www.patrappers.com

President — Brian Mohn, 138 Farview Road, Hamburg, PA 19526; 610-562-1790; papatrees@aol.com

Vice President East — Joel Whitehead, 845 Snake Hill Road, Thompson, PA 19526; 570-756-2714; JFRED@nep.net

Vice President West — Ned Weston, 120 Swope Road, West Sunbury, PA 16061; 724-894-2239; nedweston@gmail.com

Secretary — Don Klinger, 522 S. Pancoast, Reynoldsville, PA 15851; 814-371-1170; advantage16@verizon.net

Treasurer — Donna Spittle, P.O. Box 708, Hummelstown, PA 17036; 717-239-9267; spittlefam@paonline.com

Editor — Ed Price, 3833 Old Newburg Turnpike, Union Dale, PA 18470; 570-679-2318; pricee@nep.net

NTA Director — David Shuttleworth, 5452 Tamarack Drive, Sharpsville, PA 16150; 724-962-4260; dianeshutts@aol.com

FTA Director — Mark Kasten, RR2 Box 2287, Hallstead, PA 18822; 570-278-2553; willsher@epix.net

Public Relations Director — Barry Warner, P.O. Box 223, Dallas, PA 18612; 570-675-7041; beavernbass@comcast.net

Website Designer — Barbie Breckenridge, barbiebreckenridge@gmail.com

 

Membership Options:

Individual membership including subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller — $25

Individual membership without subscription — $10

Junior, age 16 and under without subscription — $5

Lifetime membership with subscription — $300

Lifetime membership without subscription — $100

 

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

PTA Treasurer

Donna Spittle

P.O. Box 708

Hummelstown, PA 17036

 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

This is going to be a very brief report but the significance is monumental. How many issues could be avoided or short lived if we did a better job of communicating? We all heard the saying, “TALK IS CHEAP”. So why do we avoid small issues and let them develop into insurmountable problems? The result is far more energy being spent to resolve the issue. If you wonder where I’m going with this topic, let me explain before you skip to the next report.

Think before you take action. What are the effects both positive and negative? Every day we are faced with dilemmas. How will you choose to resolve them?

I am not a philosopher, but I do get the communications when trapping issues come to a head. Remember the internet has a worldwide audience and even though there is a lot to be learned from it, not everything on it is the whole truth.

In my last report I spoke of how successful our trapping schools were this season. I am happy to tell you we hosted more than five hundred students at our school and without all the volunteer instructors this would not be possible. I would like to thank all the vendors who provided supplies to distribute at the schools. Last week I received a very large box of top quality lures from John at PCS OUTDOORS. THANK YOU John. This will certainly help us for the next round of schools.

“OUR IMMAGE OUR FUTURE” — Brian Mohn

 

PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR’S REPORT

I know I mentioned this previously. However, I believe this is a very appropriate time to mention it again. The friend you present a Christmas present to every year, the youngster that has been questioning you about trapping and wildlife, or the property owner that you know supports trapping, why not present them with a membership to the PTA. I know you could add to this list of individuals. If they are already PTA members, how about providing them with a membership in the NTA, FTA, or Furbears Unlimited? Know of a better cause???

It is quite frustrating to me to learn that our extensive efforts for the benefit of Pennsylvania’s trappers are at times destroyed by rumor. I recently attended a meeting where, once again, I was asked why trappers were cited for an incidental catch at a legal set. In 2009, with many rumors traversing our Commonwealth relative to trappers being cited for incidental catches, we met with Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl Roe. When Director Roe learned of this situation, he issued a directive to the field. That directive required the documentation of the incidental catch with no monetary obligation, providing that the set was in fact legal and the trapper properly reported the incidental catch. Please spread this information to your fellow trappers, and if an incident should arise, contact your regional law enforcement supervisor or the regional director. Therefore, there is no excuse for not reporting these incidents. Additionally, a comprehensive otter study is under way or will be shortly. In order for our agency to have as much otter data as possible, it is incumbent upon us to be part of the solution, not the problem.

Finally, Tom Hardisky would appreciate your help with a study he is doing on behalf of the PGC. Tom will be collecting female beaver carcasses in order to study the reproductive tracts and skulls. This information will provide an estimate of litter size and age at first reproduction. Fresh or frozen female beaver carcasses may be delivered to one of the six PGC regional offices, or contact Tom for possible pickup. Each carcass must be tagged with date of harvest, wildlife management unit, county, township, watercourse name, and trapper’s name. Tom may be contacted at 570 725 3663 or thardisky@pa.gov. Decomposed carcasses cannot be used. Tom plans to reimburse trappers $5.00 for each useable whole carcass tagged with harvest information and location. In addition to the pelt, trappers may also keep the casters and oil sacks.

I wish you a wonderful Christmas with family and friends, and a new year that requires a constant need to sharpen your knives. — Barry L. Warner

 

FTA DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Another trapping season in Pa. has started. Hope all of you are able to get out and set some steel this year.

