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

Spring 2020 Report

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

TRAPPERS:

Matt Carlson – 2 Marten, 1 Otter

Leon Windschitl – 2 Raccoon

Dennis Meeks – 1 Beaver

Ben Kasa – 1 Awesome Ermine

Alan Golden – 25 Beaver, 3 Raccoon, 2 Red Fox

Vince Vesel – 1 Red Fox, 1Mink

Frank Brula – 3 Muskrat, 2 Mink, $100 Check Towards Our Tanning Bill

Dallas Erickson – 1 Fisher

Wayne Johnson – 1 Badger

Eric Berg – 6 Muskrat, 1 Mink

Drake Jackson – 6 Mink, 4 Ermine

Tyler Thompson – 1 Grey Fox

Michael Shaleen Sr. – 60 Beaver, 65 Muskrat, 8 Mink, 7 Otter, 2 Raccoon, 1 Fisher, 1 Ermine – All Put Up

Frank Moser – 1 Beaver, 1 Skunk, 1 Muskrat

Jim Ojanen – 2 Ermine

Dick Wilken – 1 Mink

Bert Highland – 4 Ermine, 4 Red Squirrel,  4 Muskrat, 2 Mink

Artie Barnes – 4 Opossum, 4 Squirrel, 3 Muskrat, 1 Raccoon, 1 Ermine

Jeff Bussler – 2 Raccoon, 1 Red Fox, 1 Mink

Isaac Hahn – 2 Raccoon, 1 Muskrat

Dan Stout – 2 Mink, 2 Muskrat

Craig & Mac Hilburn & Greg Flor – 6 Red Fox, 6 Beaver, 4 Opossum, 3 Coyote, 3 Grey Fox, 3 Raccoon, 2 Mink

Dale Jindra – 10 Beaver

Dewey Schmitz – 1 Red Fox

Eric Maijala – 19 Red Fox 5 Raccoon, 1 Grey Fox, 1 Mink

Rob Caven – 4 Bobcat, 1 Coyote

Barry DeGroot – 3 Coyote, 1 Red Fox

Mike Ardolf – 4 Squirrel

Mike Reger – 4 Mink

Dan McGaffey – 6 Skunk, 5 Raccoon

In Memory of Jill Thompson – 5 Silver Fox

CONSERVATION OFFICERS:

Officer Tricia Plautz – 6 Fisher

Officer A. Goodman – 1 Otter

Officer Troy Richards – 9 Muskrat, 2 Otter

Officer Regas – 10 Muskrat , 2 Raccoon

Lt. Dan Thomasen – 1 Otter, 1 Marten

Officer John Velsvaag – 2 Marten

Lt.  Matt Frericks – 3 Marten, 2 Otter, 2 Muskrat, 1 Bobcat, 1 Fisher

Officer Ben Karon – 1 Marten

Officer Dave Shottenbauer – 2 Otter

Officer Don Murray – 5 Beaver, 1 Bobcat, 1 Marten

Officer Sean Williams – 1 Bobcat

Officer Anthony Bermal – 2 Marten, 1 Fisher, 1 Mink

Officer Marc Hopkins – 2 Fisher

Officer Darren Kittelson – 1 Marten

Officer Adam Seifermann – 1 Marten, 1 Otter, 1 Bobcat

Officer John Slatinski – 1 Otter, 1 Fisher

Officer Tony Salzar & Officer Tim Maas – 8 Beaver, 6 Fisher, 5 Mink, 1 Muskrat, 1 Marten

Every piece of fur is appreciated and needed. Whether it is the first ermine caught by young Ben Kasa or huge donations from folks like Michael Shaleen Sr., and Eric Maijala, we thank you.  Many longtime supporters such as  Alan Golden, Bert Highland, Frank Brula, Dale Jindra, Greg Flor, the Hilburn family, and others have donated portions or their entire catch every year for 20+ years. Donations to the Tanned Fur Project were very low at the winter meeting in Brainerd until Michael Shaleen Sr. came forward with his huge donation. Not only did he donate 144 pelts but they were all expertly stretched and dried. I can’t wait to get these pelts  back from the tannery, they are really going to dress up our collection. Eric Maijala came to the shop a couple weeks ago and donated 19 of the nicest stretched and dried red fox that I’ve seen in a while, thank you Eric, we needed them.

Each month we have new Conservation Officers working with us, their support is vital and appreciated. For items such as bobcat and marten they are by far our main source of pelts. It is a two way street as we try to make sure they have tanned pelts at their disposal to support the talks they do on wildlife management at schools. If your local Conservation Officer isn’t currently working with the MTA, please have them call or email me and I will be happy to discuss the Tanned Fur Project with them. As always we thank Officer Scott Staples for being the glue between the Conservation Officers and the MTA.

Thank you to all the folks that have stepped forward to process fur for the Tanned Fur Project, this has been a tremendous help. On Saturday Feb. 29th the second annual fur processing  day was held at the Mac Hilburn residence. Craig and Mac Hilburn as well as Andy Shoemaker put a lot of time and effort into this event, thank you gentlemen.  Plans are already well under way for Fur Processing Day 2021. I’m sure that Craig, Mac, and Andy will have a report in the Newsletter and on the MTA website on their event. Not only does the MTA get its fur processed but it is a great place to learn proper processing techniques or hone the skills you already have. I talked to a couple guys this week that were very happy that they attended and learned a lot by working side by side with many excellent fur processors. Plan to attend Fur Processing Day 2021.

Good luck on your spring beaver lines and save a flat tail or two for the Tanned Fur Project. Be safe, see you in Barnum.

Tim Caven, Tanned Fur Project Coordinator

7444 County Road 27 NW

Pennock, MN 56279

tim@mntrapline.com

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