Arkansas Trappers Association December 2014 Report

www.arkansastrappers.org

President — Aaron Hitchcock, 9331 Sister Lane, Mulberry, AR 72947; 479-997-5361; AHITCH81@YAHOO.COM

Vice President — Danny Ross, 401 Japonica Lane, Hot Springs, AR 71901; 501-844-5091,
drossscoutmaster@aol.com

Secretary/Treasurer — Karen Fuller, 7611 White Oak Road, Mulberry, AR 72947; 479-221-4416,
karentee3@hotmail.com

NTA Director — Mike Fischer, 13823 Masoner Road, Lonsdale, AR 72087; 501-939-2325

Editor — Gary Helms, 1092 Vanderbilt Rd., Texarkana, AR 71854; 870-772-3834; TrapperGWH@aol.com

Membership Options:

• Individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $22

• Family membership with subscription — $27

Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:

ATA, Secretary/Treasurer

Karen Fuller, 7611 White Oak Road

Mulberry, AR 72947; 479-221-4416

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Hello Trappers

There were over 400 visitors that came to the NTA Southeast Regional Convention at Arkadelphia, if you missed it you missed a lot.

There were 16 very good demos Friday and Saturday, with instructors from all over the country. I thought the 12’-3” Alligator demo was very unique. There also were vendors from as far as Florida, and New Hampshire, for every one to get their supplies from, if you needed something, someone had it.

I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to all the people who set up the convention, and to all the volunteers who helped run the event. It took a lot time and effort from the people from Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.

And thank you to the visitors who came to the convention.

The Arkansas Trappers Workshop was Oct. 24th-26th. This year the weather was a lot warmer, unlike last year when it was hard to keep warm.

We had a full house again this year with over 60 first time students, that included a group of 24 Boy Scouts from the Nashville area.

The 8 instructors said the students were very attentive and ask a lot of questions which is a very important part of learning.

After a long day of classes for entertainment the students built wooden dirt sifters and snares. With all the hammering in the class room it sounded like a bunch of wood peckers.

I would like to say thank you again to all the instructors for all their time and effort, and to all the women and men who worked in the kitchen, with out your support this would not be possible.

One of the things that is surprising is how many people that did not know about the Arkansas Trappers Association until they found it on our website, or heard about it from a friend. So we all need to tell more people and spread the word.

The next ATA event is the Fur Sale in Russelville Ark. the information flyers will be mailed out some time in December with lot # and contact info. The Fur Sale Coordinator this year is Doug Henderson

Till next time

Hoping your traps are full. — Aaron Hitchcock

EDITOR’S REPORT

We had a great turnout for this year’s Trapper Education Workshop. There were about 70 students, and most were new to trapping. They paid close attention to the instructors, asked lots of good questions, and were very eager to learn. I always enjoy being an instructor at the workshop, and students like these are the reason why! Camp Clearfork was beautiful this year, as always, but the temperatures could have been a little cooler for me. Aaron Hitchcock did a great job of coordinating the event, and the ladies that fed the group all weekend did an amazing job, as well! Thanks also to all of the instructors for giving up a weekend to share their favorite sets and secrets with the students! I could tell they appreciated it, and will be better trappers because of it. Good Luck this year to the class of 2014!

The NTA SE Regional Convention was held at the Arkadelphia fairgrounds October 10-12. It was the best one I’ve attended. I believe having it in the Fall was the main ingredient for making it a bigger and better convention. I’m told the total gate count was 443. Had it not rained on Saturday, I believe this number would have been much higher. More people showed up on Friday than on Saturday, and that NEVER happens. This convention had more “Big Name” dealers and vendors than any of the past SE Regionals, and there were more total vendors than usual. Texas and Oklahoma joined us this year, and were well represented, as were all of the SE States. Having five States host this convention left no shortage of volunteers, and as far as I could tell, things ran smoothly.

I really enjoyed the demos! Besides learning new techniques on the usual furbearers, I learned how to trap mountain lions, and how to skin a 12 foot alligator! I hope these future conventions will be held in the Fall. It seemed to me that it worked out better for all involved!

Good luck this year on your traplines! Stay safe, try to stay dry, and meet me in Russellville February 21st, 2015 at our Fur Sale!!! Until next time! — Gary Helms

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