President — Randy Barrows , 88 North Road, Milton, Vermont 05468; phone: 802-893-4258; e-mail: critrgitr@msn.com
Co-Vice Presidents— Joe and Deb Epler, P.O. Box 12, Chester, VT 05143; phone: 802-875-4511; e-mail: jdepler@vermontel.net
Secretary — Deb Epler, P.O. Box 12, Chester, VT 05143; phone: 802-875-451; e-mail: jdepler@vermontel.net
Treasurer — Jim Calchera, 233 McCaffrey Rdg., Putney, VT 05346
NTA Director — Dave Perrin, 2600 Vt. Rt. 12A, Randolph, VT 05060; phone: 802-728-5935
Membership Director — Paul Ainsworth, P.O. Box 118, Eden, VT 05652; phone: 802-635-7343
Membership Options:
• Individual adult membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $20
• Family membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $25
• Oldtimer (65 & up) with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $10
• Lifetime membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $300
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
VTA, Membership Director
Paul Ainsworth
P.O. Box 118, Eden, VT 05652
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Hello fellow trappers, a new year has been born and those of us on the Board are busy trying to set up fairs, gun shows banquets and of course our annual rendezvous for the coming year. For those of you that were at the September rendezvous, you are aware that new officers were elected. I was elected as your President for the next two years and John Lapre as your Vice-President for the next year. We have both been in these offices in the past and know what we have gotten ourselves into and I look forward to working with John on some of the issues we will be facing.
The V.T.A. has had its fall auction at the Bethel High School and while prices weren’t as high (never are) as we would have liked I believe it turned out well for the majority of the trappers selling. A happy trapper is a trapper that is able to get a fair price for his furs and it appeared to me that this was the case. The V.T.A. is committed to continuing to offer this alternative for our members as long as the Buyers are willing to come. We will be having a spring auction at the same location on the second Saturday of March for your winter furs, I hope to see you there.
Our annual Fund Raising Banquet will be held March 27th, at the Montpelier Elks Club. Invitations should already be in the mail to all of you that have been to one of our banquets in the past. As you know these tickets sell out very quickly, so don’t procrastinate in getting them sent back to insure you get in. For those of you that have not attended you may get tickets from Joe Epler at P.O. Box 12, Chester, VT 05143 or by phone 1-802-875-4511.
Now, to the fairs and gun show’s that we attend during the spring and summer months. We need your help in manning those booths, just a few hours of your time can enable you to make contact with non-trappers that want to ask questions about our sport. Be assured that if we are not there to answer those questions, the Anti’s will be more than happy to answer them for us. So when one of your Directors calls and ask can you spare a morning or afternoon helping to man a booth please give it some real though before you say no. Better yet don’t wait to be called, call the Director in your area and ask if you can help!
Our Fish & Wildlife Department will have some changes as we now have a new Commissioner Patrick Barry and new Deputy Commissioner Kim Royar. For me Commissioner Barry is a new name but one that is well known to the fly fishing sportsmen of Vermont and anybody that can fly fish has got to be a good sportsman. As the Fur Bearer Biologist for the State of Vermont Kim is a familiar face to us trappers. The V.T.A. has had the pleasure of working with Kim on many issues and new ideas for many years. It will be a pleasure to continue working with both the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner on new projects and issues.
Signing Off.
— Bill Pickens
ANNUAL FALL FUR AUCTION REPORT
DECEMBER 11, 2010
The annual Fall Fur Auction was held at the Whitcomb High School in Bethel, VT on Saturday, December 11, 2010. 29 lots of fur were offered to the 3 buyers present.
The following is a breakdown of prices received (Listed by Species, Offered, Sold, Ave, High, Low, $$ Total and N/S)
Mink — 52, 52, 14.06, 21.00, 2.00, 731.25
Muskrat — 882, 882, 5.76, 7.13, 2.36, 5,084.25
Coyote — 67, 49, 13.71, 20.00, 6.00, 672.00, 18
Red Fox — 20, 20, 17.46, 25.00, 1.25, 349.25
Grey Fox — 9, 9, 13.06, 17.25, 4.00, 117.50
Coon — 77, 77, 4.92, 22.00, 1.88, 379.00
Fisher — 4, 4, 43.00, 43.50, 42.50 172.00
Beaver — 54, 54, 12.63, 15.36, 1.30, 682.00
Otter — 19, 19, 43.10, 55.25, 31.00, 819.00
Skunk — 17, 17, 3.62, 4.56, 1.50, 61.50
Weasel — 7, 7, 3.00, 4.50, 1.00, 21.00,
Bobcat — 6, 6, 50.00, 50.00, 50.00, 300.00
Castor — 5.5 lbs, 5.5 lbs, 30.90, 33.33, 30.00, 170.00
Opossum — 3, 3, .50, .50, .50, 1.50
Red Squirrel — 18, 18, 1.39, 1.39, 1.39, 25.00
Bear — 2, 2, 25.00, 30.00, 20.00, 50.00
Deer Antler — 7 pr, 7 pr, 16.43, 41.00, 5.00, 115.00
Moose Antler — 2 pr, 2 pr, 181.00, 225.00, 137.00, 362.00
Caribou Antler — 2 pr, 2 pr, 59.00, 75.00, 43.00, 118.00,
Bear Gall — 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1
TOTAL SALES: $10,230.25
Although the fur market continues to struggles, prices on most species advanced compared to last fall’s auction. The total sales of $10,230.25 was more than double last fall’s auction sales.
I would like to thank all those who helped out, especially Dave Perrin, Bruce and Penny Baroffio, John Abts, Jim Calchera, Jim Stewart, Paul Ainsworth, Mak Keyes, Brent Teillon and Bruce Lang.
A big thanks to Chuck Eaton for auctioneering this sale.
A special thanks to Doreen Perrin for another wonderful job of managing and running the food concession.
The Spring Auction will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2011. PLEASE NOTE: This is the 3rd Saturday in March!
For more info on this auction, please contact Dan Olmstead at:
802-464-6344 or Email: jolmstead@myfairpoint.net
Respectfully submitted.
— Daniel E. Olmstead, VTA Director
