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 Vermont Trappers:
Well the snow came in one day and went in one day. Mother nature has reared her ugly head this year. I got 27 inches of snow in one dump and in one day and a half we lost most of it. Some pretty nasty flooding and now temperatures well below zero. When will it stop? I love winter trapping, but am not fond of chopping ice daily, along with re-adjusting traps due to water level changes. It’s got to change soon, ya think?
The first fur auctions in Canada are history and the price of fur looks good for a change. Still not real good, but better than last fall. All indicators say it will get even better, but I will believe it when I see it.
The annual Yankee Classic is history and what a surprise. I have never in my life fielded so many requests to take the trapping class. It seems that at every event, the interest swells, which is good I think. Sounds like a few of us will be busy teaching all the new folks who want to become trappers. If you are a trapper and want to become an instructor, it just got easier. The Fish and Wildlife Department has implemented its Mentor program, that is it has named Chief instructors in each county who will oversee a new instructor teach a class and then the CI will either recommend or deny the new teacher. Sounds like a sweet program and I cannot wait to put it to use. I am the CI for Chittenden County so if you are interested, give me a call and I will get you into the next class in April. Speaking of the Classic, I would like to thank Brent Teillon, Paul Ainsworth, Richard Bayer, Trevor Gingras, Crystal Gingras, John Lapre and David Martin for all of their help. It was a good time and well attended.
March 27, 2010 , mark your calender, the 17th Annual Fundraising Banquet for the Vermont Trappers Association will be held at the Elks Club in Montpelier, Vermont. Cash bar at 4:30 p.m. and Buffet style dinner at 6:30 p.m. If you have not got your ticket yet you, might be too late, but call and see. This banquet sells out early every year and is a kick a.., uh, butt event.
Another situation has come to light recently that needs addressing. It was learned recently that only 90 of the members of the Vermont Trappers Association are members of the National Trappers Association. To me, and this is my opinion only, this has to change. The NTA works on a national level to preserve our rights as trappers as witnessed recently in the Maine fiasco. Without their legal advice and monetary support, Maine trappers would be in trouble and they readily admit that.
And they are not only in Maine but any state that the anti-trapping folks are causing a problem. Without their support, trappers would be S.O.L. period. I belong to the NTA and have for years, and last fall I joined the Maine Trappers Association, not because I trap in Maine, but because I wanted to help support their annual battle they have been waging. So my request to everyone who reads this is to take five minutes and think about how your life would be without trapping being a part of it. If after five minutes you do not think it would be a problem, swell, I would guess you were never one to begin with. If you could part with some fur money to sign up, please do it. It should be part of your yearly trapping budget, just like buying your license every year.
That’s it for now. I hope winter is soon over and the ice is gone in time for some spring ’rat trapping. Good luck on the trapline and don’t forget to bring a kid along with you.
— Randy Barrows
AUCTION REPORT
ANNUAL SPRING FUR AUCTION
SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2010
The 2010 Vermont Trapper’s Spring Fur Auction will be held at the Whitcomb High School in Bethel, Vermont on Saturday, March 20, 2010.
The doors will open at 6 a.m. and the auction begins at 9 a.m. There will be a five percent (5%) commission on all fur sold. It you are not happy with the price offered, you can withdraw your fur and there will be no charge. Lots will be given out on a first come, first served basis. No green fur, please. However, if you have deer hides to sell, you can bring them and conduct business outside of the building and no commission will be charged. Moose and deer antlers are welcome at this auction and will be sold under the same guidelines as fur.
We welcome and encourage trappers from other states to attend and sell their fur at our auction. Many do and have said that the prices they receive at the VTA auctions are much better than they could get in their home state. All that we require is that you are a current member of any State or National trapping association. Support those organizations that support you.
For more information on this auction, contact Dan Olmstead at 802-464-6344 or Bruce Baroffio at 802-485-4051.
