www.arkansastrappers.org
President — Aaron Hitchcock, 9331 Sister Lane, Mulberry, AR 72947; 479-997-5361;
AHITCH81@YAHOO.COM
Vice President — Charlie Bass, 6755 Bethesda Lane, Batesville, AR 72501; 870-698-1154;
trapper38@hotmail.com
Secretary/Treasurer — Gary Gray, PO Box 493, Arkadelphia, AR 71923; 870-403-2469;
secretary@arkansastrappers.org
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 T&PC — $22
• Family membership with subscription — $27
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
ATA, Secretary/Treasurer
Gary Gray
PO Box 493
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Hello Trappers,
I hope everyone is enjoying this cooler weather, it’s a lot better than the last couple of summers.
I would like to say hello to the newer district reps. Mark Sloan, James Clark, Doug Henderson, & Brad Townsend. If you can help these guys out with the district meetings and other functions it will be greatly appreciated.
The District reps. are:
District 1—Wayne Watson—–479-283-7004
2—Mark Sloan———870-414-1180
3—Alex Lane———–870-219-0852
4—Sterlin Kershman–501-627-4327
5—Doug Henderson—501-288-0503
7—Brad Townsend—–870-703-2728
8—Tim Ross————-870-678-2874
9—James Clark———-870-250-0878
President—-—Aaron Hitchcock—479-997-5361
V. President—-Charlie Bass——–870-834-2713
Sec/Treas——-Gary Gray———–870-403-2469
Editor———–Gary Helms———870-772-3834
NTA Director—Mike Fischer——501-939-2325
If you have any questions or need any trapping related help feel to call any one of us.
Mike Fischer attended the NTA Convention held in Escanaba, Michigan. Mike said there was very large turnout, even with it being so far north. He also said there was a pretty good group from Arkansas.
The 2014 Arkansas Trappers Convention will be held Saturday, Sept.13 at Petite Jean State Park. There will be a meet and greet about 6:00 pm Friday with burgers and dogs, along with a board of directors meeting around 7:00 pm. Contact Charlie Bass for more info. The Parks director relaxed the two night camp rental to one night if you mention that you are with the Arkansas Trappers. I am looking forward to visiting with old friends and making new ones.
The NTA Southeast Regional Trapping Convention will be held Oct.10-12, in Arkadelphia, Ark. The venders will start setting up Oct.9th. For more information call Dub Shankle 479-997-5062 or Tim Ross-870-678-2874. Anybody who could volunteer to help with the parking and help man the gates would be greatly appreciated.
The ATA Trappers Workshop will be held at Camp Clearfork, on OCT. 24th 25th &26th for more information call Aaron Hitchcock 479-997-5361
Till next time.
Hoping your traps are full. — Aaron Hitchcock
EDITOR’S REPORT
As I write this report, it’s August 1st and only 70 degrees! I don’t have to look at any record books to know that this was the mildest July in Southwest Arkansas during my adult life, if not my entire life! I hope everyone’s been able to enjoy this summer and get all of their trapping preparations taken care of…it’ll be trapping season before we know it! Also, if anyone’s still buying into the whole global warming thing, I’ve got some ocean front property in Arizona I’d like to sell.
The 2014 Arkansas Trappers Association Convention will be held on Friday, September 12, 2014 and Saturday, September 13, 2014 at Petit Jean State Park near Morrillton. Admission to the convention is FREE to members and non-members. If you’re not a member of ATA or your membership has expired, you can become a member at the convention. ATA T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, cookbook and other merchandise will be for sale. Friday night will start off the weekend with a meal at 6:30 p.m. The main course, side dishes and drink are supplied, just bring your appetite and trapping stories from last season. A Board of Directors meeting will be held directly afterwards. All day Saturday you can look forward to: Trapping Demonstrations, Kids and Ladies Activities, Vendors, Tailgaters, Potluck Lunch, 2014 General Business Meeting, Awards Ceremony, and Auction. We’ll open the Recreation Hall at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning. The ATA is supplying the meat for lunch. Please bring your favorite side dishes and deserts. Also, please bring along an item for the auction. Anything is fine…it doesn’t have to be trapping related.
