Georgia Trappers Association March 2014 Report

President — Russ Carter, 287 David Road, Baxley, GA 31513; (912) 367-4887; cell (912) 256-1721; smokehouseoutfitters@yahoo.com

Vice President — Mike Gibson, 291 Kersey Road, Elko, GA 30125; (478) 952-2105

Correspondence Secretary — Steve Rainey, 1923 Beattie Road, Albany, Ga 31707; 229-449-9533; rcrainey@bellsouth.net

Membership Secretary/Treasurer — Randy Zerwig, 35978 GA Hwy 23 N, Metter, GA 30439; (912) 685-6222; cell (912) 682-7256; coonman1020@yahoo.com

Legislative Director — Lee Riley, 331 Lake Drive, Pine Mtn, GA 31822; (706) 977-8108

NTA Director — Rusty Johnson, Route 1, Chula, GA 31733; (229) 382-2499; cell (229) 445-1388; rjcritter@bellsouth.net

Executive Director — Travis LeMay, P.O. Box 1564; McDonough, GA 30253; (678) 395-1708; Itrapgak9@gmail.com

General Organizer — Kelvin Mosley, 515 Cleon Moseley Lane, Reidsville, Ga 30453; (912) 237-7696; cell (912) 585-6769; the_goat_lady@hotmail.com

 

Membership Options:

• Regular membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $25

• Lifetime membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $300

 

Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:

GTA, Membership Secretary/Treasurer

Holly Zerwig

P.O. Box 613

Metter, GA 30439

CORRESPONDENCE SECRETARY’S REPORT

The chorus frogs were calling loudly in a nearby ditch as I worked to put in a coyote set. I was worried about sweat dropping into the trap bed as I worked. Sure didn’t seem like December. Three days later, the temperature was in the low 30s with a 10–15 mph NW wind, and I was working to keep traps from freezing overnight. Such is the weather in southwest Georgia during the winter.

The GTA held its annual “Trapping Competition” the week-end of 24 – 26 January at the Thomas Farm on the banks of the Flint River. I’d hardly gotten home good when one of our Directors, Dan Eaton, sent me the write-up on the competition. GREAT JOB DAN! I called Dan to thank him for the write up and joked that he did such a good job that I didn’t have anything to write about. But I’ll include a few highlights.

Dan and I wound up drawing adjoining parcels in the competition, and at one point met up at a fence boundary to discuss what we were seeing. Right there at our feet were gray fox tracks under the gate. We joked about how easy it would be to snare him there, however snares are not legal on land in Georgia. We said adieu, got in our trucks and drove away. Later I got to thinking that Dan, as any good trapper would, was sure to return to that fence and set it up. So, I figured I’d do the same! I put in two dirt-holes along the two-track, about fifty yards from the gate. The next morning as Dan and I were riding together to check the traps, we drove up to find we each had a gray fox dancing!

That country produces some of the prettiest bobcats you ever saw – big circular spots way up on their backs like an ocelot. Dan caught a big one the first morning.

Boys, we had some high times again this year! I’m already looking forward to next year. — Steve Rainey

 

NTA DIRECTOR’S REPORT

GTA Trappers,

Trapping season is winding down and things is cranking up in the fur shed. I look back on this season and realize that this year will go down as one of my best ever. Not for the number of animals I caught, but for the season that started off trapping with my buddy Mark June in Nebraska. He invited me to go trap coyotes with him. Man, I didn’t even ask my wife for permission. I said yes! Ask for forgiveness later, right. After explaining to her quoting John Wayne ( A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do ) and several day’s of honey doo’s and a few nights out to eat, she said OK. See, I knew she wouldn’t mind.

