http://www.wistrap.org

President — Virgil Schroeder, 3471 Earlwyn Road, Cottage Grove, WI 53527; 608-764-5218;
virjo4t@msn.com

Vice President — Scott Zimmerman, W9209 Bobolink Rd, Reeseville, WI 53579; 920-927-3420

Secretary — Shawn Bazile, N11950 Cty Rd E, Tigerton, WI 54486; 715-881-0707; sundrop9@frontiernet.net

Bookkeeper & Membership Assistance — Steven Van PO Box 305, Oregon, WI 53575; 888-601-8727, Ext 105; accounting@wistrap.org

NTA Director — Scott McAuley, 621 13th street south, Wisconsin rapids WI 54494; 715-323-8955; gov-trap@hotmail.com

Sergeant at Arms — Doug Gorst, 3941 Cty Rd. E, Pittsville, WI 54466; 715-884-6452

Trapper Ed Coordinator — Nicke Shumaker, P.O. Box 28, Caroline, WI 54928; 715-754-2121; wctep@mwwb.net

Correspondence Course Director — Mike Widner, 1P.O. Box 26, Boscobel, WI 53805; 608-356-3621; muskrat_mike@yahoo.com

Historians — Mary Cassidy & Larry Vanderhoef; W 10513 County Road P, Plainfield, WI 54966; 715-366-2453

Web Site Coordinator — Brent Straka, 7936 Cty A, Lancaster, WI 53813: 608-732-3548

Future Trappers of Wisconsin President — Maegan Loka, W4260 Spring Creek Dr, Tomahawk, WI 54487; 715-453-4223; ftwpres@wistrap.org

Future Trappers of Wisconsin Coordinators — Dan and Nicke Shumaker, FTW, P.O. Box 28, Caroline, WI 54928; 715-754-2121; email: wctep@frontier.com

 

Membership Options:

• Three-year individual membership without Trapper & Predator Caller — $80

• Individual membership with Trapper & Predator Caller — $30

• Individual membership without Trapper & Predator Caller — $15

• Junior (under 17) with Trapper & Predator Caller — $15

• Family Membership with Trapper & Predator Caller — $30

• Lifetime membership (under 65) with Trapper & Predator Caller — $500

• Lifetime membership (over 65) with Trapper & Predator Caller — $300

• Husband and wife lifetime membership with Trapper & Predator Caller — $600

• Future Trappers of Wisconsin membership (under age 19) without Trapper & Predator Caller — FREE

 

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

WTA

P.O. Box 305, Oregon, WI 53575-0305

 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Hello Wisconsin Trappers,

Another trapping season has begun. I hope all you trappers out there are having a good time. Some trappers are reporting a less than average raccoon catch but for now it’s a little too early to tell.

The wolf season in the state of Wisconsin is going surprisingly well and I’m very happy for the trappers that first of all got a tag, and then ended up with a wolf catch. We’ll see if the DNR is correct in the possibility that the season could end early as the number of wolves bagged so far is ahead of scheduled predictions.

The October Board of Directors Meeting went well and was also well attended. Hats off to District 9 for hosting a great meeting with good facilities.

There are meetings scheduled that will affect the right to trap in public parks and recreation areas. I attended one, and more meetings are scheduled throughout the state. While attending meetings such as this I am reminded that not all of the residents of Wisconsin are hunters and trappers. In fact there are many that would love to end trapping completely. It is so important to be aware of and adhere to the state trapping regulations. So trap smart. Ask permission. Follow good trapping policy. Stay safe. — Virgil Schroeder

 

CONVENTION REPORT

FTA CONVENTION 2013

The WTA will be hosting the Fur Takers of America annual convention the last week of June 2013, at the Marshfield Fairgrounds. We will need to have the grounds set up on Tuesday of that week for all of the inside vendors, tailgate vendors and camping. We will start bringing in the vendors and the campers on Wednesday. The show opens to the public on Thursday and runs through Sunday noon.

