Tanned Fur Project - Minnesota Trappers Association

Tanned Fur Project Coordinator

          -- Click here for list of people willing to process fur for this project.

           

            

Tim Caven

7444 County Rd 27

Pennock, MN  56279

(320) 599-4176

info@mntrapline.com

June 2019 Report

MTA TANNED FUR PROJECT REPORT

Recent donations to the MTA Tanned Fur Project came from the following generous members and Conservation Officers:

TRAPPERS:

Linden Anderson – 3 Raccoon, 1 Beaver

Walt Gessler – 1 Mink

Steve Ruchti – 1 Coyote, 1 Beaver, 1 Muskrat

Dennis Zacharius – 1 Tanned Beaver

Steve Bayman – 2 Otter, 1 Raccoon

Jeff Holmer – 1 Beaver

Don McGaffey – 1 Mink

Bert Highland – 5 Muskrat, 3 Grey Fox, 2 Mink

Frank Brula – 1 Grey Fox and $100 towards our tanning bill

Al Dietz Jr. – 1 Muskrat

Gary Jorgensen – 3 Beaver

Ray Honnold – 5 Muskrat, 4 Mink

Donald Sherek – 1 Otter

Bill Kinnear – 4 Beaver

Dan Croke – 3 Beaver

Dennis Udovich – 1 Pine Marten

Tom Marks – 7 Raccoon, 2 Opossum, 1 Muskrat

Brian Fischer – 22 Muskrat, 6 Raccoon, 3 Red Fox

Leon & Denise Windschitl – 4 Grey Fox, 4 Beaver, 2 Opossum, 1 Mink

Steve Urban – 1 Red Fox

Doug Abel and Doug Padgett – 10 Raccoon, 1 Coyote

Jim Ojanen – 2 Ermine, 1 Raccoon, 1 Muskrat

Isaac Hahn – 2 Raccoon

Jeff Bussler – 1 Raccoon, 1 Red Fox, 1 Mink

Cumberland Family (Northwest Trappers Supply) – 5 Muskrat, 4 Opossum, 3 Mink, 2 Raccoon

Rick Olson – 3 Red Fox, 3 Muskrat, 1 Bobcat, 1 Mink, 1 Skunk

Butch Herzberger – 10 Beaver

Derek Wiese – 3 Beaver

Rob Caven – 1 Silver Fox, 1 Cross Fox

Duane Schmitz – 2 Beaver

Scott Gustafson – 6 Beaver

Eric Maijala – 4 Beaver

In Memory of Arnie Peterson – 5 Cross Fox

CONSERVATION OFFICERS:

Officer Tom Sutherland – 3 Otter, 2 Fisher

Officer Mark Fredin – 1 Bobcat, 1 Fisher

Officer Mark Hopkins – 2 Otter

Lt. Dan Thomasen – 1 Fisher

Officer Matt Frericks – 1 Bobcat

Officer Tricia Plautz – 5 Otter, 1 Muskrat

Officer Demo Regas – 2 Otter

Officer Andrew Goodman – 1 Otter

Officer Scott Staples – 1 Mink

Officer Chris Vinton – 1 Otter

I just returned from Toronto after attending the North American May/June Fur Auction. I needed some items for myself which didn’t necessarily include the top lot of beaver but they followed me back to Minnesota anyway. It appears that Nancy will get a new sheared beaver jacket and a nice warm blanket for next winter. I also picked up a great variety of wolves, wolverine, lynx, arctic fox, etc. for the MTA to have for sale and show at future fairs and sporting events. These more exotic pelts help attract the public to our MTA booths where we are able to educate them to the truths of trapping and the fur industry. There were a few more buyers in Toronto from the Ukraine and Russia than last year but still a very small number compared to 2013-2014. There was a large contingent of buyers from China at the sale but they had low limits on what they were willing to pay for raccoon. Let’s hope that the Russians get back into the wild fur market soon.

Back in early March the MTA attended the Deer Classic and Turkey Expo at the St. Paul State Fairgrounds. Tom Miranda was the keynote speaker and graciously donated his booth space to the MTA. The weather could not have been much worse and the crowd reflected it. I drove back and forth Friday and Sunday and a 5 hour round trip drive turned into 8-10 hours that weekend. Thank you to the many volunteers that showed up to help man the booth. Andy and Karen Shoemaker were there from start to finish as was Greg Flor. Again, thank you to the many MTA members that stepped up to help.

Now that school is out I will have a chance to work on our many traveling fur sets and get them spruced up before late August when they will be in high demand once again. I’m also working on our fur collections that go to many county fairs in July and August. Please let me know a couple weeks in advance of any fairs or shows that you are going to attend. I keep a calendar of events in hopes that we can supply everyone with what they need.

Thank you to all the folks that have stepped forward to process fur for the Tanned Fur Project, this has been a tremendous help. As fall approaches remember that we can always use skunk and opossum so if they are of decent quality save them for the MTA. With fox, mink, and beaver being low in price at the present time those are good items to donate. We have ran out of red, grey, and fox squirrel pelts with the tails on if any of you squirrel hunters can save a few please.

I’m looking forward to seeing all of you at the summer convention in Redwood Falls. It won’t seem like a summer convention without being able to sit and visit with Arnie Peterson, Al Dietz, and Gerald Bue. You all are missed and your friendships treasured. Wishing everyone a summer filled with biting fish and no mosquitoes. God Bless.

Tim Caven, Tanned Fur Project Coordinator

7444 County Road 27 NW

Pennock, MN 56279

tim@mntrapline.com

(320) 599-4176

Re: Photo (below):  

"Thank you to the Minnesota Trappers Association for the use of your furs. Our youth enjoyed learning about the animals and being able to touch the pelts. This has helped them to prepare for upcoming competitions."

              --Benton County 4-H Shooting Sports and Wildlife

Tim Caven

Tanned Fur Project Coordinator

7444 County Road 27 NW

Pennock, MN 56279

(320) 599-4176

tim@mntrapline.com