Pennsylvania Trappers Association Inc. January 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 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

The start of a new year! I know everyone is still making their resolutions for this year, but as a trapper we are still working on the trapping season calendar and you have an opportunity to finish this season on a positive note and plan for any changes in the next season. I’m sure everyone is anticipating the upcoming fur sales and the culmination of the trapping season. Did you inform any new trappers on the importance of becoming a member of our association? It’s never too late to invite them to a fur sale or district meeting. Remember last month I discussed the importance of communicating! I get the opportunity to talk with numerous people throughout the trapping season, some of the most satisfying conversations I have are with our members who are unable to run their trapline this season, but want to hear about everyday trapline experiences. Have you given a smile to anybody this week?

Your PTA officers are preparing for the New Year, and with that we have our first meeting on January 5, 2013. This is where we finalize our proposal of season and bag limits to the PGC commissioner meeting later in the month. The new year starts the planning for Eastern Sport and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg. This show requires a large number of volunteers to staff our booth for the duration of the show, February 2-10. Please contact Wayne Gemmill (Show Chairman) at 717-993-5526 for more information.

2013 is an Election Year: We are in need of an Election Chairman; you may contact me for more information on the time requirements. Also we will be accepting nominations for state officers.

“OUR IMAGE OUR FUTURE” — Brian Mohn

 

2013 STATE CONVENTION REPORT

Plans for the 2013 PTA State Convention are moving right along. John Stenger is currently working on the demo’s for the weekend. If anyone would be willing to do a demo, please let me know.

All directors and dealers should have received a letter about ads for the convention program. If you want to place an ad, please get the info to me by January so I can get things to the printer.

Bob Counterman is working on our commemorative mink boards. We have not come up with a price yet, because we need to get a price on the engraving. If anyone would like to preorder any please let me know.

We are still looking for help for the convention. We will be making phone calls to round up some help, especially during the convention. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

One last note – there is a Nascar Race at Pocono Raceway the same weekend – June 6 – 9. Try to avoid Route 115 off of Route I-80 and book your hotel rooms now. Check the Stroudsburg area for hotels.

That’s it for now. If you have any ideas about events for the Convention, don’t hesitate to contact me. — Scot Mucha – 610-863-9759

 

DISTRICT 1 REPORT

Hello members,

This is a short report because as we all know it is trapping season! The Spring Gun Raffle will be held on April 6, 2013 at Sparrow Pond Campground in Waterford, PA. 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 trapping.

God Bless. — Charlie Sykes

 

DISTRICT 2 REPORT

Hopefully you all are having an enjoyable hunting and trapping season. As I write this, I am planning on setting some traps at the end of the firearm deer season. Unfortunately I have been unable to set any traps yet due to unforeseen reasons. District 2 plans to hold it’s annual: Meeting in January, Fur Sale in February, and Trappers Banquette in March. Please note: At the time of writing, I am not sure of exact dates. Please keep an eye out for the district mail flyer and/or email me at: grafscontracting@hotmail.com for finalized dates.

I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. — Joe

 

DISTRICT 3 REPORT

Hello all,

This is an awfully hectic time of the year, so this will be a short report. Hope everybody has had the chance to get out and enjoy themselves in the outdoors. The weather has been very cooperative up to this point and it won’t break my heart to have another winter like last year’s.

Our district scholarship essays have all been judged by our officers and I’d like to congratulate Steele Skrenta of Claysville, and Jessica Eckels of Finleyville, as the first and second place winners this year. I also want to thank everyone who applied and sent essays this year. We received more than we ever have, and there were really no bad ones. This made for some tough judging and four of the essays received at least one first place vote. Furthermore, none of the judges had them placed in the same order. Once again, thanks to all that wrote essays, and also to our officers for reading through them and judging.

Hopefully, you’ve been able to put up a little fur this season, and our fur sale is scheduled for January 27, at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Sale begins at 9:00 am, bring your furtaker’s license with you. Everything will be the same, with a 4% commission. Hope to see you there.

