President — Anna Hermanson, P.O. Box 922, Hot Springs, SD 57747; phone: 605-440-0227; e-mail: aghermanson@jacks.sdstate.edu
Vice-President — Ray Maize, 28658 Tree Farm Place, Pierre, SD 57501; phone: 605-295-0416; e-mail: sdtrapr@mncomm.com
Exc. Sec./Treasurer, Public Relations FTA Director — John Almquist, 521 2nd St. NE Watertown, SD 57201; phone: 605-886-8501; cell: 605-880-4165; e-mail: jcalmquist@aol.com
Secretary — Terry Olson, 921 North Harth, Madison, SD 57042; phone: 605-256-6311; e-mail: trapperto@yahoo.com
Youth Education Coordinator — Aaron Doyscher, Box 247, Volga, SD 57071; phone: 605-627-6558; cell: 605-690-4095; e-mail: trapperad@yahoo.com
NTA Director — Jerry Westphal, 17342 297th Ave., Agar, SD 57520; phone: 605-258-2142;
e-mail: Rodeoking@hotmail.com
Tanned Fur Coordinator — Steve “Pete” Peterson, 22251 448th Ave., Ramonda, SD 57054; phone: 605-482-8131; cell: 605-291-8945; e-mail: trapperpete@alliancecom.net
Membership Options:
• Individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $20
• Junior membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $13
• Family membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $30
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
SDTA, Treasurer
John Almquist, 521 2nd St. NE
Watertown, SD 57201
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Greetings,
I would like to start by letting you all know that our bill introduced to change non-resident trapping to an agreement that non-residents are allowed to trap here, only if SD residents are allowed to trap in that non-resident’s state has passed unanimously at the senate committee level. It will now face a floor vote for final approval. I would like to thank Senator Jason Frerichs for his work in pushing this bill through and the support of Representative Hoffman from Eureka and Representative Clouceck from Scotland.
The Pheasants Forever group out of Clear Lake had a predator control competition for their youth. They had a competition to see who could capture the most predators this winter. The winners were given prizes. The SDTA donated several prizes, and was invited to the banquet on Feb 5th. John Almquist attended this banquet and we would like to thank him.
Our Brookings gun show was very successful in January. I would like to thank Russ and Aaron for taking this on. Also, by the time you read this article, the Aberdeen and Sioux Falls gun shows will be over as well. Thank you Galen, Georgia, Gary, and Russ for your work on these endeavors. The Black Hills Stock Show will also be over.
The first weekend we had a record crowd. I would like to thank Jerry Wesphal, Ray Maize, Evan Anderson, Kenny and Lacy, Ivan, Mike and Rochelle, Louis Hoffman, Larry Bowden, and Tuffy Halls for helping me out at the Stock Show and making this event a success. We come in contact with more people at this event than any other event booth we have. If I remember right, the stock show had 50,000 people through its doors in just the opening weekend. While at the Stock Show I was able to see Miss Rodeo and the fox fur coat she received this year from the association. Also, Miss Rodeo America is from SD and modeled her coyote coat at our booth. You can see pictures on the website.
At our January directors meeting we discussed our future plan for vendor booths at our conventions. We voted that we would begin charging for booths starting in January of 2012. We will then begin charging $10 for up to 4 table spaces and $5 for each table space more than 4.
The directors voted to make a donation to the SD Wildlife Federation. They follow all legislation in SD and allow groups to organize and act quickly on SD legislative and GFP commission issues. They have a lobbyist and have been working in our favor in the past.
Our tanned fur inventory was taken and divided for booths all across the state. Our tanned fur supply is getting low and any fur donations you could provide would be greatly appreciated. You can contact a director in your area on how to donate fur. You can donate anything from any process: carcassed animals to tanned fur.
The demos for our spring convention were selected and will be about beaver trapping, beaver skinning, and muskrat trapping. The event will be held on April 16th near Britton, SD at the Marshall County Sportsman’s Club at Hickman dam. We will also be doing something a little different this spring. We will be having a peoples’ choice photo contest. You can bring a photo you took, or one a family member or close friend took of you while out on the trap line. The photo must have to be related to trapping or fur processing.
The photo should be no larger than a 5×7 but can be smaller. When you get to the convention just check your photo in when you register at the door. Attendees of the convention will then vote on their favorite photo. Further instructions about locating the event and accommodations for lodging while at the event can be found on our website www.sdtrappersassociation.org.
Best of luck on your spring trapping endeavors.
— Anna Hermanson