President — Dwight Pennell, P.O. Box 136, Center
Tuftonboro, NH 03816; phone: 603-539-7954
Vice President — Gene Dabrowski, P.O. Box 3,
Georges Mills, NH 03751; phone: 603-763-2687
Membership Director — Roger Burnham, 159 North Shore Rd., Hebron, NH 03241; phone: 603-744-3561; e-mail: nhtrapper@metrocast.net
Clerk – Bill Anderson, Box 114, South Springfield,
NH 03284; phone: 603-763-5548
Treasurer — Mike Kazak, 72 Riverview Dr.,
Charlestown, NH 03603; phone: 603-826-3959
Education Director — Mike Morrison, 49 Laura Ln.
Keene, NH 03431; phone: 603-352-8468
NTA Director — Karola Owen, P.O. Box 32,
Epsom, NH 03234; phone: 603-736-8096
Legislative Director — Scott Borthwick, P.O. Box 81, Canaan, NH 03741; phone: 603-523-9284
NH Fish & Game Liasion — Fred Shepard, P.O. Box 23, Deerfield, NH 03037; phone: 603-463-7473

Membership Options:
• Individual membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $24
• Family with subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $30
• Junior (under 16) with subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $12
• Lifetime membership with subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $300
• Life (over 65) — $100
• Life (over 75) — Free w/previous continuous three membership
• The NHTA requires a Mission Statement for all new members to be signed and dated. The Mission Statement is on the application. Please send a letter, call or e-mail requesting a membership application to Roger Burnham address below.

Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
NHTA Secretary/Membership Director
Roger Burnham
159 N. Shore Rd., Hebron, NH 03241
E-mail: NHTrappers@aol.com
http://www.nhtassoc.org

NHTA REPORT

The NHTA Annual Fall Weekend was held September 20th and 21st this year at the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, NH. For a change we had fantastic weather both days. The temperature was a bit chilly to start on Saturday morning but there was plenty of sun both days. Thanks again to the vendors that set up and stayed the weekend. Art Whipple, Bob McMasters, Toby Edwards, Roger Burnham, Bill Bailey, Steve Bennett, Larry Torr and Mike Kazak all put on great trapping demonstrations to a healthy crowd of older and young trappers. NH Fish and Game Hunting Education Coordinator Tom Flynn volunteered both days to assist Sean Williamson and Paul DeBow with activities for children. The kids enjoyed shooting .22 rifle’s and gave skeet shooting a try at the ranges located at the Owl Brook Center. For the smaller children there was instruction with the tomahawk throw and “Indian” tug-o-war.

Association President Dwight Pennell and Director Bonnie Pennell did the lion’s share of providing meals: a full country breakfast (including awesome blueberry pancakes) in the morning and a pig roast at noon. Thanks again to Bonnie and Dwight as well as to the volunteers who helped them set up, serve and clean up. The pies entered in the pie-baking contest were heartily devoured for dessert. This year’s pie contest winners: 1st – Kurk Coponen, 2nd – Frank Burnham and 3rd- Sarah Mae Jefferson.

On Sunday, prior to the Fall Business meeting, NH Fish and Game Biologists were on hand for short overviews and a question and answering session regarding identifying and avoiding the trapping of pine marten, bobcats, lynx and wolves in NH. There have been a few incidental marten captured as far south as Moultonboro and occasional reports of wolf and lynx sightings: a mix of misidentifications and far-ranging wandering individuals.

Before the start of the business meeting NHTA President Dwight Pennell introduced several guests. The new NH Fish and Game Executive Director Glen Normandeau, Fish and Game Carroll County Commissioner Robert Rowan, recently retired NH Fish and Game Colonel Jeff Gray, NH F&G biologists Mark Ellingwood, Pat Tate and Jillian Kelley, and NH F&G Hunting Education Coordinator Tom Flynn where all in attendance. Executive Director Glen Normandeau addressed the crowded room; providing a quick overview of the financial concerns of the past few years that the department has had to weather. He reports that the department found a surprising bump in revenues generated from ice fisherman during the long winter and that over all the department has fared well compared to other state agencies.
President Dwight Pennell introduced new National Trapper’s Association Director Steve Bennett. Steve will represent the NHTA at the national conventions. He briefed us on a few issues going on around the country including the troubles that Maine is having with ant-trapping law suits. He encouraged members to consider traveling this summer to the annual NTA Convention as it is going to be held in eastern Ohio – a location likely to be the closest to NH for the event to be held.

Strafford County Director Larry Torr was voted in as vice president. The remaining board members have agreed to stay on at their respective posts for another year. Dwight said he initially wanted out after two years but has received a lot of support from volunteer directors that has made his job easier.

Awards Committee Chairman Gary Speed presented this year’s trapper of the year award to Carroll County Director Bonnie Pennell. Gary was surprised when Director Steve Schlangen presented him with this year’s induction into the NH Trapper’s Hall of Fame. This year’s Octave Delude award was presented by Director Fred Shepard to NH F&G Biologist/Administrator Mark Ellingwood for his cooperation and collaboration on many trapping related issue over the last few years. Retired NH F&G Colonel Jeff Gray was awarded a lifetime membership and a 50th anniversary commemorative NHTA belt buckle. Our best wishes to Jeff and hope to see him around. Mark and Jeff both spoke highly of the NHTA’s commitment to supporting the Department’s management ideals based on sound science and the strong relationship the Association has continued with the NHF&G Department.

NHTA welcomed new Merrimack County Director Sean Williamson. New lifetime membership certificates were presented to: Dan Kokus, Ken Tetrault, Arnold MaKinen, Norman Demers and Bill Anderson.

Again this year Lloyd White sold the most gun raffle tickets (218) and was offered his choice of a case of body-grip traps. Rubin Parker sold the 2nd most (145) and was awarded a case of body-grip traps and Craig Williams sold the third most (93), winning a pair of hip boots. The Association appreciates the contributions of all members with the sale of each individual ticket, but these three are to be recognized for their extra effort. Thanks again, Lloyd, and thanks to Steve Schlangen for organizing the raffle. This year’s gun raffle winners: Chris Jacobson of Auburn, NH won the Browning X-bolt Hunter .30-06, Tex Austin of Sunapee, NH won the Browning X-bolt Hunter .270, Carl Someuo of New Ipswich, NH won the Remington Model 7-CDL .243, Kenneth Salisbury of Hudson, NH won the Remington Model 870 Express 12 gauge., Brian Tilton of Grantham, NH won the Remington Model 710 .30-06, Paul Hammond of Raymond, NH won the Savage 93 R17 GV .17 HMR, John Wiltshire of Alexandria, NH won the Marlin 336W .30-30, Bob Nay of Bennington, NH won the T/C Pro Hunter Muzzleloader .50 cal., Robie Speed of Walpole, NH won the T/C Triumph Muzzleloader .50 cal. and Fred Equonis of Boscawen, NH won the Ruger 10/22 .22LR.

Next month: a complete list of officers and directors and details on the upcoming benefit banquet scheduled for Feb. 19th, , 2009, to be held at the Cat & Fiddle in Concord, NH.

Best to all. — Paul DeBow – Grafton County director

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