
Safe and Ethical use of Body Grip Traps (pdf)Download
Trapping and Furbearer Management in North America (pdf)Download
Trapping and Social Media (pdf)Download
Mammal Tracks in Wisconsin (pdf)Download
Marten avoidance (pdf)Download
Traps Trapping and Furbearer Management in WI (pdf)Download
Cable Restraints in WI (pdf)Download
Diseases of WI Furbearers (pdf)Download

Instructor Resources

Trapper Education Instructor Criteria (pdf)Download
Trapper Education Instructor Guidance How to use manual (pdf)Download
Posting trapper education classes on GOWILD (pdf)Download
Trapper Education Instructor Code of Conduct (pdf)Download
Apprentice Trapper Ed Instructor form (pdf)Download
Trapper Education Class Guidelines (pdf)Download
WCTEP Instructor Orentation (pdf)Download
Trapper Education Instructor Training Records & Application (pdf)Download
WCTEP Course Materials Order Instructions (pdf)Download

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