President — Rod Zullinger, 4886 Raccoon Valley Rd., Millerstown, PA 17062; phone: 717-589-7594; e-mail: rodz@tricountyi.net
Vice-President East — Joel Whitehead, RR #2 Box 90, Thompson, PA 18465; e-mail: JFRED@nep.net
Vice-President West — Ned Weston, 120 Swope Rd., West Sunbury, PA 16061; phone: 724-894-2239; e-mail: Nweston@netzero.net
Secretary — Tereasa Houtz, 300 Flint Ln., Landisburg, PA 17040; e-mail: PTASecretary@paonline.com
Treasurer — Ed Price, P.O. Box 327, Union Dale, PA 18470; phone: 570-679-2318; e-mail: pricee@nep.net
Editor — Russ Ford, 309 Pine Dale Rd., Carlisle, PA 17013; phone: 717-249-7271; fax: 717-249-8509; e-mail: ptaeditor@pa.net
FTA Director — Mark Kasten, RR 2 Box 2287, Hallstead, PA 18822; phone: 570-278-2553;
e-mail: willsher@epix.net
NTA Director — David Shuttleworth, 5452 Tamarack Drive, Sharpesville, PA 16150; phone: 724-962-4260; e-mail: Dianeshutts@aol.com
Public Relations Director — Mike Gontar, 87 West 7th St., Jim Thorpe, PA 18229; phone: 570-325-4974; fax: 570-325-4974; e-mail: FuFiGa@msn.com
Membership Options:
Individual membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $25
Individual membership without subscription — $10
Junior, age 16 and under without subscription — $5
Lifetime membership with subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $300
Lifetime membership without subscription — $100
Complete membership application on first page of
association section and send dues to:
PTA Treasurer
Ed Price
P.O. Box 327, Union Dale, PA 18470
http://www.patrappers.com
EDITOR’S REPORT
Twas the day before Christmas and not a single critter is stirring on my line. As has been for the last few weeks.
With a late and limited line being put out this year, I only can surmise at this time that I’ll be leaving plenty of seed stock for next year. This season so far has been a trying hard one to keep a line up and running. At least for me, it has, and probably many of you too! Rain, sleet, snow and ice have been the norm around these here parts. Along with a small mass crop in my beloved mountains, the grinners and bandits are, to say the least, very limited.
Even though the catch is meeker compared to some past years and the enjoyment somewhat diminished too, I am still slugging it out and stilling trying to run a line.
Even though I am sure that my fur check will more than likely not even cover my cost, I am not going to gripe about it. In fact, I am pleased to be able to play and work this game.
Also, one very happy fact about this year is that I continue to learn more and better ways for to run a line. This year, I have experimented with some new types of sets as well as some new “home brewed” ’coon and ’possum lures. The new sets are more or less just as productive as my old ones, but the new brews have really surpassed my best hopes for them. For the past three years, I have stumbled across two very cheap and common things that seem to be just the cake for me.
Now one of these “brews” is better than the other as to “drawing and holding power.” And the really good news is it can be bought for less than $20 for a 50-pound bag. This bag will make (after mixing) enough lure to last me at least 10 or more years. And believe me, I am not stingy when applying lure, as my type of trapping requires using lots of lure.
Another good bonus is, no bait is needed thus lowering costs and steps for making sets.
No, I am not going to put this lure in print, but if you see me, ask me about it and I will happily share it with you.
Well, here we are into another new year, With no doubt in my mind that YOUR PTA will remain quite proactive in what does or may effect our sport. Along with the future “Trappers Home” there will be other important issues that we will be facing. My prediction is simply this: No matter what the we face, we will succeed and endure. With all of you helping along the way we can and we will get it done. Over the past years, many good things have come into play. These many things were possible because you wanted them to be. Anything and everything is there if we all strive to reach it. REACH HIGH!
This year is an election year for your board and probably some DDs.
I know there will be a few spots open on the board so this may be the year you might want to try your hand at helping to do the will of our members. If you think you can help to serve us all please throw your hat in the ring.
As for myself I have thought long and hard as to remaining your editor. I have come to the conclusion that I still have things to say and to work for. Therefore with your support I will once again run for PTA/EDITOR. Now if I am elected this tern will give me 10 years as the editor. That’s a lot of words to put in print. So, it may mean that after this new term is over, I might probably not seek to make it 12 years. Perhaps one of you might start thinking ahead of time for trying out your fingers at this desk. Think about it anyway.
Enjoy what you have! Enjoy what you’ll be dealt! Enjoy this 2009!
THANKS!
— Russ Ford
NTA DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Hello to all.
I hope everybody had a great holiday season.
I have been working with Dan Shurski and Charlie Sykes on the 2009 NE Regional Convention. The convention will be held at the Warren County Fair grounds in Pittsfield, Penn., on May 8, 9 and 10. District 1 has had several state conventions at the fairgrounds, which will make things run a lot smoother.
The convention is starting to come together nicely, but there is still a lot of work to be done. We will need volunteers. If you would like to volunteer, please let me know. Any amount of time would be a great help. I would like to thank Charlie and the guys from District 1 that have already started working on this with me. I will be in contact with more people in the near future. I will try to keep everybody posted on any new information that comes along.
Information will also be available on the NTA Web site. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
— Dave Shuttleworth
ELECTION CHAIRMAN REPORT
The Pennsylvania Trappers Association will hold an election during the State Rendezvous from June 19 through June 21 to fill the offices of President, Vice President-East, Vice President-West, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, Public Relations Direction, NTA Director and FTA Director.
