President — Bill Applegate, Box 883, Marfa, TX 79843; phone: 432-729-3349; fax: 432-729-3623
Vice President — Dan Hepker, P.O. Box 399, Bastrop, TX 78602; phone: 512-303-1995
Secretary — Ricky Cox, 1329 CR 314, Lexington, TX 78947
Treasurer — Keith Jackson, 306 CR 2717, Alto, TX 75925; phone: 936-675-2047
Membership Administrator — Tasha Jackson, 306 CR 2717, Alto, TX 75925; phone: 936-858-3384
Public Relations Officer — David Pilgrim, 1323 RR2341, Burnet, TX 78611
NTA Director — Mark Davis, P.O. Box 1023, Athens, TX 75751; phone: 903-489-3080
Membership Options:
• Family lifetime (husband & wife) — $300
• Lifetime (payable $25 monthly) — $250
• Lifetime oldtimer (age 70 or over) — $25
• Business membership — $25
• Family membership (2 members) — $20
• Single membership — $15
• Junior membership (under 16) — $5
• 1-year subscription to Trapper & Predator Caller (members only) — $10
Payments for dues are non-refundable.
Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:
TTFHA, Membership Administrator
Tasha Jackson, 306 CR 2717, Alto, TX 75925
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Please be advised that we have new procedures regarding trapping tip submissions and prizes as well as display advertising; look for them in the January issue of the Texas Fur Trails. The Association’s spring rendezvous will be held in Jacksonville next April.
We are always looking for new and interesting ideas to incorporate into our gatherings so do not hesitate to share your thoughts with any board member. Consider bringing a youngster or two to the next rendezvous as well as the entire family; everyone is welcome. The youth are the future of our organization and they must be identified, recruited and trained now to lead the charge when the rest of us have been put out to pasture. I realize how hard it is to interest or motivate people when fur prices are low and that is one reason to focus on nuisance animal work.
Your association has established at Nuisance Animal Control program for its members. The names and contact information of trappers willing to participate are provided to state agencies as well as individuals and companies looking for someone to help them out. We also post this list on our Web site. I have personally received work from this program. Contact Ricky Cox if you have an interest. Members don’t forget to take advantage of free classified and advertising in the Texas Fur Trails.
Joe Shelton is our new District 1 director; his contact information is: PO Box 108, Mobeetie, TX 79061, 806-663-6107. The incumbents in districts 3, 5 and 7 were re-elected for two-year terms. We did not have a huge turnout in Junction last October, but I was pleased to see how at ease everyone seemed to be and the cooperation that everyone demonstrated to make the rendezvous a very enjoyable event.
No news that I am aware of since my last report regarding delisting for bobcats or tag elimination for bobcats or river otters. Texas Parks and Wildlife has not expressed an interest in a state tag. We are most fortunate to have a wildlife agency that acts on science and common sense. Let them know that the trappers of Texas do appreciate the work they do for us.
Consider providing skull samples to Wildlife Services and the Texas Department of Health for rabies testing. This might help us in the future with some of the problems we are experiencing now. Dave Hastings still needs your stories, news, pictures and anything else of interest to keep the Texas Fur Trails first class. Material from all across the country is welcome. He is particularly looking for some Texas photos to be used for the covers of future issues of the magazine. Share your thoughts with any board member regarding what you would like to see our Association accomplish. Many of the achievements we have made are results of membership input.
Texas Parks and Wildlife did not hold an expo in 2009 and I have been told it will not take place in 2010 either due to low participation. Our Association has derived quite a bit of our operating income from this event. We now must look for other income sources to restore a sufficient income level. The Board has approved a raccoon pelt drawing, which allows entrants a chance to win money as well.
You can donate several pelts if you like. Following are the rules: No less than 29 inches stretched and dried, no less than grade I or II, five entries maximum per person, cut off date is Jan. 31, 2010, each pelt donated will be a separate entry, green raccoon pelts will be accepted and processed by Mark Davis, all raccoons received after the cut off date will be disqualified, all entries will be inspected, unqualified entries will be returned or submitted for the next drawing, the winning name will be drawn at the fall rendezvous, drawing proceeds will be split 50 percent with the winning name drawn and 50 percent to the TTFHA, donated pelts will be sold to Texas buyers if possible.
Please consider entering in this drawing; your participation would be most appreciated and help the association cover its operating expenses. Contact Mark Davis with any questions you might have or to schedule delivery of green or dried pelts; his phone number is 903-681-4230.
I will be tagging bobcats again this year, so contact me if you need ’cats tagged. If you are ready to help out with promoting and preserving trapping, let us know. We would like to put your unique talents to work for the benefit of all and future generations.
— Bill Applegate
