President — Hance Clayton, 4355 W. 49th St., Idaho Falls, ID 83402; phone: 208-524-6304; 208-521-8404; e-mail: hanceclayton@gmail.com
Vice President — Vince Harrison, P.O. Box 412, Ucon, ID 83454; phone: 208-524-0082
Secretary — Michelle Gutierrez, P.O. Box 405, Mountain Home, ID 83647; phone: 208-587-5931; e-mail: mjtaxidermy@msn.com
Treasurer — Tammy Jewett, 1770 NE Beaman Rd., Mountain Home, ID 83647; phone: 208-587-6822; e-mail: jewett6822@msn.com
NTA Director — Dan Davis, 2741 E 200 N St.,Anthony, ID 83445; phone: 208-458-4303; e-mail: danandjanet@juno.com
Election Oversight Committee Chairman — Corry Hatch, 1917 One Mile Rd., Grace, ID 83241, phone: 208-705-7068
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Trapping season should be in full swing for quite a few of you. The fur market looks like it is the usual crap shoot. The slow world economy seems to be keeping the fur market down. Most of us will continue to trap if we can just meet expenses. I often tell folks that my trapping is a hobby that pays for itself. When prices are low, I have to use that rationalization to keep going.
We have moved our fur sales from the Filer fairgrounds to the Idaho Army Guard Station Amory in Mountain Home, Idaho. The address is 3845 Hot Creek Rd. (behind Sleep Inn motel) off exit 95, follow the signs. Please mark your calendars Jan. 29-30, 2010 and March 12-13, 2010. Be sure to call Michelle (208-587-5931) and consign your furs. This is VERY important. We need this information for the buyers.
I attended the Western NTA convention in Lewistown, Mont. The Montana Trappers Association went all out and did a fantastic job of organizing and conducting this event. A big thanks from the ITA. We need to get behind and help Montana Trappers Association with their fight to keep their right to trap on public lands.
We could be next.
As always, we are looking for members that can turn wheels and make things happen to step up and get involved in YOUR ITA. We have a go-to list. Call Michelle and get on it.
As expected, hunters are not removing many wolves and it is in the wolf recovery plan to allow trapping in the future to help keep the wolves to the established numbers. It is ironic that the pro-wolf folks that are against killing wolves are sending death threats to some people that have taken wolves. It is OK to kill humans, but not wolves. Hmm.
Remember this is the year to write the trapping rules for the next two years. Take a close look at the existing regulations and if you see something that needs changing let me or one of our board members know. We plan to submit a list of suggested changes. Our fur biologist has moved onto another position and, at this time, I don’t know who will be the new Idaho fur biologist. We still have tickets for the Yamaha 4-wheeler. If you need tickets, call Michelle. We are only selling 400 tickets. That is pretty good odds. Check out our revamped Web page.
Hope you have good weather, prime fur and full stretchers. See you at the fur sales.
— Hance Clayton
