United Trappers of Kentucky, Inc., September 2009 Report

President — Stacy J. White, U.K. Cooperative Extension Service, Bell County, 101 Courthouse Square, Pineville, KY 40977; phone: 606-337-2376; cell phone: 606-521-1705; e-mail: sjwhite@email.uky.edu

Vice President — David Kriege Jr., 3513 Cowie Ave., Erlanger, KY 41018-1608; phone: 859-342-8109

Financial Secretary — Dave Dykes, 152 Mapleview Ct., Mt. Washington, KY 40047; phone: 502-538-3290

Executive Director — Chet Hayes, 3951 Neises Rd., California, KY 41007; phone: 859-635-3102; e-mail: lhayes@fuse.net

Membership Options:

• Class A Kentucky trapper including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $25
• Family Membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $35
• Associate Membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $20
• Youth Kentucky trapper including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $15
• Lifetime Class A Kentucky trapper — $250

Complete membership application on first page of association section and send dues to:

UTK, Financial Secretary
Dave Dykes
152 Mapleview Ct., Mt. Washington, KY 40047
502-538-3290

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven Eccl. 3:1. Right now it is gardening season at my house. We have been busy picking beans, cucumbers, squash and onions. The corn and tomatoes will soon be ready too. We have eaten plenty and are canning and freezing the rest for later. Lately, the cool mornings have triggered something deep inside me that carries my thoughts to another season that is just around the corner. If you are truly a trapper, you know exactly what I mean.

This year has flown by for me and there is much to be done before November rolls around. I have dirty traps to clean, supplies to buy and bait to prepare. I will never get it all done, but it sure is fun trying.
UTK has a busy schedule this fall. On Sept. 4, we will participate in the Bell County Farm Field Day.

This is an annual event and the furs and traps are always a hit, especially with the young folks. We will be doing a one day trapping workshop at the Marion County Sportsmen’s Club near Lebanon, KY on Sept. 12. At Fort Boonesboro on Sept. 26 we will be meeting with 800-1,000 boy scouts to give them the basics of trapping. The following weekend, Oct. 2-4, we will have our fall meeting at the Livingston County fairgrounds in Smithland, KY.

Interestingly the Marion County Sportsmen’s Club program came about as a result of the League of Kentucky Sportsmen’s meeting that was held in Williamsburg earlier this year. Steve and Chet met some of the club’s members there and the next thing I know we are on their calendar of events. That is the way it should be. Those of us who truly enjoy our outdoor sports should work together to build stronger alliances to withstand the pressure from the crowd that would like to end all consumptive use of animals.

If you have questions about the program or facilities for our fall meeting, you can call Justin Walker or me. Also, you can go to http://kyboy.proboards.com/index.cgi and join the discussion. I am looking forward to another good meeting and hope everyone can attend and bring a friend or two. We haven’t had a bad meeting, spring or fall, since we began.

As many of you know, there are some new items in the trapping regulations this year that will help us greatly as we enjoy our sport in the future. Take time to acquaint yourself with everything prior to season. I have received calls about the ID # for traps that can be used instead of a name and address. The program to issue these numbers should be in place by October. Hopefully this will give folks time to get tags printed if they choose this option.

Lately I have been talking to a few new trappers about the upcoming season. A couple of them trapped for the first time last year and are eager for this season to start. The excitement that I see in them is refreshing. I encourage everyone to take the time to introduce someone to trapping this season.

Whether you take a young person or an adult on the line with you, it might rekindle some feelings that have been pushed aside due to life’s busy schedule. Until next time, have a blessed day and enjoy life. Don’t forget, you only have one chance to live this life, so get it right.

— Stacy J. White

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Summer is winding down and soon there will be that chill in the air that tells us trapping is soon to follow. Late summer and fall trapping conventions are a good place to stock up on supplies, meet with other trappers, share tips and techniques and “catch the fever.”

The UTK Fall Fling will be held at the Livingston County Fairgrounds Oct. 2-4 with Sunday the 4th being clean-up and farewells. There will be a good schedule of youth activities, demos and seminars along with good food, guest speakers, supply dealers, fundraising and more. We are always looking for new and unusual ideas for activities, including demos, and we encourage each of you to step forward if you have something of interest to share.

Always welcome too, are donations and fundraising support for our auctions which fund our educational and charitable activities throughout the year. To me, personally, it is always inspiring to see the generosity of the UTK membership at each meeting, regardless of economic times. The membership is solidly behind the organization and this is reassuring to the officers and directors.

Justin Walker (270-559-3398) is heading up the Fall Fling and if you would like to do a demo or seminar, help out with activities, etc, he would sure like to hear from you.

Just a few lines here to explain the new trap tag regulation. You can continue to use your name and address on your trap tags, or if you prefer, you can get an I.D. number by calling the KDFWR and providing the required information. At this time, the Information/Education Department of KDFWR is working to finalize the program and that should be in place by or shortly after October 1 in time for this year’s trapping season. If you have further questions contact Laura Patton: 1-800-852-0942 – Ext. 4528

Up here in the 5th District we have been very busy as usual and I’d like to take a moment to thank Oral Jones, Greg Bickel, Robbie Hoover, Dave Kriege, Bob Maurer and Jay Weissman for attending the 7-25 Jakes’s Day in Boone County. This is a large event and UTK has been popular there with youngsters and parents enjoying the trapping display, plus we always skin a critter for them which draws a large crowd. This year Robbie just got the ’coon finished in time before a “frog drowner” rain hit and soaked everyone.

Oral, Greg and Dave also put on a great fish and turtle fry for the 5th District Federation meeting on July 28. The meal was so good even Larry Douglas showed up, along with members of 23 area sportsman’s clubs. Great job guys.

Upcoming events include the Fifth District Federation Fair along with Hunter Ed. Classes, Trapping Weekend, and more.

See you next month.

— Chet Hayes

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