I hope that the members of the WTA will volunteer as much time as they possibly can to make themselves proud of putting on as great an event as they did for the NTA. We wowed everyone then and I would really hope we can do it again. Get a hold of your district director and let that person know the days and times you can help. We plan on having the shuttles running for this out to the parking areas.

I would like to have a raffle for the volunteers with the volunteers getting a raffle ticket for every four hours they work. I was thinking of a large flat screen T.V. and maybe ten other prizes or gift certificates. Come to the Spring meeting if you can and let me know what you think of this type of prizes for the volunteers.

The host hotel will be the Holiday Inn in Marshfield and they are blocking rooms for the convention. They also plan on linking to the FTA website so people can reserve online.

I will be putting more information out as we get closer.

 

WTA CONVENTION

WTA 50th Anniversary fall Convention 2013

Everything that I stated for the FTA convention applies to this convention as well. We believe this will be a large event as well. We plan on having a 50th anniversary trap for the auctions at both events as well as a couple of other special items.

We set up on Wednesday for this convention and tear down on Sunday.

I really would like some more of our members to help out their fellow members so everyone can enjoy the convention equally. Please contact your district director or myself. I am looking forward to working with you.

Thank you. — Chris Bezio

 

RAFFLE REPORT

We got off to a late start with the 2012 raffle not getting it out until June was a little of a setback. Although it was a late start we did well the raffle had great presales and good response at the rendezvous in Marshfeild we had a 19% return on our investment. This was the first time I have run the state raffle and it was a good experience to have the privilege of helping the WTA in such a meaningful way. We had one gun that we had to buy back the rest of the prizes seemed to be what people wanted, in 2013 we are going to change the raffle up some to appeal to more none trapping public, we want to make it easier and more appealing for our members to sell our raffle to their non-trapping friends. The funding for the WTA to do business, , fight trap restrictions, promote our association to the non-trapping public, recruit new members, and sponsor youth camps comes from the Fall Raffle, Fall Rendezvous, and Spring Banquet. Keeping this in mind it would be nice to find ways of funding our organization from other sources outside of the trapping world. Trapper is our biggest supporter’s and so it should be we are the ones that benefit from our fundraising and we Thank you for your support!

2012 WTA Fall Raffle Winners

Grand Prize 2012 Polaris ATV and Trailer – Al Rice

1st Prize: AR-15 – Andy Mechlenberg

2nd Prize: Remington 750, 30-06 – Goerge Geurts

3rd Prize: ½ Beef – Don Beirmann

4th Prize: Springsfeild XDM .45 – Smileys Kitchen and Pizzaria / Cheryl

5th Prize: Browning BPMS 10 gauge – Krista Loewen

6th Prize: Ruger Single Six 22 – Krista Loewen

7th Prize: Savage 30-06 stainless – Eric Sillars

8th Prize: Wittness 40 S&W – Jeff Ewer

9th Prize: ½ Hog – Chris Shore

10th Prize: Ruger 10/22 take down – Jason Wilz

 

MEETING REPORT

Friday Oct. 5, 2012 Meeting With Barron County Officials on signs prohibiting trapping.

On Friday 10/05/12 at Approx. 9:00am, Dean Gullickson from Dist.2 of the Wisconsin Trappers Association and Dave Louis Dist. 2 Director of the Wisconsin Trappers Association (WTA) met with three officials from Barron County at the old Barron County Court House in Barron WI… The three officials were Jeffrey French County Administrator, John Cisek County Forester and Steve Olson County Buildings and Grounds Supervisor. Dave Louis had requested the meeting because of signs posted on Barron County Forest Property prohibiting trapping.

