President — Brian Mohn, 134 Fairview Road, Hamburg, PA 19526; phone: 610-562-1790; e-mail: papatrees@aol.com
Vice President East — Joel Whitehead, RR#2Box 90, Thompson, PA 18465; e-mail: JFRED@nep.net
Vice President West — Ned Weston, 120 Swope Road, West Sunbury, PA 16061; phone: 724-894-2239; e-mail: Nweston@netzero.net
Secretary — Tereasa Houtz, 300 Flint Lane, Landisburg, PA 17040; e-mail: PTASecretary@embarqmail.com
Treasurer — Chad Kijowski, P.O. Box 614 , Dayton, PA 16222; phone: 814-257-9846;
e-mail: HKijowski@yahoo.com
Editor — Russ Ford, 309 Pine Dale Road, Carlisle, PA 17013, phone: 717-249-7271, fax: 717-249-8509; e-mail: Ptaeditor@pa.net
NTA Director — David Shuttleworth, 5452 Tamarack Drive, Sharpsville, PA 16150; phone: 724-962-4260; e-mail: Dianeshutts@aol.com
FTA Director — Mark Kasten, RR2 Box 2287, Hallstead, PA 18822; phone: 570-278-2553;
e-mail: willsher@epix.net
Public Relations Director — Mike Gontor, 87 West 7th St., Jim Thorpe, PA 18229; phone: 570-325-4974; e-mail: FuFiGa@ptd.net
Membership Options:
Individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $25
Individual membership without subscription — $10
Junior, age 16 and under without subscription — $5
Lifetime membership with subscription — $300
Lifetime membership without subscription — $100
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
PTA Treasurer
Chad Kijowski
P.O. Box 614
Dayton, PA 16222
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Trapping season is never over in my family! Sometimes they might think I’m a little obsessed, but without planning success it hard to obtain. If you are done setting traps now is the time to start preparing for next season. Practice your fur handling, clean up your equipment, make a list of supplies needed and scout for more furbearers.
I have been receiving numerous requests for cable restraint certification and trapping classes. I would encourage our instructors to get your classes scheduled early and students to visit the Pa Game Commission website for classes. District 11 will be having two classes at the PTA rendezvous June 16-18 at the Schuylkill County Fairground.
In January I testified for the PTA at the PGC board of commissioner meeting. Season and Bag limits were our main topic and we were in favor of seasons remaining the same for the purpose of scientific data collection. Another issue of most importance is the possible change in artificial cubbies and how they relate to body gripping trap use. Anybody who has read my reports for the past year know this is nothing new, but if you don’t adhere to the new changes you will face major fines and all the trapping community could face more restrictions.
Finishing on a positive note I want to thank all the volunteers who worked the various sports shows around the state. Thank You for promoting our sport. I hope to see you at one of the banquets or fur sales this spring. For a complete list of event visit our webpage at www.patrappers.com…
Happy scouting.
— Brian Mohn
EDITOR’S REPORT
Hi to All,
Now that trapping seasons are winding down for many of you, it’s time to reflect on this “Pass Season”, “Seasons Past” & “Future Seasons” to come. Take some time to remember all the time you had doing your thing. Remember the “ “Good Times” & the “Bad Times’ you had on your lines. Remember the time you had out with “Mother Nature”. Remember the anticipation of making that set. Remember the hope of checking that set. So many Past Memories & hopefully so many Future Memories to come. Trapping is part of you, do not loose that part!
Looks like fur prices are so-so. Not great but not terrible either. Although the money one gets back from one’s efforts, is usually not near the amount one puts into trapping, it nice to get a little monetary reward for those efforts.
And now with the price of gas & everything else going up, it’s going to be interesting to see how we fare in the coming years. It’s going to be costly for you to run your lines & to put much time & money into your sport with high “Operating Costs”. And if the return for those costs are not high enough to at least cover those costs, may result in less trapping by many & even perhaps the end of most trapping by many.
If that happens, the “Anti’s” win. If we forfeit, we lose. It will be our own un-doing if we stop because of money Issues. It’s going to be hard & trying times in the near & perhaps far future for us to continue our way.
