Pennsylvania Trappers Association Inc. February 2013 Report

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 T&PC — $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

Our organization is strong because of the willingness of our members to volunteer and give of their time when a job needs to be done. Every time you volunteer to promote trapping or extend a hand of kindness to someone in need, our association gets stronger with the people you influence. This is the time of year when cabin fever sets in and civic groups normally have larger attendance at their meetings. Maybe you have been asked to do a program on Trapping and Wildlife Management at one of their meetings. I encourage you to accept the invitation and if you need any help with your presentation feel free to contact one of your officers for suggestions. Who knows the benefits that may come from it? Don’t forget the Eastern Sport Show in Harrisburg. Wayne Gemmil is the show chairman and can be reached at 717-993-5526. I also am looking for help to build a new cabin front for our display. I would like to see this project completed in 2013. For more information please contact me.

2013 IS AN ELECTION YEAR; I would like to thank John Falter for accepting the Election Chairman position and we will be accepting nominations for state officers. We are also looking for candidates for PTA awards at this year’s rendezvous.

We need your trap tag for a NTA Fundraiser: Bob Carey, a lifetime member, contacted me with the idea of a trap tag display that will be used in a fundraiser for the NTA. You can send your tag to him at 3 Rhine Creek Road, Drums, PA 18222.

Remember, OUR IMAGE-OUR FUTURE. — Brian Mohn

 

PUBLIC RELATIONS REPORT

Hope everyone weathered Sandy with little or no damage. I had a few traps out but pulled a number of them with the threat coming. That was fortunate. Due to a large section of tree coming down, taking the power lines, phone lines and the electrical service off the side of my house, I was in the dark from Monday through late afternoon on Thursday. However, I consider that nothing compared to the damage in NY and NJ. Prayers continue to go out to them.

We have taken several large coyotes in our local area, but have been taking a larger number of fox the last several years. Coyote sign is definitely down in this area. Not complaining, fox are much easier to process. However, the grinners evidently had a real good birthing this past year. Oh well, just part of the challenge.

Looking forward to heading south and putting a few cuffs on some of their critters. It is also a pleasure to spend time with the numerous friends we have made over the years in the sunny south. Sunny south, two years I did not take the canoe off of my truck due to frozen ponds, and last year was the third year of a drought. Again, just part of the challenge.

Just a reminder relative to the Game Commission’s beaver study, fresh or frozen female beaver needed. You may contact the wildlife supervisor in your region, or contact the coordinator Tom Hardisky directly at 570 725 3663, or thardisky@pa.gov. Information needed; date of harvest, wildlife management area, county, township, watercourse name, along with your name and contact information.

Wish you the best of this new year, and may you have the most memorable trapping season ever. — Barry L. Warner

 

STATE CONVENTION REPORT

The dates for the PTA State Convention are June 6-9 at West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert. Don’t forget that is a Pocono race weekend, so if you want hotel rooms you should book them now.

We will be running a 50/50 raffle during the convention this year. If you are interested, the tickets are $2 each, or 3 for $5, and are available from me now. The more tickets we sell, the more $$ the winners will receive. They make nice gifts for Mothers’ Day, birthdays, etc.

As far as convention programs, I have everything set to go to the printer. They will be going within the next 2 weeks.

I am currently working on t-shirts, hats and buttons for the convention. I want to thank Rodgers’ Hides and Supplies for sponsoring the shirts.

We will be making phone calls in the next few weeks to round up some help for the show. It takes a lot of manpower to run a show of this size, so when you are called upon please offer to help as much as you can, even if only for a few hours. More help means less work for everyone.

That’s it for now. If anyone wants for order a shirt, patch or commemorative mink board, please contact me. Hope to see you all at the Convention. — Scot Mucha – 610-863-9759

 

ELECTION CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The Pennsylvania Trappers’ Association Inc. will hold an election during the State Rendezvous from June 6-9th to fill the offices of President, Vice President-East, Vice President-West, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, Public Relation Director, NTA Director and FTA Director. Anyone interested in having their name on the ballot for this election should forward their résumé to John Falter via email at jsf9.edu@verizon.net or U.S. Mail at 1376 Woodcrest Drive, Reading, PA 19607-2218. Résumés must be received no later than March 15, 2013 in order for your name to be published on the ballot. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact John via email or phone. Ph: 610-777-5616.

 

DISTRICT 1 REPORT

Hello Members. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The Spring Gun Raffle will be held on April 6, 2013 at Sparrow Pond Campground in Waterford, 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.

I hope you all have a great trapping season. Don’t forget to take a kid beaver trapping. God Bless. — Charlie Sykes

 

DISTRICT 2 REPORT

Good evening, as I write this the temperature and snow are falling. Hopefully this deep snow is not hindering your outdoor activities. On a personal note, the snow is making my short ‘cat line a workout for the body. It also provides some breathtaking scenery and experiences. I wish all of you and your families a safe, healthy, and happy new year! Please note the dates for our January meeting, as well as our annual fur sale. Happy trapping. — Joe

January Meeting- Happy Hunters Sportsmen’s Club, Fenelton, Pa (Tentatively) January 27th doors open at noon, meeting will begin at 1:00p.m

District 2 Annual Fur Sale- Located at Burnt Ridge Bow and Gun Club Cowansville, Pa February 16th, sale will begin at 8:00a.m

 

DISTRICT 3 REPORT

Hello All. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year! Winter has arrived and maybe you’re enjoying running some cr’s or beaver traps. It’s a busy time of year, so this will be another short report. If you get this report in time, don’t forget about the dates for the fur sale, January 27, at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Hope to see you there.

