Vice President — Fred Stine, 149 Winding Brook Ln., Califon, NJ 07830; phone: 908-832-6998
Secretary — Jay Mounier, 1765 Dutch Mill Rd., Franklinville, NJ 08322-2122; phone: 856-697-1007; e-mail: jemounier@juno.com
Treasurer — Steve Decker, P.O. Box 197, Netcong, NJ 07857; phone: 973-448-0145; e-mail: trapworld2000@yahoo.com
Membership Officer — Ron Diehl, 852 Berkeley Ave., Beechwood, NJ 08722; phone: 908-783-3090;
e-mail: trapperron2003@yahoo.com
NTA Director — Fred Stine, 149 Winding Brook Ln., Califon, NJ 07830; phone: 908-832-6998
Membership Options:
• Individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $25.00
• Family membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $30.00
• Junior membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $18.00
• Senior membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $18.00
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
NJFH, Membership Officer
Ron Diehl
852 Berkeley Ave., Beechwood, NJ 08722
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Hello, Happy New Year to all.
Why does this time of year always seem like it moves faster than the rest of the year? I feel like I just wrote a report for Dec. yesterday.
I hope everyone is filling up their fur shed with critters. The beaver season is now in full swing and which ever you have open water or ice it’s always a challenge to catch the largest, of the rodent family. (so just be safe)
December’s F&G council meeting was a real interesting one because they did a information report on the bobcat. Now as most of us know the bobcat is on the endangered species list, which means that it protected under federal law, but this was not always the case. In 1972 it was a game species with a closed season. From 1977 to 1982 the state tried to restore the population by bringing in cats from Main.
In 1991 the bobcat was changed to, endangered. I’m not sure yet, how that was done. From 1978 to 1982, 24 cats were radio collard (VHF) and 1997 to 2001, 6 more. The (VHF) collars are useless passed a mile, and in mountain country. In 2004 and 2005, 4 were collard (GPS) and 2009 to 2010, 5 more with (ATS GPS).They have some information from the GPS units but no info from the earlier studies, and no one knows where it disappeared to. What we do know with the GPS is that bobcats travel up to 30 plus miles in home ranges.
The numbers of bobcats are added up mostly from sightings, sent posts, and trail cameras. In 1995 they did sent post study with 26 posts and had 9 hits in one night. The problem is sent posts and trail cameras study’s lacked the volunteers. But in 2005 F&G ran an add in the back of the digest for people to call in sightings and road kill. That was the best info on numbers they ever received.
Now they are going to try it again. We need anyone who see’s a bobcat live or dead, trail camera or incidental, to call it in (PLEASE). They don’t have any record of a bobcat south of Rt 80. Yet I hear guy’s say they have seen them in the south. Catching an incidental bobcat in a restraining device (NON LEATHL) that can be released is not the demise of the bobcat in N.J. Habitat loss, disease, and the automobile is, so don’t worry.
They are bringing a dog in who is trained to find scat. This will tell sex ratio, age structure, pregnancy rate, age specific for mating, and survival rate. Just from scat. The only other thing would be if they were captured live, and I told the biologist that we, (as an organization) would help with any thing they might need, to the best of our ability. We need numbers and information to have a healthy self sustainable population of bobcats and the state needs our help. Maybe someday we can change the status of the bobcat. So call in your sightings. If you have any questions about this that you think I didn’t report call me and I will try to get you some answers. I will report more on future things pertaining to the bobcat. Call Michael Valent at (908)638-4127 with sightings.
On a strange note, the animal activist group Negotiation is over, has listed all the names, addresses, and phone numbers, for all the officers, of every trappers association a crossed the country on their web site. WHY, I don’t know, but I call my friend in the prosecutors office to let him know, just in case. None of the FTA or NTA officers info seems to be on their, but they could be next. We have to watch out for each other and keep all informed of strange doings. OK?
So remember to take some one new with you on your line so they to can experience, what we love to do!
Any questions call me.
TIP : For those of you who checks traps before the sun comes up, check the batteries in the flash light before you leave the house, because the time you really need it, it will be dead!
— Ron Diehl