President — Ken Mills, 13004 W H-40 Hwy, Rudyard, MI 49780; phone: 906-478-6631
Vice President — Lloyd White, 2739 W M-28, Dafter, MI 49724; phone: 906-632-6071
Secretary — Tammy Schultz, 7823 Metzke Road, Alpena, MI 49760; phone: 989-356-0744; e-mail: TammySchultz29@yahoo.com
Treasurer — Mark A. Spencer, N4552 Spencer Lane, Moran, MI 49760; phone: 906-292-4779; e-mail: spenfurs@lighthouse.net
Membership Options:
• Individual membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $21
• Junior (16 & under) with subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $16
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
NGLFH Treasurer
Mark A. Spencer,
N4552 Spencer Lane, Moran, MI 49760
SECRETARY’S REPORT
I’m baaack. I am now the new secretary of the association. Tammy had to stop being the secretary due to the hardship of driving all the way from Alpena. I do not blame her, especially at today’s gas prices. I would like to thank her for all the time and effort she put into being secretary.
As everyone knows, our convention has just gotten over and it was a great success. There were new friends made and old acquaintances renewed. Seemed like everyone in attendance was living a great time. There were also some good demos put on by guys that like to share their knowledge with others. The annual meeting was held on Friday night and there was a great turnout of members and their spouses. During the meeting the following awards were given out: The Trapper of the Year was presented to Paul Davison, the Presidents Award was presented to Gene and Vera Harrison, and the Mark Spencer Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Ken Bowlby. Congratulations to all of you.
There were elections of officers held during the meeting. Since everyone who put their hat in the ring ran unopposed there was little need of a vote.
The results are: Mark A. Spencer is Treasurer, Jim Neitling is the Secretary, Lloyd White is the Vice President, Larry Pratt is the Lower Peninsula Director, Rick Marshall will be one of the U.P. directors. It was decided that Penny Neitling will take over keeping track of the membership. This means that all membership renewals or new membership applications will be sent to me and I will forward them to Penny. The fee for membership and The Trapper is $21 and not $20.50 so please make note of this when you send in your renewals.
During the meeting, it was mentioned that there will be a DNR meeting on Sept. 26 in Mackinaw City. Ed Lundborg brought in a list of issues from the Mich. Trappers Assn. that are to be presented at this meeting:
1. They would like raccoons and opossums added to the list of animals that can be hunted at night by using a call.
2. An increase in the bag limit of otter from one to two in the Lower Peninsula.
3. Clarify the license requirements for hunting furbearers. Exactly what license is good for the hunting of these critters.
4. Open the area of bobcat trapping in the northern lower to the same areas as bobcat hunting.
5. Have the bobcat season to run concurrently with bobcat hunting season in the lower.
6. Have the prohibition of bodygrip traps for the taking of bobcat in the lower lifted and be used in accordance with the current bodygrip trap laws.
7. Allow the restriction for the shot size for nighttime predator hunting be changed to allow the use of buckshot.
Our membership brought up a couple of issues of our own.
1. Pursue a longer pine marten and fisher season.
2. Allow the use of center fire rifles in the .223 or .22-250 cal.
Mark A. Spencer said that there is a study going on right now on the mink worm problem. He has bags and envelopes so that if you want you can send in your carcasses. They only want U.P. mink. The carcasses can be frozen before you get the envelopes.
We had Adopt-A-Highway pick up on the Wednesday before the convention and 12 people showed up to pickup trash. Afterwards, we all went to Larry Pratt and Paul Davison’s camp to sit around the campfire to just enjoy the beautiful evening and spread the Bull.
Mark Spencer said that the trappers’ education course that was taught at the MTA convention was a success.
I attended the DNR meeting on the 26th and the only trapping issue that came up, that the DNR surprised us with, was that there is a good possibility that the otter bag limit in the Lower will be raised to two. This is only a possibility mind you, and will not go into effect this year but sometime in the future. They also said that they might rescind it at any time. It was stated that the date for open water beaver snaring should be the entire season, and not as stated in the rule book. You can believe this or not, it is up to you. Other than these two things, it turned into a dog chasers meeting.
These dates should be put on your calendar. Oct. 21, 2009 will be a meeting in Rudyard at the Lutheran Church at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20, 2010 will be the trappers’ dinner. More info to come on the dinner.
I hope I will do as good a job as your last secretary. I will try to not be as grumpy in my letters as I had been.
Thank you to all the following business and individuals that helped to make our convention a success:
Trapper Art, Dunn Knives, F&W Publications, Trappers Haven, Wildlife Research, Pines Fur, Mark June, Gary Revord, Gary Fisher, NAFA, Larry Finch, Larry Pratt, Paul Davison, Leonard J. Hill, Tom Vogel, Walt Smith & Carol Foley, Tami Lundborg, Grawe’s Lures, Thompson Snares, Scott Burton, Paul Dobbins, RP Outdoors, J&E Crafters, Blackies Blend, Dwayne & Jeri Ulman, Imre Bryant, J&K Fur Exchange, Pesky Paws, Warren Wilson, Ross Louma, Southeastern Outdoor Supplies, Gary Reid, Rex Wolfsen, Kyle Kaatz, Caldwell Clothing, Sy’s Fur Shed, Mark W. Spencer, Griffin Beverage, F&T Fur Trading Post, Otter Creek, Mid Michigan Independent, Furs by Fritz, Gene & Vera Harrison, LCL Crafters, Jim Neitling, Lloyd White, Paul Grimshaw & Sons, Fur Harvesters Auction, Welch’s Lures, Mark A. Spencer, Ken & Fayda Mills, Sterling Fur Company, George & Kathy Morse, Lawrence Harris Jr., Clarks Willowtree, Wildwood Pasties, Joe Goodman, U.P. Trappers, Dist. 3, Harry Fisher, Sprague Mudge and Eric Schultz.
I sure hope we didn’t forget anyone. Things were really coming in during the convention and I don’t know if we got it all down. If we forgot you, let me know and I’ll put you in the next letter. Thanks again to all.
— Jim Neitling
