President — Tom Barnes; phone: 406-683-2791; e-mail: t_barnes@wmc.edu
Vice President East — John Graham, Jordan, MT; e-mail: VPEast@montanatrappers.org
Vice President West — Dennis Schutz, Stevensville, MT
Recording Secretary — Jim Buell; phone: 406-376-3178; e-mail: 7mbuell@ttc-cmc.net
Membership Secretary — Valerie Esche, 17 Allison Dr., Absarokee, MT 59001; phone: 406-328-7264; e-mail: wetrap@nemontel.com
Treasurer — Terry Sheppard, Ovando, MT; e-mail: Treasurer@montanatrappers.org
NTA Director — Brian Stoner, Belgrade, MT; e-mail: NTAdirector@montanatrappers.org
Membership Options:
• Individual membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $25
• Youth membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $15
• Family membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $35
• Lifetime membership with subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $350
• Senior Lifetime membership with subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $200
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
MTA Membership Secreatary
Valerie Esche
17 Allison Dr., Absarokee, MT 59001
http://www.montanatrappers.org
VICE PRESIDENT WEST REPORT
I have been busy putting up the NO-I 160 signs and am surprised at the support I have received. We also have been continuing to gather financial support for our cause: MT for Effective Wildlife Management. If I were to start thanking all those people who have helped us Montanan’s I would not know where to stop. Pac West (our advocate) has really done one excellent job of being our partner in this fight. I’d highly recommend them to any state in peril of having animal rights activists establish policy.
Looking down the road I see Montana Trappers in the winner’s circle! Whenever someone speaks of making concessions with the animal rights mentality – I say NO. Once we’ve won this I-160 fight it will be time to see legislation passed that benefits trappers NOT laws that make our harvest more difficult.
The first thing I want to see is an anti harassment law to protect trappers with the word trapper in the writing. We trappers are human beings also.
Another thing I’d like to see materialize is mandatory trapper’s education. Putting responsible ethical trappers afield will keep the public voting our way.
Another thing to roll back is our elevated set requirement pushing us Marten trappers from 36” to 48” off the ground. How many of us carry step ladders around the mountains? I-160 would have terminated Marten, bobcat and wolf trapping – snaring in western Montana.
Two important things have happened to me during this I-160 fight; I have found out which people I could count on for help and support. The others were “bags of wind” with 100 excuses.
The other important thing I did was find out who your real friends were and who failed to support us trappers.
There are two new candidates running for Vice President West – Montana Trappers Association. They are Tater McKay from Dillon and Toby Walrath from Corvallis. They are both super qualified and I wish them well because it is time for some new, young blood to carry on the MTA.
I have really loved serving you the trappers of Montana. I’d like you trapper’s to know and remember one very important thought:
Compromise with animal right’s mentality is just plain suicide on the installment plan. I owe that thought to a trapper from Broadus, Montana.
Sincerely.
— Dennis Schutz
