www.arkansastrappers.org
President — Aaron Hitchcock, 9331 Sister Lane, Mulberry, AR 72947; 479-997-5361; AHITCH81@YAHOO.COM
Vice President — Charlie Bass, 6755 Bethesda Lane, Batesville, AR 72501; 870-698-1154; trapper38@hotmail.com
Secretary/Treasurer — Gary Gray, PO Box 493, Arkadelphia, AR 71923; 870-403-2469; secretary@arkansastrappers.org
NTA Director — Mike Fischer, 13823 Masoner Road, Lonsdale, AR 72087; 501-939-2325
Editor — Gary Helms, 1092 Vanderbilt Rd., Texarkana, AR 71854; 870-772-3834; TrapperGWH@aol.com
Membership Options:
• Individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $22
• Family membership with subscription — $27
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
ATA, Secretary/Treasurer
Gary Gray
PO Box 493
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
EDITOR’S REPORT
Wow! I’ve just gotten home from our Trapper Education Workshop at Camp Clearfork, and that’s the best way to describe the entire weekend…Wow! We had 111 students, and 85 of those were first timers! I don’t know how Aaron Hitchcock squeezed that many students in this year, or how his wife, Mary and her crew of volunteers were able to feed them all, but they pulled it off and did an amazing job! We also had great trapping weather. The nights were cold and the days were cool, and Clearfork was beautiful in her Fall colors. It was a great weekend for our workshop. On Saturday we broke the students off into small manageable groups and rotated them around to the different instructors. The ones that attended my demo were very attentive, and asked great questions. It’s a pleasure to teach eager students, and show them new techniques and ideas. I enjoy these workshops as much as the students do! After supper on Saturday night, we were treated to Bingo by Claudine Shankle. All of the prizes were donated by her and Dub. Sunday morning, after breakfast, there was a short worship service given by Dub Shankle. It was the first time we’ve ever done this, but it was very well received! Next was the fur handling demos, where everyone learned how to skin and put up their fur that they’re sure to catch this season. After lunch, we passed out certificates, cleaned everything up, and cleared out. A BIG THANK YOU goes to everyone that stuck around and helped us fold and put away tables and chairs, and sweep and mop the bathrooms and buildings, and load the trailer. The great people that make up this association is the main reason I’m a member. I first joined to support trapping, have a fur sale to sell my fur at, and learn from trappers with more knowledge and experience than I had. I still get those things from my membership today, but it’s the friendships I’ve made over the years in the ATA that’s kept me here this long. There’s not a finer group of people anywhere around!
The next big thing coming up is the Fur Sale. The Arkansas Trappers Association will hold its 2013 Fur Sale on February 16, 2013 at the Pope County Fairgrounds, 500 S Knoxville, Russellville, AR 72801. Google Map the address for location and driving directions.
The annual Fur Sale Lot# drawing will be held shortly after 15 January, 2013. Lot # Drawing registration fees of $10 for participation in the drawing will not be refunded, but will be applied to the commission you owe. To reserve your lot number, please send us your name and address along with e-mail address and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Customer ID# (Hunting license # if no ID) along with a check or money order for $10 payable to the Arkansas Trappers Association. to:
Arkansas Trappers Association
P.O. Box 493
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
If members traveling together need consecutive lot numbers, deposits must be mailed together in one envelope with each person’s information and the preferred order of lot assignments within the group.
Your deposit must be received by Jan 15, 2013 to be entered in the drawing for reserved lot numbers. You will be notified by post card or e-mail when the lot numbers are drawn. Any entries received after January 15 will be assigned the next available lot number.
Those who wish to wait until the day of the Fur Sale will receive lot #s on a first come, first serve basis. Remember that participation in the ATA Fur Sale is a benefit of ATA Membership. Your membership must be current as of the day of the sale. Memberships will be available at the sale. Questions may be directed to the “ATA Sec/Treas” at secretary@arkansastrappers.org or Fur Sale Coordinator, Heath Shaw @ tage13@yahoo.com or Phone: 501-889-4619.
