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
Friends and fellow trappers,
As the monkey said when he stuck his tail in the fan, “I guess it won’t be long now.” November is swiftly approaching and once again we will be out in the forests, fields and streams doing what we do best. The anticipation of another trapping season never grows old to me. I hope it never does.
I have been greatly blessed to be able to incorporate my love for trapping into my work as the Bell County Agriculture and Natural Resources agent with the U.K. Cooperative Extension Service.
This week, I am eyeball deep in preparation for our county farm field day. Steve Pickard always participates as a representative of UTK. Our farm field day is an opportunity for young folks and adults to see some real life aspects of agriculture and natural resource management. Wildlife management and trapping are regular parts of the event.
UTK’s Fall Fling is taking shape nicely and will be well worth your time and effort to attend. Justin Walker, as always, has done a wonderful job organizing the event. There is a good lineup of demos as well as several vendors who will have goods available. Demos will include canine snaring, otter trapping, fur grading, beaver trapping, bobcat trapping, raccoon trapping, trap modification and animal damage control. There will be a white elephant auction on Saturday.
Young folks will have several activities in which to participate. Make plans to come join us and bring a friend or two. Our meets are a great place to be. The atmosphere is always very family friendly.
UTK will soon be making awards from the James W. Ferguson Scholarship Fund. We are working to establish award guidelines and to identify prospective students. We will do our best to honor the intent of the fund. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to assist worthy students in furthering their studies in wildlife management.
I realize that this report is short and I apologize for that. Work interferes with a lot of my plans and this is a very busy time of the year for me. I am not complaining however. When I look around I am thankful to have a job these days. As always, have a blessed day and enjoy life. We only get one chance to live this life. Let’s get it right.
— Stacy J. White
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
This report will be brief. At this time, we are busy preparing the fall newsletter and finalizing plans for the Fall Fling, as well as organizing the interview process for our Scholarship. That, plus Hunter Ed Classes and several upcoming educational events around the state are keeping yours truly and numerous other officers/members busy, busy, busy.
Besides our own members, we will be contacting numerous licensed trappers in the area of the Fall Fling. Our newsletter and membership applications will go into the hands of as many trappers as possible. We are confident this will bring new faces to our meetings and into our organization. We intend to do this each fall and spring, as we move our meetings around the state. This way, we will attract local trappers as new members everywhere we go.
Each year, as trapping season nears, we remind our trappers to trap legally and ethically in order to maintain our good image with the KDFWR, our fellow sportsmen and the general public. Please do your part.
I will see you at the Fall Fling!
— Chet Hayes
DISTRICT 9 REPORT
Hello from the hills in the 9th district again. I am settling in to my new UTK duties as 9th district director and thought I’d touch base with the members about some things we’re doing over here.
We are continuing to attend the hunter safety programs with our trapping message.
Since 10 percent of the questions on the test are about trapping now we should be there to explain what we can to the general hunting public. I find that it’s easiest to talk about trapping during the wildlife identification portion of the course. Be sure to look at the questions and make sure you cover the answers.
On test day, Saturday, we try to do either a skinning demo or I make a dirthole set for the ones in the class that are interested in seeing it. Also remember to take the trapping course sign up sheet from Laura Patton and send it in to her with the names. I see the name list jump on Saturday after they actually see how to catch a predator. We can stay as busy as we’re willing to do.
I received a phone call from USSA the other night concerning the proposed “Czar” nominee for the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. This man is an anti from way back and in fact is an advocate for the animal rights movement and is an anti-hunter that has stated that “we might ban hunting altogether, at least if it’s sole purpose is recreation.”
For him to make this statement, he would have to have the position of hunting not being a wildlife management tool, or trapping for that matter. Guys, without getting too political, you really need to think about who you cast your vote for in the future. That’s all I’ll say here, but will be glad to answer any questions you might have about this either by phone, e-mail or in person. If you read last month’s report from Georgia in the T&PC, it about nails it.
Several states are facing ballot initiatives to ban or severely limit trapping on public ground. I guess it’s only public if you’re not a consumptive user that actually has an active part in managing the resource. Hunters and trappers pay for conservation so never back down or give in to these type of things. Like I stated in one of my last president reports, the next few years will be an especially trying time for us. Be prepared to stand your ground. See you in Smithland.
— Steve Pickard