Also a reminder for anyone who can spare an evening, Matthew Pappa has once again agreed to run the Allegheny Sport, Travel, and Outdoor Show in Monroeville this year. Dates are February 13-17. Last year we were well received at the show, as we had not been set up there in many years. If you can help out, let me or Matt know and we can give you details.

For the long range planners, the date for our district banquet is April 20, once again at the Youngwood Fire Hall. Ticket applications will be available at the fur sale and should come in the mail with the spring newsletter the first week of March.

‘till next time. — Dave Eckels

 

DISTRICT 5 REPORT

Winter has finally arrived and the cold temperatures and snow appear to be with us for a while. I hope your holidays were enjoyable and your trapping season is going well. As usual I haven’t been trapping as much as I had hoped but I’ve been able to get out some and I’ve hunted quite a bit.

I regret to report the recent passing of Douglas Ashbrook, 35 years old and an avid trapper and sportsmen. The district would like to extend our sympathy to his friends and family.

The District 5 fur sale will be held Sunday February 10th at the Bedford Fair Grounds 4H Building. Doors will open at 7:00 am and the sale will start at 9:00 am. You must be a member of the PA Trappers Association to sell fur and you will be able to join at the sale. Please come out and support our district by selling your fur at the sale.

District 5 will also have a booth at the Jaffa Outdoor Show in Altoona the weekend of February 22-24, 2013. Please stop in and say hello.

Our district is made up of Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, and Somerset Counties and if you know of any trappers or anyone interested in trapping please encourage them to join the association.

Our district officers are as follows: Don Sager – Director, Jim Griffith – Assistant Director, Pat Wess – Treasurer, and Deborah Sedlmeyer – Secretary.

Please feel free to contact Pat Wess @ (814) 262-9455 or me with any information you would like to see in this report or any questions you might have. I can be reached at (814) 686-0497 or e-mail me at bdstern@atlanticbb.net Thanks for reading. — Brian Stern

 

DISTRICT 7 REPORT

Our fur auction was held on January 13 and I would like to thank all of the buyers and sellers for attending. And a special thank you for all of the District 7 members who helped with the auction. If anyone can help man the district booth at any of the local Sportsmen’s shows in D-7 please contact me. — Pete

 

DISTRICT 9 REPORT

The coyote hunt is right around the corner and is scheduled for February 1, 2 &3. Get out there and kill those dogs. Remember that all PGC rules must be followed for a legal entry in the hunt. There are still raffle tickets available for the Kimber Montana 243 Win. with a Zeiss 3×9 scope. Tickets are $5 each, 3 for $10. If you desire tickets for the rifle, contact me or Bill.

Our fur sale will be held the week after the coyote hunt, on February 9. Sale will begin at 9:00 AM. We are going back to a closed bid 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.

Remember – Our Image is Our Future. — Ed Price

 

DISTRICT 10 REPORT

Hello to all. I hope everyone’s stretchers are filled up. There should be plenty of district fur sales left to sell your fur. Take your fur to a local sale and support your district.

District 10 has a few vacancies that need to be filled. We need delegates from Northampton and Monroe Counties for the PFSC. These individuals would attend the monthly County PFSC meetings and report back to the District on happenings in the PFSC. We also need an assistant director to help run the District. If interested, please get in contact with me.

In November a bag of carcasses was found along the road right near a park in Lehigh County. Officials were sending DNA to be tested to determine if they were foxes. Also every year I see parts from butchered deer along the road. This type of behavior gives hunters and trappers a bad name. Please dispose of carcasses in a proper manner.

That’s if for now. I will have a fur sale report and upcoming events in the next issue after our planning meeting has been held in early January. Good luck for the rest of the season and be careful out there. — Scot Mucha – 610-863-9759

 

DISTRICT 11 REPORT

Just a couple of things to pass along to you as we start into this New Year. Our next business meeting will be Thursday evening Feb. 21st at the Conewago Twp. building in Dauphin Co. It will start at 7PM. It is located just off Rte. 743 between Hershey and Elizabethtown. We will review the fur sale and plan events for 2013.

The Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show will be Feb. 2-10 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. If you are interested and able to help at the PTA booth for this event please contact Wayne Gemmill @ 717-993-5526. Any and all help is appreciated; even if you only have a couple of hours for one evening, give Wayne a call. Thanks in advance on behalf of the district, for all of you that help out at this show.

It’s not too early to mark your calendars for the state rendezvous that will be held June 6-9 at the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert PA.

I guess that is all for now. Hope to see you at the February meeting. — Mike Spittle, (717)367-2637, spittlefam@paonline.com

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