President — Mike Renfro, 401 Norton Hollow Road, Erwin, TN 37650; phone: 423-330-8134
Vice President — Jerry Scott, 190 Mockingbird Drive, McMinnville, TN 37110; phone: 931-692-2035
Secretary — Cindy Jacobsen, 938 Tyree Springs Rd., White House, TN 37188; phone: 615-672-8546
Membership Secretary/Treasurer — Cindy Jacobsen, 938 Tyree Springs Rd., White House, TN 37188; phone: 615-672-8546
State Organizer, NTA Director and FTA Director — Chris Jacobsen, 938 Tyree Springs Rd.,
White House, TN 37188; phone: 615-672-8546
Trapper Education/Public Relations Coordinator — Jackie McMurtry, 143 Pond Rd.,
Cottontown, TN 37048; phone: 615-672-4163
Membership Options:
• Individual membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $18
• Family membership with subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $20
• Junior (16 & under) with subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $12
• Lifetime membership with subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $200
Complete membership application on first page of
association section and send dues to:
TFTA, Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Cindy Jacobsen
938 Tyree Springs Rd., White House, TN 37188
615-672-8546
http://www.tennesseefreetrappers.com
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
The 2008/2009 trapping season and all Tennessee fur auctions are history. Fur prices had significantly dropped at the last fur auction compared to the first two previous TFTA auctions. All the gloom going on today, along with the economy these days has put a damper on the fur market along with many other things now. I suppose that fur buyers are not willing to go out on a limb speculating prices as far as today’s fur market is moving. I understand at this time, the Canadian auctions are hardly selling very much at all. They are holding many items. Through the years, the fur market has definitely been like a roller coaster. Up and down.
We will just have to wait and see what is in the future for next years fur season. At any rate, the results from the last 2008/2009 TFTA fur auction that was held in Alexandria is as follows (listed by species, quantity, high, low, average and total):
Muskrat — 42, $3.30, $0.10, $1.81, $76.50
Raccoon — 464, $8.50, $0.10, $2.63, $1,218.30
Mink (Male) — 13, $7, $0.25, $4.52, $56.75
Mink (Female) — 1, $2, $2, $2, $2
Red Fox — 11, $12, $2, $8.68, $95.50
Gray Fox — 27, $20.50, $1, $13.56, $366
Opossum — 111, $2, $0.10, $0.88, $97.19
Beaver — 104, $14.50, $0.75, $6.08, $632
Coyote — 35, $16, $0.50, $3.11, $109
Otter — 21, $46, $35, $3, $421
Bobcat — 41, $37, $8, $23.34, $957
Skunk (striped) — 4, $2, $0.25, $1.56, $6.25
Squirrell Tails — 24, $0.35, $0.35, $0.35, $1.83
Ground Hog — 1, $0.25, $0.25, $0.25, $0.25
Deer Hides — 4, $1.50, $1.50, $1.50, $6
Beaver Castor — $5
Ginseng — 2 lbs, 2 oz, $305/lb, $305, $305, $648.13
$4,698.70
TFTA SPRING MEET: This meeting will be held rain or shine on Saturday, April 25, 2009, beginning at 9 a.m. CDT at the Cedars of Lebanon State Park, Lebanon, TN at Shelter #1. This meeting will be a pot luck type luncheon, so bring a covered dish if possible. Coffee and cold drinks will be provided by the TFTA at no cost. Please bring a donation item for our fund raising auction if possible. We will be having some trapping and snaring demos also. For more information contact Chris Jacobsen 615-672-8546.
DIRECTIONS: To get there from Nashville: Take I-40 East, Exit 232A (Hwy. 109 South, Gallatin). Go right. Continue on Hwy. 109 for 3.7 miles, continue on Hwy. 265 S. (Central Pike) for 4.6 miles. Turn right onto Hwy. 231 (TN-10, Murfreesboro Road) for .6 miles. Turn left onto Cedar Forest Rd. There will be TFTA signs pointing the way.
TFTA SUMMER MEET: This meeting will be held rain or shine on July 18, 2009, beginning at 9 a.m. EDT at the Cumberland Mountain State Park near Crossville, TN on Saturday, July 18, 2009. This meeting will be a pot luck-type luncheon, so bring a covered dish if possible. Coffee and cold drinks will be provided by the TFTA. Please bring a donation item for our fundraising auction if possible. We will be having some trapping and snaring demos. If you do not know how to put up your fur correctly, here is your chance to learn before the next trapping season is upon you. This way you will be able to receive a better price for your fur at the up coming auctions.
DIRECTIONS: To get here from Nashville: Take I-40 East, Exit #317, Travel South on US Hwy. 127 for 9 miles. The park entrance is on the right. There will be TFTA signs pointing the way.
Thanks to all members whom helped out at all of the fur auctions this season. Working together and helping out is what it takes to make things happen.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. Thanks.
— Mike Renfro
STATE ORGANIZER’S REPORT
We are in the process of setting up a trappers education seminar and a fur handling workshop sometime this fall. The exact date is not yet set. It will be sometime in October. Also there will be a wild game cookout dinner. This will be an all day event. We are still in the early stages. Look for more information on this trapping seminar in future issues of the Trapper & Predator Caller magazine.
If anyone would would like to participate in performing any type of trapping demos at any one of the meets this year, you are more than welcome and encouraged. I would like to see some more members helping out especially in this area. All trappers have different methods on how they go about making a certain set whether it be land or water. Folks learn and see things that work for them. It would be great to see some of you to share some of your knowledge with fellow trappers.
Hey, don’t forget the NTA South East 6th Annual Convention May 1 to 3, 2009, in Williamston, NC and the 50th NTA National Convention July 30 to Aug. 2 in Lima, OH. The TFTA will have a booth set up in Lima.
— Chris Jacobsen