The meeting started with introductions and Dave Louis stating the problem. The County Administrator said they had posted signs suggesting trappers stay away from trails. Dean Gullickson asked if a County Ordinance or Policy had been created. The County Administrator said there was no ordinance or policy. The signs were just a suggestion. Dean Gullickson asked what the wording on the signs said? The County Administrator said the signs read, “No Trapping within 50 feet of trail.” Dean Gullickson commented that most people would not read such a sign as a suggestion. Gullickson asked what had precipitated the creation of the signs. The County Administrator said a dog had been killed on County Forest Property in a Conibear Trap. The dog was a black lab. Gullickson asked if there were any other incidents. After discussion the County Officials said there was only the one. The County Administrator said the incident had been reported to the DNR Biologist in the area whose first name is Kevin. The County Officials said they were informed by the DNR Official that the trap had been legally set. Dave Louis asked if the dog was under control of the owners at the time of the incident. After a short discussion by the County Officials they agreed there was some question on that issue. Dean Gullickson said that it was a shame that the dog died. He said that it was his experience that in the cases he was aware of where dogs were caught in Conibear style traps, the dogs had suffocated. Unfortunately if the owner would have had the knowledge to turn the trap to open the air way the dog would have survived. Dave Louis had distributed to pieces of literature to the County Officials. One was the DNR publication on safe use of the Conibear style trap. The other was on how to release a dog from a Conibear style trap. Dave Louis then explained the publications to the County Officials. After the explanation of the publications the County Officials agreed that such information made available to the public would be very useful.

Gullickson asked the County Officials how WTA could help them with this issue. The County Administrator asked what WTA would like to see. Gullickson said he would like to see the existing signs removed and replaced with a more appropriate sign. Gullickson then explained the following documents to the County Officials. Gullickson cited Wisconsin Constitution Article 1 section 26 the right to Hunt, Fish and trap; Statute 29.083 on interference with lawful trapping; Statute 895. The exemption of liability to Counties for allowing outdoor activities on their property; Statute 29.014 the rule making authority of DNR and Statute 15.34 DNR and the Conservation Congress and rule making process.

Dave Louis at the request of the County Administrator then gave them the names of their Conservation Congress Delegates. Gullickson informed the County Officials that in his opinion their existing sign could precipitate a law suit or other charges against the County. Gullickson asked if the signs could be taken down. The County Administrator said the signs would be taken down. The Administrator asked what wording should be placed on the new signs. It was agreed that something advising people that Trapping was allowed on the property would work. Dave Louis, Dean Gullickson and Steve Olson after the meeting, worked out the following wording for the signs, “Attention pet owners- others, Trapping, Hunting and Fishing on these properties.” The County Administrator asked if WTA would split the cost of the new signs with Barron County. Dave Louis said he thought WTA would do that. The County Administrator asked if a 50/50 split would work. Dave Louis said that was O.K… The County Administrator asked if they could get the tri-fold publication to put at the gates for the public. He requested 50 publications. Dave agreed to get the publications. Gullickson suggested that an Eagle Scout project be sought to put up a post with the tri-fold inside a box. These boxes could be placed at trail heads. All agreed this was a good idea and Dave Louis had contact with the local scouts and would make contact with them. The County Administrator agreed to post the tri-fold information on the Counties web page and to put it on his weekly radio program. He offered the use of the County building for trapper education courses and other trapper instruction. Gullickson asked if the Administrator thought a presentation to the Buildings and Grounds Committee on the Tri-fold on how to release a dog/pet from a Conibear was in order. The Administrator said he did not think it would be required unless they requested one. He did not think they would at this time.

The meeting was adjourned in a spirit of cooperation and thank you was exchanged. — Report of: Dean Gullickson WTA Dist. 2 participant

 

DISTRICT 2 REPORT

Hello D2 we had a good fall state rendezvous, I would like to thank all from our district that took time to volunteer and help. We have been working on our summer rondy for the district we have most of the raffle taken care of, and the location (New Auburn Park, in New Auburn, WI) about half way between Eau Claire and Rice Lake on US 53. Thinking because we have to rent the park for two days we might as well have a two day rendezvous I am thinking 6am vender set up and 12pm-8pm Friday June 7 and 8am-3pm Saturday June 8th. We can have demos both days we will still have our chicken dinner on Saturday and drawing at the end of the event. I spoke with Stan and it sounds like district 1 will be doing their own rendezvous in there district later in the summer, I will update more latter as I do not have all the details. Hoping many from our area can make it to theirs as well. If there is any in our district that has any interest in our rendezvous we sure could use the help in getting it put together, get in touch with district director Dave Louis at the 800 number listed on the WTA page our in our WTA magazine, E-mail trapperdave22@hotmail.com