Can we face up to the challenge? Can we NOT face up to it? It’s up to you!
Don’t know about you BUT I’ve had enough Winter already! Come on Spring.
Take care, Be safe. Enjoy live!
— Russ Ford
ELECTION CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
The Pennsylvania Trappers Association will hold an election during the State Rendezvous from June 16th through June 19st to fill the offices of President, Vice President – East, Vice President – West, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, Public Relations Direction, NTA Director and FTA Director. Anyone interested in having their name on the ballot for this election should forward their resume to Charlie Sykes via e-mail at trapper_66@windstream.net or via US Mail at: 1265 Airport Road, Stoneboro, PA 16153-1807.
Resumes must be received no later than March 1st, 2011, in order for your name to be published on the ballot. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Charlie via email or phone.
Phone: (724) 866-4286.
DISTRICT 1 REPORT
Hello Members. Venango County will be hosting District One’s Spring Meeting. It will be held at the Venango County Coon and Fox Club on April 9th, 2011 at 9:00 AM. The address is PO Box 546, 2 Mile Run Road, Franklin, PA 16323.
Don’t forget to get your Spring Gun Raffle Sponsorships. If you need tickets, please contact Jim or Donna Murphy at (814) 382-2561.
There is a biologist from Grove City College who will be conducting a study on coyotes. He is requesting frozen coyote livers, for his testing process. For more information on where the coyote livers go, please contact Jim Stoops at (724) 992-1143.
It is still not too late to take a kid along with you when you go beaver trapping.
God Bless.
— Charlie Sykes
DISTRICT 3 REPORT
Hello all,
As I am writing this, our district fur sale has just ended. It seemed like a good sale, with 77 lots of fur brought in, and very little going back out the door. Thanks to all who helped set up, run, load, and clean up the sale. I’ll try not to forget anyone here, but thanks to Rege Denne, Matthew Pappa, Denny Mounts, Steve Yilit, Doug Bergman, Dan Weiss, and my daughter Jen.
Our 50/50 was won by Dane Culley, who said he never wins anything, but I remember bringing home his prizes from the NTA regional a couple years back. Also a big thanks to the fur buyers who came and spent the day looking at piles of fur. I’ve included the averages from the sale below. It was great to have the PGC furbearer biologist, Tom Hardisky there to age the muskrats at the sale and also to educate everyone with muskrat info, Thanks Tom.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the D-3 banquet on April 23, at the Youngwood Fire Hall. Hope you can all make it. It really is a great time for all involved and attending.
You should receive your Spring newsletter in the mail sometime during the first half of March. If you haven’t received one by the middle of the month, give me a shout and I’ll get you one out. Our spring meeting is still unset as of this writing, but it will be in the newsletter. This is an election year, so we will be voting at the spring meeting, along with going over all of our yearly events and functions. Hope you can attend.
‘till next time.
— Dave Eckels
District 3 Fur Sale
January 30, 2011 – Washington, Pa.
Listed by Species, # Sold and Avg.
Raccoon — 1,444, 11.55
Green coon — 243, 5.34
Red Fox — 136, 15.30
Gray Fox — 45, 19.31
Coyote — 79, 14.04
Muskrat — 597, 6.41
Beaver — 31, 15.16
Opossum — 59, 1.57
Mink — 25, 15.78
Skunk — 2, 3.50
Bobcat — 6, 28.33
Deer Hides — 18, 2.83
Beef Hides — 1, 25.00
DISTRICT 4 REPORT
Hello Everyone,
I hope you had a great season and had a chance to participate in the new fisher and bobcat seasons. I was able to trap a week with my dad and we made some great memories. This is just a quick note to let everyone know about our April 2nd fursale. It will be at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds again this year from 8:30 am until noon. We will have a district meeting at noon. There will be 0% commission for PTA members and a 4% commission for all others. If you have any questions feel free to give me a call 814-371-1170.
I would also like to let everyone know I am stepping down as director of district 4 to run for the state secretary’s position. I have been filling the secretary’s position on a temporary basis since it became vacant in October.
