President — Rick Tischaefer, P.O. Box 334, Butte, ND 58723-0334; phone: 701-626-7150; e-mail: tischrc@ndak.net
Vice President — Marty Beard, 9101 119th St. SE, Bismarck, ND 58504; phone: 701-224-0878
Secretary — Jeremy Duckwitz, P.O. Box 465, Hazelton, ND 58544; phone: 701-674-3535;
e-mail: yodelyote@hotmail.com
Treasurer — Linda Penry, 3235 Crested Drive N., Mandan, ND 58554; phone: 701-667-9380;
e-mail: lpenry@wildblue.net
Fur Harvester Education Program Coordinator — Rick Tischaefer, P.O. Box 334,Butte, ND 58723-0334; phone: 701-626-7150; e-mail: tischrc@ndak.net
Membership Options:
• Junior (14 and under) membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $12
• Adult membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $20
• Family membership with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $20
• Lifetime with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $250
• Lifetime (62 and over) with subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $150
Complete membership application on first page of the association news section and send dues to:
NDFHTA, Treasurer
Linda Penry
3235 Crested Dr. N., Mandan, ND 58554
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Greetings everyone! Just a few items for this month.
1. We need your help with the association website. If you have any photos, items of interest, trapping or hunting tips and tricks, or anything else that could update or enhance the website, please forward that information to Pat Brenden. Pat cannot keep the website current without your help. Pat can be contacted through the website at www.ndfhta.com or at pat.brenden@sendit.nodak.edu . Thanks in advance for your help!
2. Yes, we are still collecting donations of deer hides (or pretty much any hide from a hoofed animal) and a pelt or two for the wild fur drawing. Everything is pretty much the same as last year – you can coordinate collection with your director or any officer, or I can pick them up on the fur route in January. Two tickets per deer hide (or similar species) and like the wild fur drawing, it’s a 50/50 split with the association. Tickets for wild fur vary and depend on the species and with this year, we’ll take carcass animals too (to use for the 2011 Fur School). Call if you have any questions. Thanks to each of you who donated deer hides and pelts for the wild fur program so far. These donations are important and know that your help allows the association to move forward. The deer hide portion of the program will end about the middle of January (with the close of the archery season), but the wild fur will continue through spring. The drawing for the deer hide program will occur at the winter meeting. Again, thanks to each of you for your help!
3. The winter meet is just around the corner! Phil Mastrangelo plans to have the winter issue of the “Dakota Skinner” out in late January or early February, and that will have more details about the event. If you’d like to advertise or list something for sale in this issue, get a hold of Phil and let him know. It’s not expensive at all and will help make the issue a better read.
4. Planning ahead – Instructors should be thinking and talking about fur harvester education classes for this coming year. Dates, locations, soliciting help, and passing the information up the chain should occur in the next couple of months. I’ll be looking for the information from the district coordinators in March – that’ll get the class information out to the public so everyone can plan accordingly. Hunter education classes are the best resource for potential students. Keep an eye out in your local area and make arrangements for a short presentation at a hunter education class. If you need help doing that, contact your district director. Fur harvester education classes are for everyone – experienced or not too experienced.
5. If you hear of anything negative related to trapping or fur hunting, please let me know. When you are trapping and fur hunting, do a good job out there. Be professional, responsible and a risk manager – there is no need to give folks from the anti-trapping and trap restrictions crowd any fodder or reason to limit our activities.
6. For the folks working the bobcat season, pay attention to the sign and avoid the lions – there’s plenty out there. There are a few things you can do to make your sets more selective if you are working the same area where there’s lion sign: Footholds – snuggle your footholds so a coyote or bobcat will feel comfortable placing their foot there, but the larger pawed lion won’t; Cables – use the 8” x 8” rule (loop size and height) for your cable loops and make sure your break-a-way devices are what they’re supposed to be. Anchor both your footholds and cable devices to hold a battleship – toe catches can leave the foothold behind and the cables will open as they need to do. In regards to visiting your sets, do it often and be regular about it. That way if you do catch a lion and hold one, it can be taken care of in a timely manner. It’s important to do things right out there every year as our future depends on it.
7. It is unfortunate that even with the bump up in the lion harvest numbers (from 8 to 10); the season was over with by the middle of November. I appreciate Game and Fish increasing the harvest, but it’s still not where it could be and could use a significant bump. On another lion note, congratulations are in order to Andrew Wiseman for achieving the North Dakota lion “hat trick” (legally harvesting a lion three years in a row). Couldn’t happen to a finer young man!
8. Nominations will close at the end of December for the following positions: Vice President, Secretary, District 1 and District 3 Directors. Pat Brenden (District 1 Director) asked that someone step forward from District 1 to fill his shoes – work and a new job have him stretched pretty thin. If you’re going to nominate someone, please check with them first to make sure they’re interested. Forward the nominations to me prior to December 31, 2010.
As always, remember to keep your membership current so you stay informed. As we go about our business calling or trapping, consider sharing your travels and experiences with someone who has yet to know these activities. Until next time, take care, be safe and responsible, and enjoy what Mother Nature and North Dakota have to offer. Chris and I extend to you and your families the hopes for a safe and happy holiday season!
Catch ‘ya.
— Rick Tischaefer
