President — Craig Sweet, 1825 Kirkwood St., Saint Charles, IA 50240; phone: 641-764-2758
Vice President — Randy Mitchell, Iowa Fall, IA; phone: 641-648-6787
Secretary — Patty Kempf, 3371 130th St., Jamaica, IA 50128; e-mail: itasecretary@iowatelecom.net
Treasurer — Chris Grillot, 2769 110th Ave., Wheatland, IA 52777; phone: 563-374-1074; e-mail: itatreasurer@fbcom.net
FTA Director — Gene Purdy, 521 Edwin Place, Fontanelle, IA 50846; phone: 641-745-8841
NTA Director — George Scalf, 123 N. Madison Ave., Ottumwa, IA 52501; phone: 641-682-3937
Membership Options:
• Individual membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $15
• Lifetime membership with subscription — $250
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
ITA, Secretary
Dita Mallon
1021 E. 13th St., Sumner, IA 50574
http://www.iowatrappers.com
President’s Report
Secretary’s Report
NTA Director’s Report
Greetings to all. By the time you read this, trapping season will have been open for about two weeks, opening at 8 a.m. on Nov. 1. Some changes to quotas have occurred for this season. The bobcat “open” season area has added four counties on the western border along the Missouri River. The new counties included in that new area are Pottawattamie, Harrison, Monona and Woodbury along with the lower two tiers of counties on the southern border that were open last season. The quota is 200 bobcats for the open area with a limit of one per licensed fur harvester. The river otter quota has been raised to 500 statewide with a limit of two per licensed fur harvester.
Both bobcat and river otter seasons open on Nov. 1 and close on Jan. 31 or when the quotas are reached. In the past, the season on both of these furbearers have closed about three weeks after start of season. The CITIES tagging requirements remain the same as last year for both animals. Remember to stay updated on both these seasons through the DNR Web site or the media for quota numbers and closing date. When out there trapping this season, remember to follow the rules and regulations and use common sense PLEASE for the sake of all trappers. If a questionable location is present where a non-target animal may become involved, move on. It only takes one bad situation to ruin it for all.
On Oct. 14, Joice and Spencer Hill and I traveled to Mason City to accept the Tourism Excellence Award from the Mason City Convention and Visitors Bureau on behalf of the ITA. The award was presented to the ITA for hosting of the NTA Convention, at the Mason City Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. Both the city and chamber are wanting the convention to come back again in the near future — time will tell.
On Nov. 22, Cody Hutton in association with the Iowa Trappers Association, will be presenting a trapping and information demo at the Ankeny Iowa Sportsmans Warehouse at 1 p.m. There will be something for everyone that is interested. Bring along a friend or young person when you come. The store has some trapping supplies on hand plus all your other outdoor activity wants and needs. Hope to see you there!
Better close for now. Hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. Get out there, for the season is upon us. Enjoy those memories that will remain for a lifetime. Be safe, use common sense so others may experience the tradition as we have.
Take a young person or a friend along and introduce them to the sport. If you see someone who is not a member of the ITA, FTA or NTA, get them to join or better yet make it an early Christmas gift. Fifteen dollars to join the ITA and Trapper & Predator Caller will come with that membership. A whole years worth of giving — 10 issues — for only $1.50 an issue. No where can you get such a deal at that price and help a great cause!!! Til next time.
— Craig Sweet
I’d like to introduce myself to our organization as your NEW secretary. I have been part of the organization for the past two years. Actually, I married into it.
I was introduced to this lifestyle a short time ago, but find it fascinating. I was certified as a fur harvester at the 2006 convention in North Union and am anxious to learn the art/skill of fleshing.
I do apologize for any inconvenience through this transition period. I want to let everyone know that I’m working very hard to get membership caught up. There is a lot more to this process than I could have imagined, but with help from the officers, I am making headway.
I will have an official report for the next issue.
Please contact me if you have membership concerns.
— Patty Kempf
By now, trapping season is in full swing in Iowa, having opened at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. The bobcat quota has been raised to 200 and the otter quota to 500. Bag and possession limits of one bobcat and two otters remains unchanged.
I was invited to present a program on the basics of trapping on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Ridge Nature Center, just south of Ottumwa.
My wife and I prepared 24 FBU educational packets and came home with only three as there was a full house! There was a good number of youngsters attending, which is very encouraging.
We returned to Pioneer Ridge on Thursday, Oct. 9 to attend a public hearing with the Iowa DNR regarding the proposed statewide daily bag limit on bluegills and crappies in public waters. Six sportsmen and three DNR personnel attended. The comments were to be presented to the DNR Commission at their Nov. 13 meeting in Marshall County.
Oct. 11 found my family at the local Ducks Unlimited banquet held at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse. There was a packed house for the annual event.
We received word on Oct. 15 that my name had been drawn for a prize in the NTA sweepstakes , a Minnkota trolling motor. Thanks to everyone who purchased sweepstakes tickets and helped the NTA financially to maintain your trapping rights.
This column is necessarily due before the Nov. 4 election, the outcome of which will effect our hunting and trapping future. I certainly hope all sportsmen took the time to vote.
— George E. Scalf