Anyone interested in having their name on the ballot for this election should forward their resume to Charlie Sykes via e-mail at trapper_66@alltel.net or via U.S. Mail at: 1265 Airport Road, Stoneboro, PA 16153-1807. Resumes must be received no later than March 1, 2009, in order for your name to be published on the ballot.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Charlie via e-mail or phone. Phone (724) 866-4286.
DISTRICT 1 REPORT
Hello Members,
I hope your holiday seasons were great and that the time spent with your family was all that you wanted it to be.
District 1 will be working with the NTA on a Regional Convention to be held in Pittsfield, Penn. from May 8 to May 10. Dave Shuttleworth is our NTA Director and needs all the help that he can get with this project. If Dave has called you for help, please respond to him. If he hasn’t asked for your help and you are available, please contact him at 724-962-4260. Whether it be for an hour, a day or the whole convention, every bit of time will be a great help.
Derrick Cross is still looking for fur to be donated for the HTE classes. Please contact him at 814-664-0873.
The next gun raffle meeting will be held on Feb. 22 at King’s Family Restaurant in Meadville, Penn. at 2:30 p.m. If you don’t have your sponsor forms or your gun raffle tickets, contact Jim or Donna Murphy at 814-382-2561.
By now, I’m sure you are well underway at slaying those flattails and I wish you the best of luck.
God Bless.
— Charlie Sykes
DISTRICT 2 REPORT
We will have our Fur Sale on Saturday, Feb. 21,2009. It will be at Burnt Ridge Hunting Club in Cowansville, Penn. off of Rt. 268, West of Kittanning. (see ad) Laurel Conservation Club of Laurel High School will have a Sportsman’s Night Out. It will be on Friday night, Feb. 28, 2009. The Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. A few of our members will be manning a table again this year. Thank you Ken, Lon, and Jeff.
The PTA will be coming out with a Canine Book, shortly. It will have 20 some articles in it. It will have authors from around the state, covering red and grey fox and coyotes. The books articles cover sets that can be used anywhere, the use of traps, CR’s, lure, fur handling and more.
For more info, call Greg at 724-224-2197.
DISTRICT 5 REPORT
My trapping season is progressing at an amazing pace and I can’t believe it is almost over and the small amount of fur I have in the freezer. I shouldn’t complain as I harvested a Pennsylvania black bear that had an estimated live weight of 150 pounds field dressed, a 7-point buck and was able to be with my nephew when he harvested his first deer. I was fortunate enough to spend many days in the woods this year and thoroughly enjoyed myself. The bobcats still elude me, but it’s not over yet.
The fur sale/auction will be held on Feb. 8, 2009, at the 4H building at Bedford. This sale helps support the district and I encourage everyone to bring your fur to be sold at the auction.
Planning is already started for the 2009 state convention that District 5 will be hosting. I encourage everyone to get involved and help out if you can. This will be the 72nd Annual Pennsylvania Trappers Association Rendezvous and it is being held at the Cambria County Fair Grounds in Ebensburg, Penn. on June 18 to 21, 2009. Gates will open Wednesday, June 17, 2009, at noon to allow dealers and tailgaters to set-up displays.
Dealer Contact Information: Art Crossman: 471-7565. Advertising contact: Pat Wess 347 Elbert Street Johnstown, PA 15904 (814) 262-9455. Informational updates will be posted on the Pennsylvania Trappers Association Web site at www.patrappers.com.
Convention planning meetings are under way and the next two scheduled meetings are Jan. 19 and March 19 at 6 p.m. at Gander Mountain.
Please feel free to contact Pat Wess at 814-262-9455, Todd Harteis at 814-547-0076 or myself at 814-686-0497 or bdstern@atlanticbb.net with any information you would like to see in this report or any questions you might have.
Thanks for reading.
— Brian Stern
DISTRICT 7 REPORT
The District 7 fur sale was held on Dec. 21 with four buyers and 23 lots of fur.
Upcoming events:
Fur auction — Jan. 21 at Washingtonville, four percent commission.
District 7 will have a booth at the Early Bird Sports show at Bloomsburg from Jan. 22 to Jan. 25. If you can help on these days please contact me at 570-437-2679.
We will have a booth at the Icebreaker show at Milton on Feb. 20 and Feb 21. — Pete Rake
DISTRICT 9 REPORT
The season for most trappers is probably over, especially since some of us found out the prices on pelts. Thank goodness for low gas prices. As you might guess, my answer is “it’s only a hobby, not a living today.”
The prices from our Dec. 13 sale go like this, average prices:
Coyote — $15.20
Red Fox — $12.20
Gray Fox — $19.96
Raccoon — $8.90
Mink — $7.92
Muskrats — $3.09
Opossum — $1.59
Deer skins — $3.00/high
Ginseng — $350.00/lb.
Our big event will be coming at the end of the month, our Northeast Regional Coyote Hunt. I’m anxious to see how well we make out this year.
Numerous events have requested our district to participate this coming year and if any of you have time to give us a hand and help out, please call.
I am disappointed in the response to get river otter spore for testing. We have someone who will do the study if we get a good sampling. It seems that most don’t want to help our cause to get a season established. Some say, “What does the Association do for me?” and they pass on helping the cause. We need more people to get involved. I’m not sure how you will react with this type of economy for the future. We need to keep a positive outlook.
Enough for now.
— Bill K.
