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
Executive Director’s Report
Financial Secretary’s Report
Can you believe Christmas is almost upon us? It seems like last week it was midsummer and the season seemed so far away. I remember being told when I was younger that time goes by faster and faster as you age so I will pass this wisdom on to you young people. You’ll probably do just like I did and think you’ll never get old.
Speaking of feeling old, I spent the first week of season climbing up and down banks trying to catch a few ’coons and I felt like I had been beaten by a baseball bat. I remember when I was in my twenties climbing on an ATV at 4 in the morning, riding 25 miles checking fox sets, going to work all day and then skinning at night. That will never be again. It’s almost a shame that when you’re young and have the energy, you’re still waiting 20 years for wisdom and knowledge. So far, one of the highlights of my season was seeing three bald eagles one morning while running my line and an osprey the next day.
I haven’t heard from many members as of late November, but locally Stan Broyles has been tearing the beaver up. Stacy White is plugging along as well. The young trappers we have trained in Whitley County are mobile now with pickups and they are showing up at my house with their catches they are proud of. I was talking to a wise old trapper the other day as to whether trappers are born or made. I think the desire to do the work involved in running a trap line may be in born, as is evident by so many that don’t or won’t work these days, but there are also some that have that desire that have no one to show them anything. Those are the few we are hoping to carry it on after we are gone. Certainly starting them out on the right track sparks enthusiasm. It’s more fun to actually catch than to look at empty traps day after day.
As Chet mentioned in his last report, we are pursuing with the KDFWR what it will take to make the option of either a name tag as we now have or an issued ID number a reality. The KDFWR has been very good working out long outdated trapping laws with us and I feel this is one of them as well. It is being done in several states now with success and hopefully we can have it here. It is an issued number in some states but I would be fine with the last four digits of our Social Security number and a county code the same as the telecheck system. I would prefer a dept. issued permanent ID number. Whatever it takes to make it work will be fine. We will keep you posted.
On another issue, Robbie Hoover brought up an issue at the fall meet I have long been in favor of that other states have as well. How would you feel about a 48-hour check law for water sets that are either bodygrip or drowning sets? This would do either of two things. It would cut the cost of running your trapline in half or allow you to run twice as many water sets by alternating check days. An animal at the end of a drowning wire or a #330 bodygrip is not one bit deader the second day than he is five minutes after being caught. This is in no way inhumane and I would like to see this happen as well.
The question mentioned in last month’s report concerning legal trapping on WMA’s was very quickly pursued and clarified by Laura Patton. I think there is a question on one or two others as to the wording in the Hunting and Trapping Guide such as furbearer season versus trapping on WMA’s. I’m sure the intent is for trapping but we need to clarify that it is in fact trapping and not coon and varmint calling. The WMA’s in Kentucky are fantastic opportunities for us in Kentucky for trapping. We need to make sure there are no problems for trappers on public access lands.
Now, with all those being said, there are some things concerning regulation and wording changes that can be done fairly easily and others that must be pursued deeper into the laws, regulations and inner workings of the system.
When we had our very first UTK meeting and formed the organization I was “green as a gourd” in the knowledge of how things worked concerning regulations and updating them. I knew there were several things that needed to be addressed concerning trapping in Kentucky but didn’t really know which way to go about it. Luckily we had Chet there. Hal Sullivan, who was at that meeting, gave me some advice that day that has proven to be true. I still don’t know Roberts Rules of Order and shoot from the hip and sometimes the lip, but working for trapping in Kentucky is first and foremost in my, and all the other officers and directors, minds. Be assured as members, and even those Kentucky trappers reading this that aren’t members, we are representing you as an outdoor group in Kentucky the best we can.
The Web site has been dead in the water for over a month. Many other people across the nation are in the same boat with us as well with Yahoo Geocities. We are jumping into another boat. I have a lady working on a price to set us up an all new more modern site. The web address will be the same or have a redirecting link to it so the thousand fliers we will have all over the nation concerning the elk bid will be able to check their bids. Hopefully this will be accomplished by the time you are reading this.
If you have any questions concerning UTK membership contact the director in your district or one of the officers. If you are an ethical, energetic trapper we’d be glad to have you join. It is easy in these economic times to let your membership lapse. Just remember what is important to you in life and keep supporting UTK and we’ll keep working for you as a Kentucky trapper.
See you next month.
— Stephen Pickard
At the time of this writing, we are a week away from Thanksgiving. I have laid off the early fur which is still flat, blue, unprimed, etc. and opted instead to get deer season out of the way. My nephew, “Bluegill Ben,” is trying to get his first buck and my son has taken an 8-pointer so far. I have taken a good meat doe with the bow and now my job is to be the guide, field-dresser, “dragger-outer” and butcher. I enjoy hunting with the youngsters.
Our flyers advertising the elk tag are finished and will be distributed as soon as Steve can get things straightened out with the Web site. If any of you know people who want to bid on an elk hunt, or you want flyers to circulate to taxidermists, sporting good stores, gun shops, outdoor clubs, etc., contact me at 859-635-3102 or Robbie Hoover at 859-484-3569.
Our “Introduction to Trapping” weekend Dec. 6-7 will be over by the time you read this but we’ll report on it next month. We have a large group of interested students and good instructors as well. With decent weather it should be a success.
The market this year will be interesting but as usual I think selling through N.A.F.A. will net most trappers the greatest return. Careful marketing is important in this economy. Hopefully, fuel prices will hold at less ridiculous levels. I’m going to trap regardless and have fun no matter what. The Kentucky N.A.F.A. pickups are listed on our Web site (www.kentuckytrappers.com), for those of you wanting to ship. Jimmy and Heather Childress do a great job and will treat you right.
If you have never sold through N.A.F.A., it is an educational experience in regard to fur handling, grading, and marketing. I would urge everyone to give it a try.
Good luck on your trapline.
Until next month.
— Chet Hayes
Hope everyone has enjoyed the holidays and a successful trapping season.
If anyone has an address change, phone number change, magazine problem or any membership questions, just give me a call. Also if you need any membership applications let me know.
The UTK, NAFA fur pick up in Shepherdsville, KY will be 01-03-2009 and 03-21-2009 at the Bullitt County Co-Op Extension Service Building 8-8:30 a.m. both days. Directions – Shepherdsville is located off I65 between Louisville and Elizabethtown. Take I65 to Exit 117 travel east on Hwy 44 for approx. 2.5 miles turn left on Halls Lane. Travel about ½ mile, facility on right. You need not be a member to ship fur, all is welcome to ship with UTK. Jimmy and Heather Childress our NAFA agents and others will be there to help everyone bag and tag their fur.
UTK, Inc. Officers elections are due this spring. Nominations will be accepted from Feb. 1 to April 30 by phone or mail to secretary Dave Dykes at 152 Mapleview Court, Mt. Washington, KY 40047 or 502-538-3290. Ballots will be mailed out May 1. The election committee will do the count in June and new officers will take office July 17, 2009. Remember to receive a ballot you must be a KY resident and current with dues.
Till next time.
— Dave Dykes
