Good Day Trappers.

Donations to the MTA Tanned Fur Project from June through October came from the following generous members and conservation officers:

TRAPPERS:

• John Hart  – 5 Muskrat, 1 Marten, 1 Beaver
  
• Barry DeGroot – 2 Coyote
  
• Gene Hanson – 5 Beaver, 2 Raccoon, 1 Muskrat
  
• Dan Collins – 2 Beaver, 2 Raccoon, 2 Muskrat
  
• Joe Jewitt – 6 Beaver, 3 Mink, 1 Otter, 1 Raccoon, 1 Muskrat
  
• Merrill Holm – 1 Bobcat
  
• Bert Highland – 15 Red Squirrel, 8 Muskrat, 4 Mink, 2 Grey Fox
  
• Shannon Cohrs – 9 Beaver
  
• Brian Fisher – 2 Beaver
  
• Dale Jindra – 29 Beaver, 2 Raccoon, 1 Muskrat
  
• Rob Marshall – 6 Muskrat
  
• Brian Donnelly – 2 Raccoon
  
• Mike Smejia – 15 Squirrels, 4 Beaver
  
• Tyler and Wayne Thompson – 11 Beaver, 5 Raccoon, 2 Muskrat, 1 Red Fox (All tanned at Moyles and paid for by Tyler and Wayne)
  
• Nick Tabor – 1 Mink
  
• Dennis Bechard – 5 Beaver, 1 Raccoon, 1 Red Fox
  
• Dan Croke – 1 Mink
  
• Gene Jones – 1 Beaver, 1 Muskrat
  
• David Pearson – 16 Beaver, 2 Muskrat
  
• Richard (Artie) Barnes – 12 Muskrat, 3 Raccoon, 1 Beaver
  
• Cal Gunnink – 6 Beaver
  
• Cumberlands Northwest Trappers Supply – 10 Tanned Ermine
  
• In Memory of Chris Holm – God’s Speed Chris – 6 Beaver, 1 Raccoon
  
• In Memory of Jill Thompson and Erin Fischer – 2 Red Fox
  
• Greg Flor - $1,000.00 cash donation to have fur hats made to sell and trade at future events – An incredible donation Greg, thank you.
  

I am looking for the person that left 10 nicely handled opossum at my booth at the MTA convention. I didn’t find any name attached and would like to get you the credit that you deserve. Beautifully handled skins I am also looking for a person that donated a black bear hide and a red fox with the last name of Hern or perhaps Herns. Please shoot me an email so I can get your donation acknowledged correctly, thank you.

CONSERVATION OFFICERS:

• Officer Matt Frericks – 4 Fisher, 2 Muskrat, 1 Bobcat, 1 Marten
  
• Officer Anthony Bermel – 3 Marten, 3 Otter
  
• Officer Marc Hopkins – 1 Otter
  
• Officer Jim Guida – 1 Fisher
  
• Officer Dan Starr – 4 Fisher, 1 Muskrat
  
• Officer Clint Fitzgerald – 2 Otter
  
• Officer Best – 7 Otter – Nicely put up by Lloyd Bakkonen – Thank you Lloyd
  

The new Tanned Fur Project competition started August 1st for 2021-2022. Each specie has a point value for starters and then quality and whether it is carcass, green, or dried determines its final point value. A good quality stretched, and dried pelt is the ultimate donation, but we have folks in place now to assist in the processing of carcass and green skins, so we are appreciative of any donation. I often receive pelts second or third hand so please if your donation is not acknowledged by me in the newsletter get a hold of me. I don’t want to miss a single pelt donation. Even though it was held back in August I wanted to let the membership know how well you were represented at the Anoka Game Fair headed by Andy and Karen Shoemaker and crew. A great many youths got to dig in the dirt and also get verbal instructions and tips from the likes of Andy Shoemaker, Greg Flor, Craig Hilburn, and others. This positive exposure to trapping is so valuable and I know that Andy and Karen have plans to expand it next year. Speaking of Greg Flor, after he worked the Anoka Game Fair he slipped a $1,000.00 into the till to have hats made for next year’s event. Greg has donated more total fur to the project than anyone else since I was nominated to run it 25 years ago and now gives us $1,000.00 to have hats made, just amazing. He is going to be upset with me for writing this as he wanted no credit whatsoever. Hold on to some green or carcass pelts and plan to attend Pelt Day 2022 in Princeton. It is generally held in late February and is a perfect time to donate a few skins and learn proper pelt processing techniques from some of the best in the state. Watch the newsletter for the date and time to be published and plan to attend, you will be glad you did. Thank you to Mac Hilburn for hosting this awesome annual event. What a difference a year makes. Teachers are making up for lost classroom time by using our traveling fur sets in their classes at a record pace. Fur items that the Tanned Fur Project is lowest on are coyote, skunk, badger, bobcat, and grey fox. As always any specie is appreciated but those 5 are our current greatest needs so that we are able to loan out complete sets of fur and not miss a critter. Hoping to see all of you at the winter meeting and Legal Defense Banquet. Have fun this fall and winter and be safe.

Tim Caven

Tanned Fur Project Coordinator

7444 County Road 27 NW

Pennock, MN 56279

tim@mntrapline.com

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Fall 2021 Report

It is always a great pleasure to hand out awards and acknowledge those that have gone above and beyond for the Tanned Fur Project. This year’s winners announced at the summer convention in Barnum were:

Conservation Officer of the Year:

Thank you to all Conservation Officers who continue to work so well with the Minnesota Trappers Association. As always thank you to Officer Scott Staples who is often the glue the holds it all together.

District Competition:

Volunteer Fur Processor of the Year:

Thank you to all of the above and to each of you who donated even one skin, it all helps and adds up. We are currently positioned nicely to assist good teachers (who are pro fur) to put pelts in front of their students to handle and learn. Over the years I’ve gotten letters from many young people who got the trapping bug from handling tanned pelts in school that were donated by the Minnesota Trappers Association Tanned Fur Project. Be proud, you’re doing a good thing.  

Have fun this fall and enjoy all that outdoor Minnesota has to offer

Tim Caven
Tanned Fur Project Coordinator

7444 County Road 27 NW

Pennock, MN 56279

tim@mntrapline.com