http://www.marylandtrappers.com/
President — Dan Baker III; 410-610-3311
Vice President — Brian Elder, P.O. Box 603, Solomons, MD 20688; 443-532-5500
Treasurer — Kate Webb, 2919 Chestnut Grove Road, Keedysville, MD 21756; 240-818-4245
Secretary — Jaime Glenn, 9 Jeanna Lane, Falling Waters, WV 25419; 301-465-0197
Membership Secretary — Reed Muse, 3499 Niner Road, Finksburg, MD 21048; 410-790-6475;
frmtrapper@verizon.net
NTA Director — Gene Garrett, 6361 Powellville Road, Willards, MD 21874; 410-251-3570
Membership Options:
• Yearly individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $30
• Yearly individual membership without subscription — $15
• 3-year individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $84
• Lifetime individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $300
• Lifetime individual membership without subscription — $105
• Yearly family membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $33
• 3-year family membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $96
• Lifetime family membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $480
• Yearly junior (17 and under) membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $15
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
MFT Membership Secretary
Reed Muse
3499 Niner Road
Finksburg, MD 21048
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Well, it’s Pre-Fall and we have a million things to do in a short period of time as usual.
We just had our Annual Convention on August 22 – 23 which to me is still the “old rendezvous”. The convention is a great place to swap stories, trapping secrets and tips of the trade.
Every year, on Friday evening of the convention, we have our Crab Feast with pit beef and ham , we also have a lot of sides and homemade desserts. We had Blue Grass band and dancing too.
Many thanks to all the hard working men and women who sacrifice a long weekend so everybody else can enjoy a great time. The “Trapping Legend” Ron Leggett entertained us by singing with the live band during the feast.
Saturday morning District 4 does an outstanding job started serving breakfast at 6 a.m. At 7:30 a.m. we all got together and loaded up our vehicles for the live trap line. About 55 people made a convoy as we went from farm to farm, showing different sets and prime locations. Thanks to Ron Leggett, Robert Colona for their expertise in the field on trap location and the different sets for fox and coyotes. You can really learn a lot on the live trap line.
We moved our way back to the convention grounds where we had trapping suppliers and tail gaiters selling trapping supplies, old traps, lures and taxidermist. Demonstrations start and last throughout the morning, Roy Stanley showed us coyote sets and John Mace of Mace’s Fur and Trapping Supplies did a great demonstration. NAFA’s Tom Tyree did a fantastic job on fur prepping and handling furs, coon demonstration and what the market wants and a lot of little tips we can do so our fur will bring more. Robert Colona, gave a Power Point presentation on locations, all types of lure and lure placement. I learned so much at the demonstrations that I ought to pay tuition to somebody.
At Noon we had Charlie Burbage grilled chicken dinners. At 1:30 we had our live auction. It was a great success thanks to all that donated items. Jamie and Butch Glen, and Kate Guy sold shirts, hoodie sweatshirts. Dan Tucker and Richard Garrett sold tickets both days. I don’t know what we would have done without them. Linda and Gary Shank filled in jobs whenever we needed help and both receiver Certificates of Appreciation.
The annual meeting started with the President thanking everyone for all their hard work putting on the convention. Main topics: the FurBearers Unlimited banquet. NAFA donates to us every year and Tom Tyree received a Certificate of Appreciation for their support. We had four changes to the 2014-2015 Trapping seasons this past spring.1. Extended fox trapping to coincided with hunting and chasing.2. two calendar day check on water sets.3. skunk season to run with raccoon season. 4. Beaver and Otter season to open two weeks earlier in Western Maryland. It took a lot of time and meeting with Dnr, Wac, Public hearing and public comment to get these changes. Thanks to everyone who helped. Under membership, Reed Muse said we had a lot of people renewing memberships, a few new memberships and we had one new life member. His name is Michael Gray #98.
Our historian, Roger Ringgold, had the books on display to review. Then we went into awards.
We gave a Special Award to Tommy and Mary Tucker for Chairing and working the convention for over 15 years, there dedication is greatly honored. MFTI awards were:
President’s Award –Jaime Glenn
Leadership Award – Leslie Schunick
Director of the Year Award – Roger Ringgold
Trapper of the Year Award – Jimmy Smith
Hall of Fame Award – Melinda Rice
Benefactor Award –Gene Garrett
Congratulations to everyone that received an awards and Certificates of Appreciation. They were all well deserved.
After elections were over, we had 2 Board of Directors positions to vote on.
Board of Directors –Paul Burkhart and Charles Burbage.
Raffle results;
1st Place Bill Webb
2nd Place Leslie Schunick
3rd Place Butch Glenn
4th Place Randel Watkins
After the elections, the meeting was adjourned.
A short Board meeting was held following the Annual meeting.
Maryland is very lucky in the great number of leaders we have that share their knowledge and time with us. They unselfishly show us tricks of the trade and secrets in their demonstrations and will answer any question we may have. They are a vital asset and resource to us. As members, we all need to step up and do our part to keep the MFTI going. Try to get younger members involved in trapping and older ones to help out at events and teaching. Let’s build the districts back up. If anyone ever has a question, feel free to give me a call at any time, 410-610-3311.
This trapping heritage will only be here if we keep it alive. — Dan Baker
DISTRICT 4 REPORT
The meeting was called to order by Director Larry Emswiler with 10 members present.
Larry read the minutes of the Board of Directors meeting of July 13, 2014.
Members talked about District 4 doing the breakfast at the convention. It seems there should be enough help. The menu will be: pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, and coffee. We will start serving at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2014.
Ron Leggett said the MFT decal would be in color.
There was also discussion about the farmers in Howard County accused of animal cruelty.
It was also noted that there are new requirements to rent Camp Hickory for the Trap School.
Dan reported that District 4 needs a treasurer due to the death of Harold Lenhart. Dan will assist anyone interested in becoming treasurer. Dan received our checkbook from Harold’s wife. They have been trying to stop the bank from charging a monthly fee for a statement. Since we write so few checks we wouldn’t need a statement each month.
There was discussion on trap sizes to hold the larger 60+ pound coyotes that are in western Maryland.
The meeting was adjourned for snacks and more stories.
District 4 meetings are held at Grace Trinity Church, 9501 Baltimore Road on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. For more information contact Larry Emswiler at 301-253-5869 or Dan Tucker at 301-663-6258.
DISTRICT 8 REPORT
Another great convention is now entered on the books. Everything went off quite well as usual. Thanks go out to all who participated in any way.
A change of location may be in store for next year, brought about by a change in members of the board of the park. We will see.
Our convention is low key, but very enjoyable. Lots of friends to visit with along with the supply dealers and tailgaters. It rained hard for an hour late Saturday morning, but we recovered.
Dist 8 resumes our meeting in October. The October meeting will be an election meeting.
Dist 8 meets the fourth Tuesday during trapping season at the home of Robert Calloway at 7;00 PM. He lives at 14313 Cherry Lane , near Tuckahoe Stae Park, between Centreville, Md and Ridgely, Md. Call Bob at 410-634-2552 for further directions.
Go to marylandtrappers.com for more info. — Roger Ringgold, 410-634-2552, rogerringgold@ymail.com