Have a Merry Christmas. — Dave Eckels

 

DISTRICT 4 REPORT

Not much new as of today. As far as the District goes, finding time balancing family and fun, hunting or work can be a hair pulling experience. I’m hoping that everyone else is having better luck than I am. My latest Trapper Caller just arrived. Good news on the fur prices? Well, we’ll see. I hope everyone enjoyed the hunting season and planning their trips to the local Fur Sales Looking forward to seeing you the 19th of January in St. Marys for the Districts annual sale. — Jeff Dornisch

 

DISTRICT 7 REPORT

January 13 is our fur auction at Washingtonville. The auction starts at 9 am, 4% commission and you must be a member of the PTA to sell. Do not forget to bring your furtakers license and also have an accurate count of your furs by species. You will be asked to show your membership card. Keep your furs outside until you are told to bring them inside. We will have a food stand. For more info, email me at minkman46@aol.com. — Pete Rake

 

DISTRICT 9 REPORT

Just a short report this time. Hope everyone is having a productive trapping season.

The coyote hunt will be held February 1, 2 & 3. We removed a bunch of names from the mailing list due to inactivity. If you do not receive a registration in the mail, you may want to contact me or Bill Kalinauskis to get one. Yours may be one of the names removed from the mailing list. 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. 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. 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 survived super storm Sandy. Sounds like the District 12 guys got hit the hardest in Pa. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in the State that got hit by Sandy.

The District 10 fur sale is set for January 19 at Belfast Club. Doors open at 8 AM and the sale starts at 9 AM. We will be setting up Friday night at 6 PM. If you can help out let me know and please bring your fur and support your district.

Tom Hardisky, biologist for the Game Commission, is doing a study on beaver carcasses. Each carcass must be tagged with, Date of harvest, Wildlife Management Unit, County, Township, Watercourse name, Trapper’s name. Decomposed carcasses cannot be used. The plan is to reimburse trappers $5.00 for each useable whole carcass tagged with harvest information and location. Pelt and castor glands may be retained by the trapper. Trappers may be required to transport beaver carcasses to a PGC regional office, PTA fur sale, or other pick up point. If you are interested in becoming a cooperating trapper, please contact: Tom Hardisky, PGC Wildlife Biologist, 2621 E. Winter Road, Loganton, Pa., 17747. Call 570-725-3663 or e-mail thardisky@pa.gov.

We will be having a meeting on January 6 at the Belfast Club starting at 1 PM. We will be going over the fur sale and plans for the State Convention. We have a lot of work to do to get ready for the State Convention and only 5 months to get it done. Please come out and lend a hand.

That’s it for now. Good luck to all for the rest of the season, and be careful out there. — Scot – 610-863-9759

 

DISTRICT 11 REPORT

I hope your season is going well and you are running out of room in your fur shed. When you go to sell your fur, please consider selling at the District 11 auction.

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. We can always use help so if you are interested please give Ralph or me a call.

Our next business meeting will be held Thursday, February 21, 2013 at the Conewago Township building in Dauphin County at 7PM. We will review the fur sale and plan some of the activities for the upcoming year.

As we move into a new year, I wish the best for you and yours. Enjoy the holiday season, be safe and have fun! — Mike Spittle, (717) 367-2637, spittlefam@paonline.com

 

DISTRICT 12 REPORT

Hello from the Southeast again. I wish all happy holidays. Hopefully you all were able to get out and punch some steel in the ground. Seemed like many did. Saw a lot of burned circles on the fox line this season so far. Many were complaining of an off fox catch and I’ve been wondering if it’s just due to the increase in fox trappers this year. It’s been a season of a lot of firsts and learning experiences for me. I have enjoyed the ups and downs. A bad day on the line is still better than a good day at work.

It has been relatively quiet across the board from the State. Many of us are rolling in the fields and the woods. There will be a State meeting in January that I will attend and hear about the latest and greatest. Just a reminder that when the cable season opens up, and you get out to use this great tool, be mindful of your surroundings and lawful with their use. We set the standard, strive to excel it. — Rick Ameisen, District #12 Director

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