Mark is a master coyote trapper and works on the trap line like a wild Indian ( no offense chief ). He is the most organized trapper that I know and I have learned over the years this is a must if you want to put lots of fur in the shed. When you go trapping out in a very remote place for a couple of weeks in the winter, you better have a plan and you better have everything you need. We got out our traps and they were stretched out over 70 miles in the Sand Hills. Our first catch was a double on coyotes. Man, it don’t get no better than that. The fur on them was nothing like I have ever seen. That was the first of many to ride back to the bunk house with us. The weather was hot at the beginning and cold with snow in the end. I was like a kid when it started snowing because I have only saw it twice in my life. But when we had to rework every set the next day I had had enough snow. It was pretty but had to go. As we drove threw the Sand Hills I often thought of the Indians and Settlers that were living in this harsh environment 200 years ago. Hardly any trees just grass and sand. The wind blows 20 mph all the time with 40 mph being common.

These people really had a hard life. They had to be real experts at living off the land. As the trip was coming to an end, we were sitting in the bunk house one night listening to Willie, Waylen and Merl on the radio, Mark looked over at me and said, RJ you want to come on my cat line in December? I pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. He said I’m serious, if you can. I said, yes I can! Ask for forgiveness later, right. Dang, here we go again.

After Thanksgiving lunch, I took off for Mark’s house. 18 hours later we were loading my gear into his truck and on the road again. 8 hours later we were there. 26 hours of riding in the truck was wearing on me. It was in the 50’s the first day as we were laying out our cat line and then the cold found us. I mean cold. In the teens with strong winds. Just right for cat trapping. It took us 3 days to get the line out and we really were excited about it. Then it got real. We got the news of a winter storm coming the next day. Weather Warning the man on the radio said! Stay home, don’t go out. If you do and you cross a railroad track, pack a survival kit. if you get stranded stay in your truck and crank it up for 10 min. every hour till help arrives. That man had my full attention and he had Mark’s too. The forecast for the next day was a high 7 degrees and the low 17 below with a wind chill of 40 below, 5 to 6 inches of snow and winds 40mph. Mark said it’s time to pack and I agreed. Long story short we just did get out.

Now you can see why this season is special to me. Enjoy the memories you have on the line by yourself or with a friend. See y’all at the spring fling. — Rusty Johnson

 

DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Hey y’all

Hope this finds everyone with full fur sheds! I have been hard at it myself and have discovered that I can’t run a water line and canine line at the same time both suffer from lack of attention. So with that being said I have still had a pretty good trapping season so far.

If you missed the competition you truly missed out on a great time! Big thanks to John (snake) Whaley for a tremendous job with our youth! We had 5 youth trapping with us this weekend and boy did they do fantastic! There were coyote and fox,raccoon caught. Great job girl and guys without y’all trapping has no future. These kids distinguished themselves as the next generation of protectors of trapping and it’s heritage. Thank you again guys!! We had awesome weather for the event!! Only had 12 competitors but we caught 67 animals in 2 days! Congrats to 1st place Keith Igou, 2nd place Jerry (the come back kid) Lee, 3rd place Josh (Super B) Hall.

I for one think this was by far the best competition that I have attended. The fellowship and camaraderie was first rate and the competition was fierce! Thank you for coming and look forward to seeing y’all next time.

Special appreciation to David Mcclintlock and Thomas’s for allowing us to come trap and stay on there farm and to the adjoining land owners. Thank you Doug Whitmire and Sam Stowe and all club members for the AWESOME food!!

 

Georgia Trappers Association

22nd Annual Trapping Tournament

January 24, 25, 26 2014

 

Day 1 Catch Day 2 Catch Tournament Total

Coyote 4 4 8

Bobcat 7 5 12

Beaver 1 0 1

Gray Fox 16 12 28

Racoon 6 8 14

Opossum 0 4 4

34 33 67

 

The next show we have coming up is the great outdoor show in Perry Ga. on February 7-9, 2014. If you would like to help, contact any officer or director. Then make plans to attend the spring fling this April. Details TBA soon.

Until next time, god bless! — Dan Eaton, Director

 

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