Maryland Fur Trappers June 2011 Report

President — Ron Leggett, 7308 Monroe Rd., Boonsboro, MD 21713; phone: 301-432-8480

Vice President — Butch Glenn, 9 Jeanna Lane, Falling Waters, WV 25419; phone 301-465-0196

Membership Secretary — Reed Muse, 3499 Niner Rd., Finksburg, MD 21048; phone: 410-795-8076; cell: 410-790-6475; e-mail: frmtrapper@verizon.net

Recording Secretary — Jaime Glenn, 9 Jeanna Ln., Falling Waters, WV 25419

Treasurer — Ed Davis, 5122 Paw Paw Rd., Cambridge, MD 21613; phone: 410-228-8181

NTA Director — Jerry Heimbrock, 12027 Pennterra Manor Lane, Thurmont, MD 21788; phone 937-681-1708

Membership Options:

• Yearly individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $25
• 3-year individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $70
• Lifetime individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $250
• Yearly family membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $27.50
• 3-year family membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $80
• Lifetime family membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $400
• Yearly junior (17 and under) membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $10

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

MFT, Membership Secretary
Reed Muse
3499 Niner Rd., Finksburg, MD 21048

CONVENTION AND GENERAL MEETING REPORT

Convention Chairpersons Tommy and Mary Tucker continue to do a fine job with the convention. Our new convention site at the Tilghmanton Rurtain Park at Fairplay,Md has really worked out well. More shade, better kitchen facilities, nicer showers and better maintenance of the grounds. This will be year four at
this location. This year it will be held on August 19th and 20th. We invite all members and guests to plan to attend the Convention and the General Membership Meeting.

Over the past few years the General Membership meeting has dwindled down to basically being a Directors Meeting, mostly because of the time lapse between the auction and the meeting. Maryland Fur Trappers wants to bring the meeting back to the members. It was discussed at last years meeting and every effort will be made to have the General Meeting shortly after the auction to encourage more participation. I was asked to see this info got published.

Maryland Fur Trappers stresses for trappers to be members of MFT in order to stay informed. The best way of doing this is to attend the General Membership meeting. Some information is best not to be published in a national magazine, but can be brought out in our meetings. MFT works very hard for its members by working against harmful legislation and local laws. We work with the Dept of Natural Resources to have regulations that benefit trappers while protecting the fur resources and and the public interest.

We need input from our members to decide our direction for the next two years. This is a election year for President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer as well as two Directors at Large. We just learned we have some new blood willing to run for President. It is too early to know if there will be competition.

The membership dues members pay does not go much further than the T&PC magazine. Other monies are made off the convention and the raffle. The auction does well for us also. We request members set aside an item or two to donate to the auction this year. It can be trapping or outdoors related or any other item you wish to donate. Just bring the items with you to the convention, or if not attending, send them with your District Director.

Other activities at the convention include the crab feast on Friday night with country music afterward. The live trapline runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Please plan to attend the convention and stay for the General Membership meeting. Remember to offer a ride to junior members and elderly members who may not want to drive. Additional info and directions can be found on the Maryland web site at www,marylandtrappers.com.

— Roger Ringgold, 410-634-2552, rogerringgold@ymail.com

DISTRICT 8 REPORT

Eight trappers attended our last meeting of the season. That is about as good as it gets for our meetings. I appreciated the support. We talked about our upcoming set up at the Jr Hunter Day on June 12th at the Sudlersville Skeet Club. As usual, the event is being headed by Barbara Joyce of the Maryland Dept of Natural Resources. This will be her last event as she is retiring as of Aug 1st. She has done a consistent great job and she will be missed. MFT greatly appreciates the dedication she has shown over the years.

The Montgomery County trapping bill HB 540 was discussed along with the amendment to post land that is being trapped. We should hear the results shortly.
One of our past attending trappers sent in a list of traps he had to trade and they were offered to all.

Roger Ringgold read a list of dates to remember of upcoming trapping events that attending members may wish to go to. There are activities available to anyone willing to travel.

Season catches were discussed and each trapper was given a chance to respond. Muskrats seemed to be scarce this year. Fur prices and buyers were discussed. Most of us were selling or shipping during the coming week.

Our Md convention was discussed. This will be an election year and we encourage all MFT members to attend and stay for the elections. The election will determine our direction for the next two years.

Our Dist 8 meeting will resume again in October. We hope you will make plans to attend. Again, Dist 8 thanks the Calloway for hosting our meeting and for their support.

Trap on.

— Roger Ringgold, 410-634-2552, rogerringgold@ymail.com

DISTRICT 12/13 REPORT

District 12 and 13 held our monthly meeting on March 15. There were 14 folks in attendance. We discussed our trials and tribulation during trapping season, our catches, and as always, the fur market and anticipated prices. We discussed different selling options, including the NAFA buyer’s MD and VA routes, and the Groenwald pickup up at Leggett’s, as well as other outlets. Tommy talked about the upcoming FBU Banquet at Bowles Farms, in Clements, and accepted donations for the auction. And since it’s just around the corner, talk of spring turkey season came up as well. The Bakers gave us quick demo of some mouth calling, and believe me, there is a reason they did so well over at the National Outdoor Show!

After we held our raffles for the 50:50 and for trapping and general outdoor gear donated by members, Pat gave his Treasurer’s report.

The March meeting brought our regular meetings to a close until October. District 12/13 meetings will resume in October, on the third Tuesday of the month, 6:30 pm, at Director Marty Campbell’s home in Owings. Please join us, or your local district, and see what’s going on. District and meeting info can be found on the MFT website, http://www.marylandtrappers.com, under both Contact and Event headings.

Time to get the trapping gear put up, and to break out the rods and reels, as well as the turkey calls. And please make it a point to take a kid or two with you. They are our future!

— Dave Sien

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