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RFMA Logbooks and Forms

2023 Logbook Update with ACA
WHY COMPLETE A LOGBOOK?
Alberta Conservation Association
Alberta Trappers Association Logo

LOGBOOKS, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

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" Ask not what the ATA can do for you…ask what you can do for the ATA."  

 

With apologies to RFK, I believe the above question is long overdue.  After many years of involvement in the ATA I've seen the same thing year after year. A relatively small contingent of our members shoulder the lion's share of the work for the organization. They are volunteers and I know from personal experience their participation costs them both money and our most precious commodity, time.  And for what? 

 

With 1500 + RFMA's in the province it's hard to comprehend the lack of support offered by the average RFMA holder to the Alberta Trappers Association. The organization is taken for granted and only thought of in times of difficulty by the majority of RFMA holders. Yet the ATA continues to fight the good fight for Trapper's year after year without complaint.

 

Well I'm about to complain so please listen up.  If you have an RFMA and have knowingly refused to fill out the ATA logbook you are working against the interests of both the ATA and against your own chances of owning a trapline in the future. By refusing to take the minimal effort to fill in the easily kept logbook you are hurting our organization and ultimately yourself.  So why aren't many RFMA holders filling in the logbooks?

 

#1 - Lazy, they think it's too much work.   There's no cure for laziness, and thankfully lazy trappers are rare.  

 

#2 - Intimidated by the process and technology.  I feel your pain, the world is moving quickly and technology can be invasive.  But we are here to help you through the process and it does not need to be filled out online. Once you fill out a logbook once you will see how easy it is, there is no excuse.   

 

#3 - Resistant to sharing information with the government. This seems to be the reason most given and it's not valid.  All information is held by the ATA and our partner the Alberta Conservation Association.  The government gets our logbook data results once they've been collated by the ACA and individual trapper information and results are confidential and not shared with the government. 

 

#4 - Unaware of the logbook program.  Some RFMA holders have no contact with the ATA and aren't even members. Unfortunately many of them aren't active trappers and are tying up RFMA's that should be active.  This is a situation the government has created and is responsible for, but it reflects badly on us active trappers. Hopefully we will see movement on this issue in the future.

 

#5 - You didn't or aren't going to trap this season. The logbooks are designed for use even when a trapline is not harvested that season, or even a few seasons. Health and financial issues can affect anyone we realize.  But when the logbooks are filled in reflecting the trapper is taking a break that data is important also. One way in which it is used is when ACA is calculating how many days a trap must be set to result in a catch. This is called trapper effort. A real world example of how this helped trappers is when the marten harvest numbers dropped in Alberta and the government was considering quotas. The ATA / ACA logbook data showed the reduced catch was due to reduced trapper effort, not less marten. In fact the trappers who were harvesting marten had increased catches so no quota was imposed.   

 

#6 - You aren't trapping anymore and don't want to have any accountability. Anyone reading this is probably not in this category but it is a factor in our trapping community. It's hard to give up a trapline that perhaps you have a long family history on or you love to use during the off-season, but that's too bad.  What they are really doing is being selfish and preventing someone with a passion for trapping from getting onto an RFMA. And once again there is no excuse as bringing on a junior partner on solves the problem.    

 

PLEASE HELP US AND YOU

 

I've had the privilege of being involved with the logbook program from day one.  I've seen the power of the logbooks when dealing with the government in negotiations. And if you need a reason to get involved with the logbook program here's another truth for you. 

 

Some government bureaucrats are like a dog with a bone. We've seen the results of some of the disgruntled regional biologists. They'd love to see the logbook program fail as they know that the ATA members are the only ones who can deliver the valuable furbearer and wildlife data we supply. They don't like that we have that knowledge base and perceived leverage it brings.  

 

Out of 1500 + RFMA's only 250 filled in logbooks last season. If you're part of the 16% who made the effort you have my deepest appreciation. If you just couldn't be bothered I hope this message opens your eyes and you get on board. 

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I get it might seem like a small thing up to now but if you read this you should see it's actually a big deal. What's your excuse moving forward? 

 

Thank you in advance  for your participation in the logbook this upcoming season and let's see if we can get 500 RFMA's on Board this season.   

 

Brian Bildson

Secretary 

Log Books RFMA

Working with Alberta’s Trappers to Monitor Furbearer Population Trends

The ACA was asked to assist Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) and Alberta Trappers Association (ATA) with a pilot project to develop logbooks for trappers to record information about their trapping activities and fur harvesting results.

 

After revisions to the logbook for 2017/18, logbook entries focused on marten given their universality, widespread distribution, and a harvest pattern that is uncomplicated by a set quota. The four quota species (i.e., lynx, fisher, otter, and wolverine) were added to the logbook in 2019/20 and in 2021/22, wolf trapping information was also included as part of ATA's involvement in the province’s wolf management program.

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Six years later and the 2022/23 trapping year broke the 1000 mark for logbooks submitted through the ATA’s RFMA logbook program. The ACA is currently summarizing the past five years of trapper provided furbearer data and compiling it into a report that will be made available to the ATA. This data set provides a benchmark for the status of furbearer populations in Alberta and further illustrates the dedication of this trapper-led organization.

 

We have made strong progress, but there is still room for improvement and the results could be more robust if greater participation in logbooks were obtained.

 

Every logbook counts!

NEW Version will be uploaded soon

Your participation is key to the results!

We need as many trappers as possible to participate in this joint program between

The Alberta Trappers Association & The ACA

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Participants are required to keep a paper copy of their logbook entries, to be updated regularly

Participants should return their completed logbooks (digital or hard copy) by JULY 15th, 2025

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A big thank you to everyone who submitted a logbook last season!

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  • To simplify the logbook process, we are asking participants to complete one page of required information, and two pages of optional additional information (regarding quota species). We wanted to make it easier for our participants to get us information.

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  • Other required information will include keeping track of how many traps are set for marten and the quota species, and the duration those traps are set. We will still require gender and age class information for marten and gender-only information for quota species.

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  • Participants are strongly encouraged to submit their logbooks using the digital version as it will allow for automated compilation and reporting of the results.

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Read the Alberta Furbearer Project Updates below 
Your logbooks provide key, critical data ensuring the future of sustainable trapping

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