The Fur Takers of America have a membership drive on now where new members get a free DVD of your choice from Sterling Fur Company. If you go to their website, www.furtakersofamerica.com, there is a page you can go to for new memberships that describes the program. If you don’t have a computer and would like to join you can call Carol Krumwiede @ 217-394-2577. There are ten different DVD’s to choose from.

I’d like to thank all the districts that are affiliates with Fur Takers for your continued support and also all you individual members.

It looks like in 2014 we will be having a joint PTA – FTA convention in Washington, Pa. I would like to thank District 3 and Dave Eckels for stepping up to meet the challenge.

‘Till next time remember our motto – Our Image is Our Future. — Bill Kasten

 

STATE CONVENTION REPORT

The 2013 PTA State Convention will be held on June 6 – 9 at the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert, Monroe County. Gilbert is located on Rt. 209 about halfway between Lehighton and Stroudsburg.

We have all building space filled up and we have a waiting list of 10 more dealers. I am in the process of calling dealers to take less space so we can get everyone in the buildings.

I am currently working on the programs. All district directors and dealers should have received a letter about ads in the program. Please get the info back to me by January 1 so I can organize everything and get it to the printer by February 1. Ad prices are as follows: $25 for 1/4 page, $50 for 1/2 page, and $100 for a full page ad.

I have food vendors lined up, some ideas for commemorative items, and Brian Mohn and his family offered to do the mountain man race and trap setting contests. I also have a partial list of people who volunteered to do demo’s. I need someone to call and get more demo’s and schedule each day’s events. I also need someone to line up entertainment, another to organize ladies and youth events, manpower for the front gate, district table and to do odds and ends during the show.

If you would be interested in helping out, even if it’s only for a few hours, please let me know. More help means less work for everyone.

That’s it for now. — Scot Mucha – 610-863-9759

 

DISTRICT 1 REPORT

Hello Members.

As I am sure you are aware, it is trapping season. That means a short report!

The Spring Gun Raffle will be held on April 6, 2013. We are still confirming the venue. We had a planning meeting on October 21st at Kings Family Restaurant in Meadville, PA. If you have ideas or a dealer that wants to bid on the guns, please contact Jim and Donna Murphy. This event is a critical fundraising opportunity for our district and it is imperative that we have lots of volunteers to help out.

Our Spring Meeting will be held on April 20, 2013 at Conneaut Lake Sportsman’s Club in Conneaut Lake, PA.

A reminder to all that we need to be as careful as possible with Conibear box placements, so we avoid all dogs. And a reminder that all look alike visual attractors are illegal. This includes the little crayfish on the pan for coon.

I hope you all have a great trapping season. Don’t forget to take a kid trapping.

God Bless. — Charlie Sykes

 

DISTRICT 3 REPORT

Hi All,

Not a lot to report this month so I’ll keep it short. I’m also working in the garage trying to get my equipment ready. Always seems like there’s not enough hours in the day this time of year, but a little pressure is a great motivator. By the time you read this, we’ll be involved in the season, so I hope you can get out and enjoy what you like to do.

As I write this, we are still judging the D-3 scholarship essays, so I’ll have to report on the winners in the next issue. I can say we received more essays this year than ever before, and there are quite a few good ones, so it’s taking a little more time on the judging.

Don’t forget the dates on our fur sale, January 27, at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Try to save some or all of your fur for our sale. This year’s sale will be the same as previous sales with a 4% commission. Hope to see you there.

Matt Pappa has agreed to run a D-3 booth once again at the Allegheny Sport, Travel and Outdoor show in Monroeville. If you can spare an evening to help out here, let me know. Dates are February 13 – 17

‘Till next time. — Dave Eckels

 

DISTRICT 4 REPORT

The trapping season is well under way now with speculations of full stretchers. I’m just getting back into the swing of things, after a busy summer with the convention, county fairs, and youth field days. Our district tried to support as many we could. I thank everyone that stepped up.

Our District 4 fur sale will be January 19th starting at about 8:30 am at the Sacred Heart Activity Center in St. Marys, Pa. If you have any questions about the sale give me or Don a call – 814 594 0896.

Many things were discussed at the O&D meeting. The most interesting was the use of exposed or artificial bait. As we get things sorted out that information will get passed along.

Trying to keep it short – best luck to everyone. — Jeff Dornisch

 

DISTRICT 7 REPORT

District 7 was invited to a fall festival at the Little Pine Creek State Park on October 7. About 75 people visited our display and they all liked our tanned furs. We passed out quite a few of the PTA coloring books and signed up a new member from Alaska who was in Pa. attending a wedding. I would like to thank the staff from the park for inviting us to attend. On October 23 we were invited to an Agriculture Appreciation show at the Danville High School. Our fur display was visited by numerous people and we passed out many of the coloring books and our animal track sheets. I would like to thank Mrs. Smith-Wells for inviting us. Do not forget our fur auction on January 13, at Washingtonville. If you can help please let me know in advance. minkman46@aol.com — Pete

 

DISTRICT 8 REPORT

Hello, members.