The host motel is :
Quality Inn Exit 84 I-40
3019 E. Parkway Dr.
Russellville, AR, 72802
Phone: (479) 967-7500
Fax: (479) 967-6314
$58.49 + Tax per Night
Call and ask for the Arkansas Trappers Association Rate.
Districts are in full swing in most parts of the State. I’ve been told that the District 6 Representative has resigned his position, and the District 9 Representative has moved to a different District. If you’d be interested in volunteering, or know of someone that would be a good Rep. for these Districts, give Aaron Hitchcock a call and let him know as soon as possible. The nine Districts and Representatives are listed as follows:
District #1: Benton, Boone, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Madison, Newton, Pope, Washington Counties.
Representatives are:
Wayne Watson, Phone: 479-283-7004, wayne_1958@att.net
“Dub” Shankle, 479-997-1305, dub05@windstream.net
District #2: Baxter, Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Marion, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren Counties.
Representative is:
Charlie Bass, 870.698.1154, trapper38@hotmail.com
District #3: Clay, Craighead, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, Randolph Counties.
Representatives are:
Alex Lane, 870-219-0852, alexlane86@yahoo.com
Mark Penn, 870-759-0974, pennslawnservice@yahoo.com
District #4: Garland, Logan, Montgomery, Polk, Scott, Sebastian, Yell Counties.
Representative is:
Sterlen Kirschman, 501 760 7635, sterlensk@gmail.com
District #5: Conway, Faulkner, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, Saline, White Counties.
Representatives are:
Heath Shaw, 501 889 4619, tage13@yahoo.com
Doug Henderson, 501 288 0915
District #6: Crittenden, Cross, Lee, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie, St. Francis, Woodruff Counties.
Representative is: OPEN
District #7: Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Pike, Sevier Counties.
Representatives are:
Dana Humphries, 870-845-9174, ,mscitychick@yahoo.com
Ronny Whisenhunt, 870-557-2561
District #8: Calhoun, Clark, Columbia, Dallas, Grant, Hot Spring, Nevada, Ouachita, Union Counties.
Representative is:
Tim Ross, 870-678-2874, qualitysnares@hotmail.com
District #9: Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, Jefferson, Lincoln Counties.
Representative is: OPEN
District meetings, with dates and times, are listed on our website forum @ www.arkansastrappers.org/forum/. It’s free to register and easy to navigate. Lots of good information can be found there. If you have a question, simply ask and members will quickly reply. You can also call your District Representative to find out when and where your next meeting is. Please try to make the meetings, they’re both fun and informative!
Hope everyone’s trapping season is off to a good start! Stay safe and I’ll see ya here next month! — Gary Helms
DISTRICT 1 REPORT
District 1 held our Fall meeting in Huntsville on the 21st at Carroll Electric Cooperative. We had a good turnout with 24 people attending the pot luck. The food was plentiful and tasty. A big thank you to all the ladies who cooked for us. We discussed the upcoming Trappers Workshop and voted for a district rep as well as an alternate. Wayne Watson was elected the district rep with Dub Shankle being elected alternate. Dub, the owner of American Animal Control, provided door prizes and was available after the meeting for anyone who needed a few supplies. Our next meeting will be in the river valley area so stay tuned as more info will be forthcoming. — Wayne Watson
DISTRICT 7 REPORT
Our last meeting was held on October 13th at Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Wildlife Management Area near Nashville. We elected Dana Humphries from Mineral Springs as our new Representative, and Ronny Whisenhunt from Nashville as the Alternate. We had a very good meeting with a turnout of around 30 people. We grilled burgers and hotdogs with all the trimmings, had a couple of trapping demos, and some used the skeet shooting range. We also signed up some more new members! Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 12th, 2013 at noon, at the lodge, at Grandview. That should give everyone time to run their traps that morning. It’s potluck this time, so bring your favorite dish and join us. Maybe we can do a fur handling demo afterwards. for more info or directions call me or Dana Humphries. See ya there! — Gary Helms