Mather Lodge is reopened after extensive renovation. All 24 guest rooms and other facilities at the lodge are now open. There are also 33 cabins and 125 campsites available for rent. Call 1-800-264-2462 for lodge and cabin reservations, 501-727-5441 for campground reservations. The Director of Arkansas State Parks has determined that the two night minimum will be waived for the ATA Fall Convention at Petit Jean. Make sure you tell them you are with the ATA when you make reservations or check in. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Park Superintendent Joe Buckley at joe.buckley@arkansas.gov or 501-727-5441. Russellville and Morrilton may also have hotel rooms available.
If that’s not enough trapping convention for ya, we’ve got another one! The 2014 NTA Southeast Regional Trapping & Outdoor Expo is October 10-12, 2014 at Clark County Fairgrounds/1201 Highway 67 South, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923. It’s being hosted by Arkansas Trappers Association, Louisiana Trappers & Alligator Hunters Association, Mississippi Trappers Association, Oklahoma Fur Bearer Alliance, and Texas Trappers & Fur Hunters Association. The host motel is Quality Inn Arkadelphia @ 870-230-1506. This is the NTA’s first attempt at a Fall Regional Convention and I expect it to be a good one! With five States putting it on, I’m looking forward to lots of great trapping demos and several vendors have already registered, including some “Big Name” dealers. You can find more info @ NTA’s website nationaltrappers.com or our website @ arkansastrappers.org.
The 2014 Trappers Workshop is also coming up October 24-26, 2014. The deadline for registering is October 10th. Here’s all the details:
2014 Arkansas Trappers Workshop
October 24, 2014 – October 26, 2014, Camp Clearfork
Sponsored by Arkansas Trappers Association, Southwest Arkansas Fur Takers,
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and North American Fur Auctions
Trapping Demonstrations and Education
Land Trapping, Water Trapping, Fur Marketing, Fur Handling, Ethics and Safety, Snaring and much, much more.
Location
Camp Clearfork, US Forest Service Facility
20 miles west of Hot Springs, Arkansas on US Hwy 270 W
GPS Coordinates for Camp Clearfork: N34 30 32 W93 23 29
Lodging
Lodging in Rustic Cabins and Meals are included in the cost (*Bring your own bedding)
Overflow tent camping area available
Camping facilities and motels are available nearby
Groups (Scouts, 4-H, etc) are welcome
Check In: 5pm Friday, October 24, 2013
Check Out: by 1pm Sunday, October 26, 2013
Cost
Up to age 18 – $10.00, age 19 and over $20.00
Make Check or Money Order payable to the order of Arkansas Trappers Association
**First Time Attendees Have Priority**
For more information call
Aaron Hitchcock, 479 -997- 5361
****************************************
Reservations must be received by Friday, October 10, 2013
Make Reservations Early, Space is Limited!
Name: ____________________________________
Age: ________
Address: ________________________________
City: _________________ State: _____ Zip: ___________
Phone: _________________________
Arrival: Fri PM ___ Sat AM ____
Have you previously attended an Arkansas Trappers Workshop? Yes ___ No ___
Will you be staying in cabins? Yes ___ No ___
Please list all names, ages and addresses in your group on a separate page
Mail reservations to: Arkansas Trappers Workshop, c/o Aaron Hitchcock, 9331 Sister Lane, Mulberry, Arkansas 72947
You can also print this form out from our website under Workshop.
My tip this month is attend the conventions! As trappers, we’re generally keep-to-ourself loner types. Conventions are a great way to break out of that shell, and meet new friends with similar interests. Besides getting good deals on trapping supplies and saving on shipping, the demos are fun to attend and educational. I don’t care how many years you’ve been trapping, I challenge anyone to attend a convention and not learn something new or see something they’ve never seen or thought of before. Be careful though…they’re highly addictive! See ya at the conventions! — Gary Helms
DISTRICT 7 REPORT
We have set out next meeting for August 23, 2014. This will be a potluck meeting and it will be at the AGFC office in Perrytown, just outside of Hope. We will try to meet around 11:30 and start eating and meeting around noon (there will NOT be a stove). If you have any questions call Brad Townsend @ 870-703-2728. — Gary Helms