It has been a great 10 years as director. Jeff Dornish has volunteered to take over the directorship. Jeff has been a great asset to the district and it’s about time he gets the credit he deserves. I know I am leaving the district in great hands. I would also like to thank the district officers and members who made the last 10 years so wonderful. Thank you. We have a close knit district that works great together and I know I am a bit biased but District 4 is the best.
Sincerely.
— Don Klinger
DISTRICT 7 REPORT
District 7 had our auction on Jan.16 at Washingtonville. I would like to thank all the members who helped out. Todd Strohecker did a great job running the auction and Randy Henry did a great job running the food stand. Brian Walker did another good job as our auctioneer. Steve Karchner did the copy work along with Megan and Melissa Rake. A special thank you to Leo Phillippi for raising some extra money for the district. The next sale will be April 3 at Hillsgrove starting at 9 pm.
— Pete
DISTRICT 8 REPORT
The fur season is coming to an end this year real soon. I hope you all had a very successful season. This winter being very wintry I am sure it has been challenging out there on the trap line for you all. We have to deal with what ever Mother Nature gives us.
We held our winter break meeting up at Kreamer Sportsmen Club in Snyder County. I would like to thank Eric Clark for running the kitchen for us and Chuck and Buddy Filler for doing the raffle table. We had 34 District 8 members present and one District 7 member there, Pete Rake.
Thanks Pete for coming over to visit with us. We covered the things we need to do this year and lined up the agenda. We will be needing volunteers to help with events that District 8 will be involved in this year. Do not be afraid to step up and help out. You may enjoy it. If you would like to help out in anyway just contact me at 717-486-7573.
At the October District 8 Meeting Russ Ford was drawn for the member that we send each year to FTA College for participating in PTA D-8 or FTA Affiliate 6B activities. For the 2nd time Russ declined it. Jerry Pickle will be the D-8 member going to the FTA College for our 2010 drawing.
Events: February 19, 2011 Shippensburg Fish & Game, Shippensburg, Pa. “Buy, Sell and Swap Meet Day”, Setup starts at 5:00 AM ( D-8 will have one table there ), Youth Field Days: Adams County June 4, 2011 McSherrystown Fish & Game McSherrystown, Pa., Franklin County June 11, 2011 Waynesboro Fish & Game Waynesboro, Pa., Perry County June 11, 2011 Duncannon Sportsmen Club Duncannon, Pa. and Snyder County July 16, 2011 Kreamer Sportsmen Club Kreamer, Pa.
Tuscarora Valley Extravaganza September 16th 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM & 17th 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, 2011 at Tuscarora Valley Heritage Grounds, East Waterford, Pa. ( Set Up for Vendors Starts at 12:00 Noon September 15th, 2011 ).
The plans for the show are coming along very well. We have already had vendors reserve all the tables inside the building for this years show. So you are out of luck if you wanted inside. We do have ample spaces outside ( 20 ft. x 20 Ft. ) for the vendors that come to the show. We are working on a raffle ticket for this year too. Frank Mong is taking charge of this years raffle prize list. We will be starting to sell them very soon.
We are working on holding a District 8 Meeting up in Mifflin County. If it works out we may hold our Trapper Training School up there too. Keep watching for our next post card in your mail box. Nominations for D-8 Officers are still open. We will be voting at our next D-8 Meeting ( Spring Meeting in April 2011 ).
You all have time to trap some Beavers yet this year. So get out there and get em !!!
For more info contact me by mail at Allen Eppleman, 4232 Carlisle Road, Gardners, Pa. 17324 or phone 717-486-7573 or cell phone 717-226-9623 or e-mail aleppleman@comcast.net.
— Allen Eppleman
DISTRICT 11 REPORT
We once again had a very successful fur sale because of all the great help we had from many of our district members. Thank you on behalf of the district to all of you that helped in any way with the fur sale. Special thanks go to the buyers that attended and for our two auctioneers that sold the fur. Most everyone seemed to be satisfied with the prices offered for their fur.
