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
It’s Labor Day weekend and the end of summer is in sight. The weatherman on TV was just proclaiming that summer is “still hanging on,” “particularly in the South.” Yeah, and he can probably record that and play it back well into October! But, it is starting to look and feel a little like fall. The fields, where just a couple of weeks ago corn was standing, have all now been picked and laid bare. A local cattle farm has hundreds of round hay bales scattered across their pastures. And we’ve even had a couple of mornings with temperatures in the sixties, prompting friends to call and comment on “the squirrel hunting weather” or “time to get trapping stuff ready weather.” But then reality set back in with highs in the 100s!
Passing a freshly picked field of corn last week, I couldn’t help but think what it would be like to have fields like that available come trapping season. The rats and mice would have time to multiply many times over, making each field a Happy Hunting Ground for foxes and coyotes and a Happy Trapping Ground for us! But alas, most will be probably have been disked a time or two before December. We may still be able to tell that they were corn fields, and we’ll still be able to catch critters around them, but it’s fun to think about what might have been.
Well, last time we commented on how hard it was to try to put up dry dirt for the coming season due to the frequent rains. Now that’s not a problem. The rains have stopped (around here anyway) and folks have started using the dreaded “D” word again. Drought. More appropriately it’s just a late summer dry spell. Whatever you want to call it now’s the time to get you some dry dirt!
Here’s something else worth getting now. Have you ever made a set you’d like to blend in and either couldn’t find the right stuff at hand or wasted time walking around looking for material? When you ride through a neighborhood and see where folks have emptied a lawnmower bag beside the street – there’s your blending material! If it’s not already dried out you can spread it in the sun for a day or two, then put it in gallon zip-lock bags and freeze it. The freezer keeps the decomposing bacteria from turning your prized blending material into compost and you can take bag with you on the line just like dry dirt. Some folks mow/mulch pine straw as well so you can have different types of material on hand. Be a good Boy Scout and “Be prepared”!
Hope everyone enjoyed the Convention, bought plenty of supplies, and is all fire up for the season. Prices are down but that’s no reason not to do what we all love to do – TRAP. — Steve Rainey