http://www.nvtrappers.org
President — Joel Blakeslee (Sherri), 4905 Jackrabbit Rd, Reno, NV 89510; 775-742-1308
Vice President — John Sullivan; 702-493-8342; johnsull4@aol.com
Secretary/Treasurer — Judi Curran, 4170 St. Clair Rd., Fallon, NV 89406; 775- 867-2239
Fur Manager — Jim Curran, 4170 St. Clair Rd., Fallon, NV 89406; 775-867-2239
Membership Options:
• Individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $20
• Husband & wife with subscription — $22
• Junior (under 16) with subscription — $10
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
NTA, Secretary/Treasurer
Judi Curran
4170 St. Clair Rd.
Fallon, NV 89406
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Hi Trappers,
By the time you get this the fur sale will have come and gone.
One nice thing about the internet and all of these trappers sites is that you gain an appreciation for what we have in this state compared to other places. And the NTA fur sale in Fallon is one of the good things for sure. Here we are in Feb. and the fur market is still waiting for the Nephi and Fallon sales to set the market for bobcats which are still the highest price fur item in the country if not the whole fur trade. Fallon is considered the premier sale for the high end cats and kudos to our fur sale manager and his staff for that reputation well earned.
On the subject of commissions, for me I consider it money well spent. It’s like buying insurance. You hope that car accident or a serious health problem never comes up but when it does you are glad you bought insurance. Same with commissions. When that day comes when we have serious challenges and threats to our way of life, then it’s a good thing there has been a war chest built up.
On my lines and what I have heard from others in the Southern part of the state is that cats are few and far between out there. Just like rabbits, quail, coyotes, and everything else cat numbers go through highs and lows. I personally don’t believe it has as much to do with pressure as biological things like abundance of prey species, rainfall, competition from other predators, and other things only known to cats. Certainly pressure plays a role. But only one of several things.
I had a couple of interesting experiences on the line, as usual. I don’t often see cats in broad daylight but saw two this year so far. One was sneaking around about 100 ft from a small group of quail, no surprise there. The other was at my set but not in the trap. Female and very reluctant to leave. You guessed it, had a kitten. The kitten’s foot looked okay (thanks to the MB550) so let it go to rejoin mama. Have a number of sets in that area and haven’t seen either since so hope the kitten shows up again in about 5 years as a 40-inch tom. And hope the mom produces about 10 more.
On the political front, we can expect a very active legislature this year. The anti everythings will try to use the legislature to make an end run around the wildlife commission on some of their pet peeve hunting and trapping issues. Have already seen a bill being introduced in the legislature to stop the bear hunt.
Trappers are very aligned and joined at the hip with the various hunting groups in this state. And we will work hard to support them on this issue just as they have and will continue to support us on trapping issues. Anti trapping bills will almost certainly be introduced as well. And it will be a battle for sure.
That’s all she wrote for now. I hope to see everyone at the sale. — John Sullivan