President — Stephen Pickard, P.O. Box 52, Rockhold, KY 40759; phone: 606-528-2726; cell phone: 606-521-0968; e-mail: spickard1@bellsouth.net
Vice President — David Kriege Jr., 3513 Cowie Ave., Erlanger, KY 41018-1608; phone: 859-342-8109
Financial Secretary — Dave Dykes, 152 Mapleview Ct., Mt. Washington, KY 40047; phone: 502-538-3290
Executive Director — Chet Hayes, 3951 Neises Rd., California, KY 41007; phone: 859-635-3102; e-mail: lhayes@fuse.net
Membership Options:
• Class A Kentucky trapper including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $25
• Family Membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $35
• Associate Membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $20
• Youth Kentucky trapper including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $15
• Lifetime Class A Kentucky trapper — $250
Complete membership application on first page of
association section and send dues to:
UTK, Financial Secretary
Dave Dykes
152 Mapleview Ct., Mt. Washington, KY 40047
502-538-3290
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Let me say first of all that I consider it an honor to be named the new president of United Trappers of Kentucky. I appreciate the opportunity to serve such a top quality trappers association as ours is. As I sit down to write this first report, I also sense a great responsibility. Steve Pickard, former president, current 9th district director, and longtime personal friend has done a tremendous job representing our organization and trapping as a whole since UTK was formed. I can only hope to do as well as he has. I admire him greatly as a trapper and as a down to earth, common-sense person.
He and I think alike on most issues. With that being said, if you missed his final report in the last issue of T&PC I encourage you to take the time to read it. In particular, I echo his thoughts about surrendering our state’s sovereignty to manage our own natural resources to any other entity, foreign or domestic.
Much has been accomplished by UTK up to this point. However, there is no time to slack. We must continue to work closely with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and our fellow conservation organizations. We must continue to reach young folks and give them a taste of the real outdoor world. We must continue to work diligently for the good of trappers and trapping in Kentucky. We must continue.
The auction of the 2009 elk hunt to support the James W. Ferguson Scholarship Fund was a success. Betty Owens of Cincinnati, OH was the winner with a high bid of $10,850. This will provide a firm foundation for the scholarship fund and I know Jim would have been pleased. I am sure there is a trophy bull waiting for Betty somewhere in the hills of eastern Kentucky. We appreciate all of those who participated in the auction.
Don’t forget our Fall Meet that is set for Oct. 2 and 3 at the Livingston Co. fairgrounds in Smithland, KY. Justin Walker is leading the effort to put the meeting together. I am sure he would welcome help from anyone who could be available. Some of us from the 9th district plan to arrive on Thursday to provide some assistance with setup. Vendors and tailgaters are welcome. Also, please bring an item or two for our white elephant auction. It is what pays for the meeting.
Currently we are thinking that we will have both a spring and fall meet in 2010. Brian Givens and Scott Barrett have agreed to facilitate a spring meeting in the Morehead area and Robbie Hoover will be taking the lead on a fall meeting in his neck of the woods. Exact dates and locations have not been set yet. Ideas for demos and activities would be welcome from anyone.
As usual, UTK has been busy promoting trapping at various venues. Robbie Hoover, Kevin Hughes, Jessie Osbourne, Curt Lewis, Dave Kriege, Oral Jones, Chet Hayes and Eddie Covey have been active with the Lewis Co. Sportsman’s Fair, Blazer’s Sports and Jakes Day at Green River State Park, the 5th District Jakes Day at Burlington and the Georgetown Jakes Day. Steve and I have been to the Knox Central High School to introduce trapping to four of their agriculture classes. We have been asked to conduct a beaver trapping program for them this winter. We have been doing a similar program at the Bell Co. High School for several years.
In May, those of us in the 9th district had a meeting at my place. There was plenty of good food and a lot of trapping talk. There was plenty of rain too. District level meetings are a good way to stay up on current issues. I encourage all district directors to give some thought to having some type of local meeting at least once a year. It helps build a sense of belonging for some who might not travel to our state meetings.
Also, on May 30, there was an officers meeting in Munfordville. We met at Big Windy Trap Supply and discussed various issues including the fall meet and the 2010 meets. Chet and I reported on information that we had gleaned from the Midwest Furbearer Biologists workshop that took place in Frankfort on April 14-17. The possibility of international “feel good” regulations creeping into trapping in Kentucky is a continual threat. The upcoming League of Kentucky Sportsmen’s annual meeting was discussed. An update was presented on the elk tag auction. Information about how to proceed with actually awarding scholarships from the James W. Ferguson Scholarship Fund was presented. Thanks to Jimmy and Heather for the use of their facility and for a delicious lunch.