We had a top lot for fox and raccoon again this year. The winner for the raccoon lot was Ralph Wagner who got $66 and the winner of the fox lot was Joel Martin who received $196.88. The results of the sale are at the end of this article and also on the PTA web site.
There was one thing this year that made the fur sale special for all of us, one of our members who has been a mainstay at the auction was able to attend this year, which was a first for a few years because of health reasons. We were all glad to see George Kiphorn once again and wish him well.
One event that will be past till you read this is the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show. It is not an event I help with at all but on behalf of the district, I want to say a big thank you to all of you that give of your time to man the PTA booth. Special thanks to Wayne Gemmill who is the one that coordinates everyone that helps with this event.
Donna and I had a display at the Ephrata Church of the Nazarene game dinner. There is sure a lot of interest in our sport by trappers and non-trappers alike. The Donegal Sportsman’s Show will be held March 5th at the Donegal High school from 4PM to 9PM. We will have a display booth at this event also. All are welcome to attend this event.
Our next business meeting will be held April 10th at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds at 2PM. The one event that we will not be doing this year is the Gathering at Kutztown. By action of the members at our October meeting we decided that instead of doing the Gathering we will be holding a final planning meeting for the rendezvous at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds on May 15th at 2PM.
I will tell you about our February meeting in next month’s column.
— Mike Spittle, 717-367-2637
DISTRICT 11 FUR SALE REPORT
Fur Sale Results
Berks County 4-H Center 1/08/2011
Listed by Species, Quantity Sold, High, Low and Average
Red Fox — 2022 27.50 1.50 14.79
Gray Fox — 76 25.00 5.00 17.38
Opossum — 226 3.50 .05 2.09
Raccoon — 1154 22.50 1.50 11.70
Muskrat — 1154 9.00 1.00 7.50
Skunks — 32 6.75 1.25 2.85
Male Mink — 155 20.00 1.00 15.17
Female Mink — 68 15.00 3.00 9.66
Beaver — 13 23.00 5.00 12.77
Coyote — 37 26.00 3.00 17.43
Weasel — 1 6.00 6.00 6.00
Deer Hides — 12 4.00 1.00 3.40
Fisher — 3 37.00 37.00 37.00
Bobcats — 0
Otter — 1 29.00 29.00 29.00
Squirrel Tails — 313 .20 .15 .17
Total Trapper Lots: 72
Fur Buyers: 9
— Ralph Wagner, District Director
DISTRICT 11 REPORT
We once again had a very successful fur sale because of all the great help we had from many of our district members. Thank you on behalf of the district to all of you that helped in any way with the fur sale. Special thanks go to the buyers that attended and for our two auctioneers that sold the fur. Most everyone seemed to be satisfied with the prices offered for their fur. We had a top lot for fox and raccoon again this year. The winner for the raccoon lot was Ralph Wagner who got $66 and the winner of the fox lot was Joel Martin who received $196.88. The results of the sale are at the end of this article and also on the PTA web site.
There was one thing this year that made the fur sale special for all of us, one of our members who has been a mainstay at the auction was able to attend this year, which was a first for a few years because of health reasons. We were glad to see George Kiphorn once again and wish him well.
One event that will be past till you read this is the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show. It is not an event I help with at all but on behalf of the district, I want to say a big thank you to all of you that give of your time to man the PTA booth. Special thanks to Wayne Gemmill who is the one that coordinates everyone that helps with this event.
Donna and I had a display at the Ephrata Church of the Nazarene game dinner. There is sure a lot of interest in our sport by trappers and non-trappers alike. The Donegal Sportsman’s Show will be held March 5th at the Donegal High School from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. We will have a display booth at this event also. All are welcome to attend this event.
Our next business meeting will be held April 10th at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds at 2 p.m. The one event that we will not be doing this year is the Gathering at Kutztown. By action of the members at our October meeting we decided that instead of doing the Gathering we will be holding a final planning meeting for the rendezvous at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds on May 15th at 2 p.m.
I will tell you about our February meeting in next month’s column.
— Mike Spittle, 717-367-2637
