President — Steve E Colvin, 2000 SB Rd, Barboursville, VA 22923; phone: 434-996-6067; e-mail stvcolvin@aol.com
Vice President — John Bedwell, 210 Fairway Lane, Wytheville, VA 24382; phone: 276-620-5145; e-mail: sinkthemink@hotmail.com
Membership Secretary — Dickie Craig, 2714 Knollwood Dr., Staunton, VA 24401; phone: 540-886-3937; e-mail: ddcraig9@gmail.com
Recording Secretary — James G. Covais, 10401 Moore Ct., Spotsylvania, VA 22553; phone: 540-760-9694; e-mail: jcovais@comcast.net
Treasurer — Thomas Teague, 2920 Cross Keys Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22801; phone: 540-564-1930; e-mail: thomasteague@verizon.net
General Organizer — Glen Mabe, 211 5th St., Luray, VA 22835; phone: 540-860-2634;
e-mail 19612004@yahoo.com
Training Coordinator — Ed Crebbs, 175 Waldrop Rd., Gordonsville, VA 22942; phone: 540-832-2708; e-mail: edcrebbs@yahoo.com
NTA Director — John Coakley, 1188 Turkey Knob Rd., Quicksburg, VA 22847; phone: 540-335-6088
Membership Options:
• 1-year membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $20
• 2-year membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $38
• Junior (under 16) with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $10
• Lifetime membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $250
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
VTA, Membership Secretary
Dickie Craig
2714 Knollwood Dr.
Staunton, VA 24401
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Hello everyone,
There’s a lot going on with the VTA. We had a successful show at Fishersville, special thanks to Cierra Colvin. She sold 23 raffle tickets. I would like to thank everyone that helped Scott Dean, Jim Covais, Mike Richardson, Dickie and Diane Craig, Ed and Charliene Crebbs, Billy Price and Lisa and Cierra Colvin.
We are all geared up for our Fur sale. Hopefully we will have a good turnout. J.R. Bowling is getting our convention ready. Anyone that has suggestions or would like to volunteer, please contact J.R. at 540-641-9653.
We also need everyone to participate in our raffle. Please contact Ed Crebbs at 540-832-2708. I hope to see everyone soon. Feel free to call me anytime at 434-996-6067.
— Steve E. Colvin
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY’S REPORT
Greetings Fellow Trappers,
Hoping that when you are reading this article that you can see the grass! LOL! I’ve been looking at snow for the past three months! I’m guessing by now that you have received your fur checks and are not too disappointed. Next year, hopefully will be better, weather wise and with fatter fur checks!
On the plus side, with my wife’s help, we have been getting new members and renewals since sending out reminders of those that have expired.
As of the latest entry, we now have 637 members. Let’s keep our membership growing strong! Please encourage your friends and family members to join the VTA!
Thanks again for your continued support!
— Dickie Craig
RECORDING SECRETARY’S REPORT
As you are reading this, trapping season and the Fur sale is history and we are looking forward to our state convention. I hope everyone had a good season even though the weather put a damper on most of it.
I hope everyone is happy with the newsletter; we made some changes that I believe are po
sitive. Although the initial cost of changing printers was more than we on the Board would have liked, we believe the quality of the publication was worth it.
This New Board under the direction of Steve Colvin is moving with a full head of steam. For the first time that I have been a part of this Organization, we made our appearance at the Western Virginia Sports show count for something. At our last board meeting, someone who was going to be working the Show for the first time said, “What do we have to do while manning the booth?” One of the people in the room said, “Just sit there and look pretty.” The comment was meant as a joke, but in actuality that is what the people that worked the shows did, just sit there and wait for people to ask questions. I have to admit that I was one of the people that just sat there.
At this years show, things were different. On Saturday alone, we handed out over 100 membership packets. We signed up 15 new members and sold over $400 in raffle tickets, as well as other club merchandise. I credit Steve Colvin with this change. He has the VTA moving full speed ahead and we need to get behind him and help him in any way we can. He can’t do it all himself, although he tries to. Pick up the phone and call your district director. Ask how you can get involved.
— Jim Covais
GENERAL ORGANIZER’S REPORT
As I write this, we are less than two weeks until our fur auction. If you haven’t preregistered yet, make sure to call Charlane Krebbs at 540-832-2708. Don’t forget to put one of your furs into the 50/50 raffle. We will also have raffle tickets on sale there. I urge each member to buy just one. All the money raised goes to funding the VTA and YOUR right to continue to trap.
The VTA booth at the game show in Fischersville was a big success. Several new members signed up and Steve Colvin’s daughter sold 24 raffle tickets. GREAT JOB young lady, THANK YOU.
JR Bowling in District 2 is getting everything ready for the VTA convention. As information becomes available, I will pass it on.
Some members might not be aware, but the Friend of the Rappahanock tried to close a large area in the Fredricksburg area to the public. The VTA was there and we were heard. The people you have voted into office are taking their position very personally when it comes to our right to trap.
I know the VTA is going in the right direction and this is going to be a GREAT year for this organization.
If anyone needs anything, please feel free to call. See you at the fur sale.
— Glen Mabe
DISTRICT 4 REPORT
The VTA is having a fundraiser to support several programs. Tickets are $20 each. Prizes start at $25 and go up to $1,000.
Please contact me to purchase tickets or for more information.
I hope to have meetings or demos after the fur season and the weather is better.
Please contact me at 540-886-8014.
Support the VTA.
— Billy Price
DISTRICT 8 REPORT
I’m sure by now all of your gear is cleaned and put away waiting for start of the next season. Hopefully, the end-of-season encouraging market news held true at the auction houses and everyone walked away with fatter checks than anticipated. Like many of you, it’s the awesomeness of being so closely tied with nature and the enjoyment of running the trapline that motivates me. If money was the driving force, a lot us would’ve hung up our steel along time ago. With the furbearer trapping season behind us, Spring stills holds trapping opportunities of sorts. Pursuit of the snapping turtle provides similar enjoyment with the added benefits of better weather and fantastic table fare.
The City of Fredericksburg (CoF) Watershed Management Plan is providing additional excitement during the offseason. The draft plan prohibits trapping in the city-owned land through five counties. Our president, Steve Colvin, the District 7 director, Brian Lacey, and I are working to open the land to trapping and gaining additional access to the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers. Thanks to all of your inputs during the public comment period, the CoF planning committee is listening to our concerns. Hopefully, we’ll have good news to report by the start of the 2010-2011 season.
Our next district meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. on April 18. The location hasn’t been confirmed yet, but the default site is 6706 River Road, Fredericksburg. A meeting announcement with site directions will be sent to district members and guests, however, the event is open to all trappers and trapping-interested persons. If you would like to attend, please contact me for details and directions. This meeting will kick off our “back-to-basics” series of demonstrations; trap preparation/tuning, land/water trap and snare sets, set location, animal dispatch, lure/bait making and use and fur management.
— Art Foltz
