District 1
Director: Bert Highland
Co-Directors: Frank Brula and Arnie Peterson
District 1 Director of Minnesota Trappers Association
Hello everyone,
District 1 held its spring meeting Friday evening March 12th at the Memorial Building in Hibbing. I introduced my two co-directors, Arnie Peterson of Northome and Frank Brula of Babbitt. I'm proud to have these two individuals on board with me to represent the members of District 1. I would like to give special thanks to my wife "Tweety" for taking care of all the food preparation and serving. Also to President Shawn Johnson, Vice-president Dave D'Aigle, District 4 Director Buzz Neprud, DNR enforcement Captain Ken Soring and DNR Wildlife Researcher John Erb for attending.
Captain Soring explained in detail the co-mingle law and answered many questions. To sum it up if you didn't break any law the co-mingle law doesn't apply to you! Also Captain Soring stated DNR enforcement would like to establish on site validation tagging for bobcat, otter, marten, and fisher. The tags would be user friendly and would be available thru the ELS system.
John Erb talked about last season’s harvest level of our registered species. Bobcat harvest was up, otter were up, and marten were up, but the fisher harvest declined by 30%. He had several ideas why this might have occurred, but nothing concrete yet. He also said we trappers have to get better about not catching incidental otter while spring beaver trapping. Every spring I see conibears set on dam crossovers and small streams fenced off, and set with 330's. To stop using these methods in the spring may lessen the chance of catching otter.
District 1 voted in favor of drooping the proposed extended otter season after learning the beaver season would be shortened. On our other DNR items, we will have the fox/coon season open on the Saturday closest to Oct 15th, but not before. Depending on our input, we will have an expanded section in the small game regulations specifically on trapping regulations, with C.O.'s work area's and contact information. It also sounds like possibly being able to keep incidental muskrats caught after the mink/muskrat closing date with some restrictions.
The topic of allowing non-resident trapping was brought up and a vote was taken. The majority voted to not allow non-resident trapping.
I would like to thank Minnesota Trapline Products, Smokey Red’s Snare Supply, Arnie Peterson and Steve Loch for their generous donations that helped make our raffle a great success. I believe it paid for our gun obligation, food, and building rent, plus a little extra for the MTA!
On March 26th, Co-director Brula and I made the drive to Brainerd to attend District 4's spring meeting. Buzz ran a very good meeting with good attendance.
By the time you read this beaver season will be over, and fishing season in full swing, and gardens will be planted. Coming up fast will be our 51st annual convention in Barnum, July 30th thru Aug 1st. District 1 will have a short meeting at 8:00 am on Saturday July 31st in the grandstands. There is a work schedule posting elsewhere in this newsletter, and I’ll need volunteers for gate and MTA booth duties. Please contact me, Arnie, or Frank if you can help out.
In closing I hope everyone has a safe and happy summer. If you haven't done so already, please consider joining the NTA and FTA. These two organizations work tirelessly everyday to protect our great sport....you won't be sorry you did!
Bert
Co-Director Report
Fran Brula
District 1 Co-Director Minnesota Trappers Association
My first mink crossed my path at age 12. Ever since I have been hooked! When I was really young my dad would have me "ride" in his packsack while he checked his mink traps. He claimed that when I would see "fur" in the trap I would squeeze tightly around his neck. He thought he was being choked. I am now retired from thirty-three years of teaching and I don't stand on the tile covered concrete anymore! My goals as a co-director are to work with directors and co-directors to make this a stronger organization, to increase membership, to improve education for the youth and those re-entering the profession, and to improve communication between all districts!
Frank
Co-Director Report
Arnie Peterson
District 1 Co-Director Minnesota Trappers Association
Our trapping season came to a sad ending with the death of Richard Raeker. He was a trapping legend not only out in the field, but his countless hours of work to help bring the MTA to one of the top trapping organizations in the nation. Prayers and thoughts go out to the family. He is gone, but not forgotten.
Fur prices for the year were better than expected. Them muskrats sure exploded price wise. The fast rise in price of one fur sometimes helps raise the price of others furs. Hope it holds. I always thought a muskrat over $5 was dangerous to hold, but what do I know. I always sell to soon.
Recently I went on a tour of Dark River. This is a DNR project to improve trout fishing on the river. The tour took us to many points of interest. Backhoes will be used to lower stream levels in places. Also roads will be cut down to the stream to put dams in place. Also, DNR wants to kill off all the beaver in Dark River and its tributaries. The beaver and the trout have coexisted for years in the Dark River. Why can’t they keep on? They can be controlled but not killed off entirely. Seems like a waste of money at the expense of our beaver.
Convention time is coming up. If you like to travel, Fur Takers has their convention in Indiana June 10 – 12, and the National convention is in Marshfield, Wisconsin Aug 5-8. That is about as close as it gets without coming here. Our MTA convention is the last weekend in July. Lots of work putting one of these together; district 8 is sponsoring this year’s. Lots of work for everyone. District one members be sure to check what we are scheduled for and what time to show up to work. If you’re looking for something to do check at the MTA booth, and Kathy will find work for you to do. She’s good at that - I know!!
Don’t forget to pick up your incentive traps, and if you know of someone who has traps coming to them, please pick them up. The postage has gotten way too high to mail out the incentive traps.
Have a good summer, catch a lot of fish. It won’t be too long till we can sharpen the skinning knives again.
The ole trapper,
Arnie