www.virginiatrappers.org
President — Steve E Colvin, 2000 SB Rd, Barboursville, VA 22923; 434-996-6067; e-mail stvcolvin@aol.com
Vice President — John Bedwell, 210 Fairway Lane, Wytheville, VA 24382; 276-620-5145;
sinkthemink@hotmail.com
Membership Secretary — Diana Craig, 2714 Knollwood Dr., Staunton, VA 24401; 540-430-2161;
ddcraig9@gmail.com
Recording Secretary — David Brugh, 240 Cherry Lane, Christiansburg, VA 24073; 540-230-4260;
apexwildlifecontrol@ymail.com
Treasurer — Francis Richards, 10721 Thompson Lane, Spotsylvania, VA 22551; 540-840-5542
General Organizer — Glen Mabe, 211 5th St., Luray, VA 22835; 540-860-2634; 19612004@yahoo.com
Training Coordinator — Tony Daniel, 11100 Twin Poplar Circle, Chesterfield, VA 23838; 804-892-6139; tonywayne23838@yahoo.com
NTA Director — Larry Kline, 3707 Overview Drive, Fredricksburg, VA 22408; 540-891-4282;
larrynta@aol.com
Membership Options:
• 1-year membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $25
• 1-year membership without subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $15
• 2-year membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $48
• Junior (under 16) with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $18
• Lifetime membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $300
• Lifetime membership without subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $150
• Organization membership — $40
• 2-year organization membership —$75
• Lifetime organization membership — $350
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
VTA, Membership Secretary
Diane Craig
2714 Knollwood Dr.
Staunton, VA 24401
NTA DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Regretfully, I was unable to attend the NTA Convention held in Escanaba, Michigan on July 21-27, 2014. From all reports it was a very successful event with an attendance that exceeded all expectations.
Board Meeting Highlights:
NTA President Chris McAllister and Upper Michigan Trappers Association President John Gunnville welcomed everyone to Escanaba and the Convention. Thirty-five voting members were present.
Office Manager, Dave Roberts announced his retirement, effective December 31, 2014. The Executive Council has established a search committee for his replacement.
Contracts for the Convention Coordinator, DNIA Coordinator, and the Editor were extended for one year.
It was approved that beginning in 2015 all demos at the National Convention will be for members only. This policy has since been modified to limit members only demos to four per day. This will insure that more than half of the total demos will remain open to all. This modification was made following widespread opposition from Directors including myself and the general membership following the Convention. The original policy was determined to have negative unintended consequences in that it would anger more potential new members than it would recruit and would discourage support and attendance by local citizens.
Bryant White, Furbearer Research Coordinator, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies and Beebe R. Friedrick, SE States Manager of the Congressional Sportsment’s Foundation presented reports.
Dave Hastings, FTA Representative stated that a positive relationship between FTA and the NTA currently exists.
The 2015 National Convention will be in Hamburg, New York.
Our Virginia trapping season is fast approaching and as always my anticipation is running high. Fur prices have dropped significantly for most species since this time last year. This makes it all the more important that we wait until the fur is fully prime before we harvest the furbearers. Undersized and unprime pelts will have little if any value this year. I will not be setting any land traps until close to Thanksgiving and plan to hold off on muskrat, beaver, and otter until Christmas. That’s just me, as I have no problem with those that go on opening day, particularly those in the northern and mountainous parts of our State.
Best of luck and stay safe. — Larry Kline
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY’S REPORT
Hello VTA Members, Our VTA Convention was in July at Expo in Fishersville. It was fairly successful, and I kept busy taking in memberships and renewals. We had a Trapperman’s dinner on Friday evening, but I had to leave on Saturday before 5pm, and I heard there was some concern that a dinner was not organized for Saturday. By now the VTA election ballots have gone out, mailed back and counted. Kurt Butler is the only person running as my replacement. Because of things that happened, were executed and emails sent to me during the nominations and placement of names on the ballot, I sent an email to the VTA Board of Directors, that I would be concluding my job as membership secretary as of November 1, 2014. As I write this, I am hoping that your new membership secretary will be willing to take things over during November. I have had some health problems and after five years, I feel I need to change over before December 31, 2014. I will forward all VTA mail on to Kurt during November and December. or as long as necessary. As you may or may not know, the VTA voted to change from the T&PC magazine to the Trapper’s Post. Please pay attention to your VTA membership card and the expiration date. During the change over, most of you will continue to get the T&PC until you receive a renewal notice from them. Please send this on to the VTA membership secretary when you receive it. If you do not receive a renewal form, please contact your membership secretary. All VTA members that joined or renewed during our convention and since then, have been submitted to the Trapper’s Post. I hope all goes well with the change over of mags and with your new MS. Dickie and I have met many of you during the last five years, and enjoyed seeing you at the fur sale and conventions. To all who have called, written me notes and told me in person, thanking me for the work I have done, it has been appreciated more than you know. There have been many times that I have wanted to throw this computer out the window, but I have made it and now I say goodbye. Sincerely. — Diana Craig