In early September it was brought to my attention that trails in Barron Co. had posted signs stating (No Trapping within 50 feet of Trails) I contacted the county and got some information about this and scheduled a meeting with the county to address this issue. We are very fortunate to have Dean Gullickson in our association he accompanied me to this meeting and was invaluable as a representative of the WTA. The full report of this meeting is posted on another page in this publication, (Friday October 5 -2012 Meeting with Barron County Officials on signs prohibiting trapping.) If you see mister Gullickson around be sure to thank him for his help. Trap Ed has been huge around the district and state this year I would like to thank all our district 2 instructors, for all the time you donate and representing trappers so well.

We will be having our 2013 winter meeting on Saturday February 16th at Trapper Arts in Cornell, WI at 10am. We will have a round table discussion from 9:40am.-10am., with the regular meeting at 10am. lunch and door prizes to follow. Some agenda items will be, help organizing the summer rendezvous and volunteers, new raffle coordinator, distribution of raffle tickets, secretary?, trapper ed. concerns, fund raising efforts, donation for the state spring banquet, donation to other events, what role do our county representatives want?, Is there someone better to be director?, and how we can better engage our less active and potential new members.

I have been contacted by a student from the University of Stevens Point that is doing research on Gray Fox. Jeremy is looking for carcasses that are skinned and frozen, if you are interested in helping with this just freeze your carcasses in paper bags and bring them to our winter meeting I will arrange for him to get them from me afterwards.

Great trappers come from D-2. — District Director Dave Louis

 

DISTRICT 5 REPORT

Hi. I hope that the hot weather wasn’t too hard on all the furbearers. I wish to thank all the people that helped with the auction on Friday night at Marshfield. We had a good turnout and raised about $6,000 for the WTA. THANKS TO ALL THAT HELPED. District Five is having a winter meeting on Jan.18, 2013 at the Trempealeau Archers Club House on Wagner Road just north of Trempealeau WI. The meeting will start around 2 pm and a pot luck meal to follow. We will have a Chinese auction and need some items. Please feel free to bring something that would go in the auction. The summer rendezvous was moved to June 8, 2013 at Fall Creek, WI. We want to have a lot of input on how we should rotate the summer rendezvous between Fall Creek and Galesville. The WTA is having the spring meeting and banquet on March 9, 2013. I hope to have a great turnout from Dist. 5. Hope to see everyone at the winter meeting on Jan 18, 2013.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Jim and Barb Gordon. — Jim Gordon, District Director

 

DISTRICT 8 REPORT

First and foremost I want to thank all of the members of districts 8 and 10 that helped with our demo area this year. We had many full house demos this year and I do want to thank everyone that helped with the demo area and working with our presenters.

I also want to thank our district members for helping out at the rondy in many other areas where your service was needed and appreciated. I talked to several vendors and they indicated they had a good show. Our demo area was filled most times so I feel we had a good show. A successful show is a nice outcome for all the work and planning that goes into putting on a show with a couple thousand attendees and dozens of vendors and dozens of volunteers. We are really blessed that the Marshfield Fair Grounds Staff is great to work with and very helpful. I also want to put a plug in for Schalow’s Nursery. They are great to work with and have been with the WTA since we moved to Marshfield.

We had a successful rendezvous this last May. We were able to purchase some items at the fall rondy that we can raffle off at future events. District 8 also won the FBU gun and we now have another great prize to raffle off.

