Virginia Trappers Association August 2010 Report

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

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY’S REPORT

Hello VTA Members,

Hasn’t the weather been hot!!!  Maybe some of you have had nice rain or terrible storms, but here in Staunton the grass looks like straw.  Hope all had a great 4th of July.  We should all thank a service man or woman, and veteran we meet, for sustaining our freedom.  Our membership now totals 595.  There were a number of members that expired in April and May that did not renew.  Reminders were sent out either by phone or letter.  This was done by my wife and I , and Steve, on a voluntary basis. 

Remember to check your expiration on your membership card if you do not get the Trapper & Predator Caller magazine.  Those that do get the T&PC will get several reminders from the T&PC.  By now, the VTA Convention has come and gone.  I always make a list of supplies I need before the convention, and then I usually buy something I don’t need or don’t know how to use.  Anyway, think trapping and VTA, and stay cool.  Your Membership Secretary.

— Dickie Craig

RECORDING SECRETARY’S REPORT

Greetings. I am both honored and humbled to have recently been appointed Recording Secretary for the Virginia Trappers Association–your VTA.

A little background on me: I began trapping muskrats in Tidewater in the late 60’s as a young boy. Back then, rats were bringing about $80 for browns and $90 for blacks–I thought I was rich. Throughout adulthood, the responsibilities of raising a family and work caused me to put aside my passion for trapping. I retired about a year and a half ago and found myself with way too much time on my hands, so I began predator trapping. Last year I started an ADC (animal damage control) business, and am also building websites for extra income. I reside in Goochland County with my wife.

You noticed at the start of this intro I wrote your VTA, because that’s what it is. The Executive Board is but a governing body elected by you the membership. We are here to serve you and without you–the members, the VTA doesn’t exist.

That old saying, “There is strength in numbers” is as true today as it was on that Sunday in 1966 when twenty-three concerned trappers met in Hungry Mother State Park in Smyth County to discuss the future of trapping in Virginia. Had it not been for our brothers and sisters that preceded us, trapping as we know it might not exist today. Trapping continues to be attacked today by those that would like nothing better than to see trapping outlawed. Let each of us pledge this year to keep our trapping heritage alive by signing up at least one new member. Also, let us not forget the kids, for they are the future of trapping.

I know I have some big shoes to fill following in the steps of our former VTA Recording Secretary–Jim Covais, but I know with your help and support, our organization will continue to thrive and be successful.

Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance, I’m only a phone call (or email) away.

— Eddie Hope

DISTRICT 3 REPORT

Hello Everyone:

Let me start off by introducing myself, my name is Gregg Mason, I was raised in Moneta VA. And my residence now is in Evington VA. I will be the District Director of Region # 3 due to the bad health of Eddie Maxey, I will try to fill his shoes with the upcoming reports and will be trying to contact the members of Region 3. Please try and add Eddie to our prayer list. I`m looking forward to meeting all member of the VTA. I would also like to thank Tracy Tyree for invitation for the Virginia Tappers Association (VTA) to the First annual Bluegrass and BBQ Festival at Lake Watch Plantation at Smith Mountain Lake on the 26th of June. Due to structure of the economy in Virginia and other festivals in the area the attendance was lower than anticipated, with that being was there was some great bluegrass and BBQ that folks missed out on. There was strong response to the upcoming VTA Annual Convention in Dublin, VA. July 9, 10, 11 and we are looking for a good attendance. In closing the trapping this summer is good for harvesting ground hogs, which seems to always hinder the farmers.
ph # 434-525-7266, e-mail mason63@jetbroadband

DISTRICT 4 REPORT

I hope everyone is having a great summer. The weather is hot, but trapping season will behere soon.

On June 5th my wife and I attended the Northern Va. Fun and Demo Day. Brian Lacey and District 7 did a great job. Demos on trapping pond beaver, snaring, lure and bait use, and choosing locations for traps were very informative. Scott Painter had trap supplies. Tom Teague fine looking fur for sale. We had a great meal and enjoyed the day. Thanks to Brian Lacey, District 7, and the farm owner for the use of their land.

District 4 Advanced Trappers Course will be on August 28, 2010. It will be held at Highland Welding in Highland County, Va. The time is 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Contact Billy Price at (540) 886-8014. A flyer will be mailed to District 4 members. Info will be on the website.

Location 5 or 6 miles north of Monterey, Va. on Route 220. Highland Welding is on the left.

Tentative schedule:

7:45 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. – Check in

8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Trapper training

11:00 a.m. – noon – Mike Fies VDGIF

Noon – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch   

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Trapper training

4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. – Check out

Bring a chair or two for Mike Fies presentation.

This is your VTA. Contact your Director or state officers if you have a concern about VTA matters. Let us know how you feel on the issues. Vote, volunteer, attend VTA activities. Support your VTA.

— Billy Price

DISTRICT 8 REPORT

I’m always glad when August rolls around; time to start practicing with the archery gear and prepping the trapping equipment for upcoming seasons. Even though there are new products on the market for trap preparation, we stick to our tradition of wood-firing up the pots to clean, logwood dye, and wax. The only recent addition to our process is the inclusion of trisodium phosphate (TSP) to our cleaning boil. A couple of years ago, we used propane for heating the pots but quickly returned to wood fire. Propane certainly is faster and cleaner but we missed the sitting around the fire – dodging the smoke fun.

Due to District 7 Northern Virginia Trappers Day in June and the July VTA Convention we haven’t had a district meeting since April. Now that those are behind us, we’re back to business as usual. We have two meetings scheduled prior to the season; August 8th and September 12th. The August meeting will feature fox trapping and trap modification demonstrations. Tentatively, we have skinning demonstrations scheduled for the September meeting. All VTA Officers and local DGIF Wildlife and Land Managers will be invited to attend however all of our meetings are open to trappers and trapping-interested persons. If you would like to attend, please contact me for details and directions.

Our district in concert with District 7 have agreed to host the 2011 VTA Convention. The site search started over a month ago. We’re in discussion with the Fredericksburg Economic Development Office, FBG Fairgrounds, and the Izaak Walton League. If you know of any sites that may be suitable for the Convention, please contact me. We hope to lock in the location and date by next month.

— Art Foltz

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