President — Bill Applegate, Box 883, Marfa, TX79843; phone: 432-729-3349; fax: 432-729-3623
Vice President — Dan Hepker, P.O. Box 399, Bastrop, TX 78602; phone: 512-303-1995
Secretary — Deborah Pilgrim, 1323 RR 2341, Burnet, TX 78611; 512-756-4609
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; 512-756-4609
NTA Director — Mark Davis, 11919 CR 1200, Malakoff, TX 75148; phone: 903-681-4230
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 The 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 April issue of the Texas Fur Trails. The Association’s spring rendezvous was held in Jacksonville, April 16-17. The turnout was low but the weather was great and the demos were first class. The ladies and youth activities were a big hit. Thanks to our generous members, the fundraising auction went quite well. Billy Chambliss led another great catfish and frog leg feast for us. This go-around we experienced an additional treat when John and Ritz Linzay jumped the Louisiana state line and fed us boiled crawfish. I had never eaten crawfish before, but gorged myself until I couldn’t put another tail in my mouth.
I truly believed that a severe case of heartburn would follow, but it never happened. John informed me that the red pepper seasoning actually works as an antacid and he has medical studies to back him up. When John pulled in, he was definitely noticed as he was towing a trailer carrying an old, beat-up Ford truck.
I guess those Louisiana guys take a back-up vehicle wherever they go. Many people pitched in to make this rendezvous a wonderful event and we are most grateful to each of you. In October, our rendezvous will be in Junction; contact Dan Hepker if you have any ideas or suggestions for that gathering. Deborah Pilgrim has been appointed to serve as the Association’s secretary.
Make plans now to bring a youngster or two to the 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. Bear in mind that the Association has standing policy disallowing live animals in the building and we will enforce that policy in the future.
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 a 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 at (512) 468-5112 if you have an interest. Members, don’t forget to take advantage of free classified advertising in the Texas Fur Trails.
The Convention of Parties met in March and denied the U.S. request to delist bobcats. Mexico has complete their study on bobcats and determined that they have plenty of bobcats and in places they didn’t even know they had them. However, they did not support our request to delist. The European Union voting block was the killing blow. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies informs me that they now intend to pursue tag elimination for bobcats and river otters with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Consider providing skull samples to Wildlife Services and the Texas Department of Health for rabies testing. This may 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. We really need you to send in something for the magazine; some of us are pretty well tapped out on ideas and stories.
I would really hate to see the quality of the magazine deteriorate, but this is likely to happen if the members don’t help out. Everyone has at least one story of an event that took place during his or her lifetime. After spending a little time in East Texas, I have learned there are some interesting gator catching stories on both sides of the state line. We can use stories from just about anywhere. Dave is willing to work with anything, even a story hand written on toilet paper. He will make sure that all submissions are professionally presented in the magazine.
This really is a growing concern or I would not be begging for materials. If you have any reservations or concerns about sending in something, call Dave or call me and we will do our best to put you at ease. 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 Park 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. Board members will be selling raffle tickets on behalf of the Furbearers Unlimited for chances to win a .308 rifle. Tickets will be limited to 100 and be $20 apiece.
The FBU will share 50% of the profits with the association. Give your officers and district directors a hand and call them up to request a ticket or two. If you have any questions about this offer, contact Mark Davis at (903) 681-4230 and he will gladly answer them.
Fur trappers selling fur out of state need to complete a Fur Trapper Sales Report and deliver it to TPWD. You can get a blank report on line or in the April issue of the Texas Fur Trails. 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