At the fall annual meeting the membership voted to change our official publication from the current Trapper & Predator Caller to the Trappers Post Magazine. We will be starting that transition this November. At the present time we will be making no changes to our WTA magazine other than maybe fewer pages unless reports and needed rules and regulation issues cause the size of the magazine to increase in size.

We held our WTA BOD meeting on October 13th. At this meeting we discussed many significant issues and passed some significant motions that we hope will be helpful in some areas. Please review the minutes of that meeting in this issue. As a member of the personnel and finance committee I will be working with a handful of other members this fall and early winter to put together a detailed budget that the general membership will discuss and vote on in March.

There will not be a Conservation Day in Chilton again this year. Our next event will be our winter annual meeting at Maribel. Please note that we will have another fur auction again this year. More details will be mailed to you via letter in early December. Please consider saving some pelts to sell at our auction as having more fur will be helpful in encouraging more buyers to come and bid on your fur. Note the ad in this issue promoting our fur sale and the coyote classic contest hosted by the Maribel Sports Men’s Club. Sign up and see if you can win. Last year a district 8 member won both the fox and the coyote divisions. I have not heard if from the Kewaunee County 4-H leaders regarding our presentations in February but I will report that when I get the information.

Mark your calendars for June 27, 28 and 29. Those are the days that the WTA will host the FTA National Convention at Marshfield. Districts 8 and 10 will be leading the setup and managing of the demo area for this event also. We can use volunteers starting as early as Tuesday or Wednesday of that week and all the days of the show as well. Save some vacation days and support the WTA and the FTA. The FTA has successfully launched some very successful trapping footage that is being shown on selected TV audiences throughout the USA. We are pleased to host their convention and help them provide the media with good footage showing the value, virtue and tradition of trapping and trappers.

Our district has some work to do and we can talk about this at our winter meeting. We have 9 dozen traps donated by various vendors and districts and NAFA has donated 12 Fur Handling DVDs. We need 3 a few more dozen traps and some other materials and 12 totes so we can deliver these totes full of traps and information this June. I will have a complete article on this venture and name all the donators in the spring issue.

Remember save some days in late June to help at the FTA in Marshfield. I have made contact with several FTA officials on getting our demo line up started. I hope we can help the WTA and the FTA and have a big crowd at their national this year.

I am experiencing some serious health related issues and have been getting a lot of tests completed with a variety of results and more uncertainty. I am in the process of outlining the duties of the district director’s job and the other positions incase my ability to serve in those capacities is needs to come to an end.

Today was the opening day of trapping season and I was setting for coon even though the market is saying not to. I don’t know how much time for trapping I will have later as more tests are coming up on the 30th and November 8th so I am trapping when I can.

Here is a quote from Aldo Leopold I like to reference. “As the deer fears the wolf so does not the mountain lie in fear of the deer? — Bryce Larson

 

DISTRICT 9 REPORT

Trapping season is underway and I hope everyone is off to a good start.

Our next District 9 meeting is Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at Trader’s Bar & Grill at 6147 Highway 14, Arena, WI 53503 (Phone 608-588-3622, www.tradersbarandgrill.biz on the web). Trader’s is located on the north side of Highway 14, just east of the Wisconsin River bridge. We will hold our District 9 elections at this meeting.

After our meeting, we will hang around, talk smart and order some lunch from Trader’s. We will also have door prizes and some raffle items to win! We would appreciate if members can bring a door prize or raffle item to contribute. Everyone is welcome, and it’s been nice to start seeing some new and returning members joining us for meetings.

If you would like to be added to our District 9 email list, or if your email address needs to be updated, please send your current email address to me at phrzim@yahoo.com and I will update my email list. I will also be happy to send copies of our meeting minutes out to you as well. Email is our quickest and cheapest way to get information out to those of you who have access to computers, so please take advantage of it if you can! If you would like to reach me by phone, you can also call me via the WTA phone system at (888) 601-8727 ext 209. That toll-free number transfers directly to my home phone.

Have a fun, safe and successful trapping season! — Patrice Rhodes, District 9 Director

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