On June 6, Steve, my sons Canaan and Jeremiah and I travelled to the Minor Clark Fish Hatchery in Morehead to present trapping information at a KDFWR fishing derby. We were very well received by the event organizers, the parents and the 240 plus young folks who came to fish. It was a joy to watch the excitement on some of the children’s faces as they fished and played.
In closing, “Thank You” UTK for allowing the opportunity to serve as president. If you participate in events that benefit trappers in Kentucky let me know and I will include them in this report. Until next time, have a blessed day and enjoy life. Don’t forget, you only have one chance to live this life, so get it right.
— Stacy J. White
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
We have J.A.K.E.S. events, Hunter Ed. Classes, Trailblazer programs, Youth Days, Big Windy Trapping Days and the UTK Fall Fling to keep us busy this summer and fall.
This coming season will incorporate the new regulations concerning snares, trap tags and extension of the bobcat season. All of us hope this coming season will also incorporate better fur prices. The market this past season through the May NAFA sale was dismal.
July 17 begins a new three-year term for all UTK officers. This will be the first term for several and the second and final for the rest of us. Personally, it has been a pleasure to work for the UTK with your team of officers. I look forward to working with the new officers and hope the outgoing officers will remain an active member or officer in another capacity. In the meantime, I am willing to help anyone else learn the ropes to take over the Executive Director’s position. It really is not that time consuming or difficult and is very educational and rewarding.
On another personal note, I retired effective May 1 and I am enjoying it a lot. Recently, some friends threw a retirement party for me and I would like to say how special it was to have not only my family and friends but a number of UTK trappers there as well. Thanks to Mick Craig, Larry Douglas, Dennis Davis, Dave Kriege, Ross Healy and Mike Burns.
I hope to be able to now devote a lot more time to help trappers and sportsmen in Kentucky, especially in the areas of trapper education and hunter safety.
Just a few extra paragraphs here to include some recent happenings. UTK was well represented at the League Convention by President Steve Pickard, Stan Broyles, Jim Couch, Linda Hayes and myself. UTK member Vikki Rawe was re-elected as Kentucky’s representative to the National Wildlife Federation. UTK member Robert Fraley, who serves as President of the Kentucky Hunter Education Association, was also elected as Kentucky’s representative to the National Rifle Association. Congratulations to both, we are proud of you.
It is important to recognize the importance of having the UTK involved with the League of Kentucky Sportsmen, will ALL of our trappers as individual League members. It puts us in the position of being members of the sportsman fraternity, while at the same time building contacts and support should we be attacked. It gives us the opportunity at various state and local functions to meet and talk with our wildlife Commissioners, biologists and game managers, and to provide them with a positive image of us as trappers. It puts us on a first-name basis with the people who can help us.
At this time, membership in the League is a mere $6 per year and that has been included as part of our dues structure since the UTK was founded. It is some of the best money we as an organization can spend.
Back to the Convention, Steve, Stan, and Jim set up a nice booth and display which got a lot of good response. We passed out our brochures and also our elk tag flyers, answered questions and awarded complimentary hats to Commissioner Jon Gassett and the other wildlife Commissioners who stopped by to visit us. We talked to a number of sportsmen representatives and also Conservation Officers. It was a weekend well spent.
Dave Kriege and Robbie Hoover attended a large Trailblazer event down in the Green River area and reported a large attendance of youngsters who were very interested in the UTK trapping display. Thanks for a great job guys!
Up here in the 5th District, we had the N.R.A. Youth Fest at Lloyd’s WMA. We had about 150 youngsters who enjoyed a full day of fishing, archery, hunter safety, trapping, muzzle loading, .22 rifle and trap shooting. UTK was represented by Oral Jones, Greg Bickel, Dave Kriege and myself. Due to the short timeframe and my own fault, I failed to contact Bob Maurer on this event and I apologize for that. Bob is our 5th District Director and one of our most dependable officers.
On July 25, we will be attending a large J.A.K.E.S. event in Boon County with about 500 kids and parents. This is part of our partnership with the Wild Turkey Federation.
The elk bidding was over on June 15 with the final bid of $10,850 going to Betty Owens of Ohio. Good luck on your hunt Betty and thank you for supporting our scholarship.
I would like to correct a statement I made previously. I stated that the UTK was the only trapping organization represented at the Midwest Furbearer Conference in Frankfort in mid April. In fact, Time Hiller was in attendance and though we met and spoke, I was unaware he was representing the Fur Takers of America. Tim gave a very good report on the Conference in the June issue of the Fur Taker Magazine. My apologies to Tim and the F.T.A.
In closing, I would like to thank outgoing officers Robbie Hoover, Steve Pickard, Phillip West and Justin Walker for their dedication these last several years. It has been an honor to work with each of you. I hope you will stay active in the UTK. I know Steve will, as he is continuing as 9th District Director. Congratulations also to the new officers and I look forward to working with each of you.
Until next month.
— Chet Hayes