We are finished with all the conventions and now it’s time to get ready to trap. We had our show at Tuscarora Valley. It was a little light on Friday, but Saturday was great. The auction was very well attended.

Our last meeting was held at Blain Picnic Grounds, where we had a shrimp or chicken dinner with plenty of extras. This event was well attended by many members.

We are already making plans for next year’s show, so call for details. At our meeting every year we draw a name of a member to go to the FTA Trappers’ College. This year the fellow that won decided to put it up for auction, so any District 8 member who would like to bid has to come to our next meeting in January. The date, time and place will be sent out to the members with our next District card.

Hope everyone has a great hunting and trapping season. Be safe and we will see you all in January. — Chuck Filler, Jr.

 

DISTRICT 9 REPORT

Hope everyone is having a safe and enjoyable trapping season. Also, be sure to be safe when heading out in the deer season.

Our fall meeting was held at Dave Costanzo’s house on October 14. Some of the topics discussed were:

• Voted to continue our $200 donation to all 6 conservation districts in District 9 for Envirothon.

• Voted to continue our $200 support for the Troy and Harford Fair Queens.

• Set the date for next year’s trapping school – September 7 & 8, 2013.

• Voted $1000 to support the Pa. Game Commission otter study to begin shortly.

• Changes to seasons and bag limits.

• Elected a new Lackawanna County leader – Don Kolebuck.

• Support for Hunts for Healing and Susquehanna Co. PFSC projects.

Thanks to all who came out to the meeting, and a special thanks to Dave Costanzo for allowing us to use his “dog kennel” for the meeting and providing the refreshments.

The coyote hunt will be held February 1, 2 &3. We will have an envelope-stuffing get together at my house on December 2. We are looking for a great turnout again this year. The raffle will be a Kimber Montana 243 Win. with a Zeiss 3×9 scope, not a Classic 223 like last year. Tickets will be $5 each, 3 for $10.

Our fur sale will be held the week after the coyote hunt, on February 9. We are going back to the way we used to have the fur sale, but we will be charging a 4% sellers’ fee this year. All sellers must be members of the Pa. Trappers Assn. Please let everyone know of the change. We will be sending a post card out to this effect before the sale.

That’s all for now. Be safe and ethical while setting those traps, and remember our motto – Our Image is Our Future. — Ed Price – pricee@nep.net – 570-679-2318

 

DISTRICT 10 REPORT

Hello to all. Hope everyone is having a successful season so far. Fur prices look pretty good. If you go after a variety of critters, you should be OK.

Our District fur auction will be January 19, not January 12 as previously announced. We will be setting up Friday night at 6 PM. We will need help to count fur, run the kitchen, and runners during the auction. The auction will be held at the Belfast Gun Club, just off Route 33 – Belfast exit. Doors open at 8 AM and auction starts at 9 AM.

The District fall convention and sportsmen’s show was held the end of September. We teamed up with Deer Dave’s Hunting Gear and had a nice variety of vendors inside and outside. We had 28 inside vendors in 3 different buildings and 15 tailgaters. The weather was not the best with some rain on Friday and cloudy and cool on Saturday. We had a nice crowd both Friday and Saturday and everyone seemed pleased with the show. Thanks to all the dealers, tailgaters, demo people and workers for making the show a success.

The winners of the 50/50 raffle that was held in conjunction with the fall convention are: first place – Branden Dewalt, 2nd place – Ray Free, 3rd place – George Findon, 4th place – Joe Nitzchle, and 5th place Roy Myles. Thanks to everyone who bought tickets.

That’s it for now. Enjoy the rest of the season. God Bless. — Scot, 610-863-9759

 

DISTRICT 11 REPORT

Our October meeting at Middlecreek Wildlife Center had about 35 in attendance and there was a touch of fall in the air. We had good reports from all of the trapping schools, the cable restraint course and the Furtakers course which was done in Lebanon county. We set the meeting dates for 2012 which we will get printed on cards so you can pick them up at the fur sale or other district events. We voted once again to donate $500 to the PTA Sweepstakes for 2013. State president Brian Mohn presented the Lifetime Achievement award to Denny Michael for all the work he has done over the years for the district and the State Association.

The District 11 Fur Sale will be held Jan. 12, 2013, at the Berks County 4H Center, Bernville, PA. Doors open at 7AM, sale starts at 9. The kitchen will be open for breakfast and throughout the day. There is a $5/lot registration fee and a 4% commission on all fur sold. You must be a PTA member to sell fur at this sale. All licensed fur buyers are invited to attend.

As I am writing this we are actually in the calm before the storm, waiting for the arrival of hurricane Sandy that is supposedly coming our way. We as trappers have been through, and will again get through these kinds of setbacks on our traplines. My wish for you is great success on your line this year. As we roll up onto the holiday season, I would ask that you’d take the time to thank God for all His blessings to us. Be safe and have some fun as you enjoy His creation. — Mike Spittle, (717)367-2637, spittlefam@paonline.com

Related Posts

• No Related Posts Found