Association News

Reports due the 1st of each month.

Colorado Trappers & Predator Hunters Association

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sept 1st 2022 – August 13th, 2023

NE Regional Director

Naomi Yates, 38921 Poudre Canyon Hwy, Bellvue, CO 80512

970-420-4250, naomiyatesgtb@gmail.com

Wildlife Commission Liaison

Dan Gates

Fur Auction Manager

Greg Ashmore, 38967 County Road 24, Hugo, CO 80821

(H) 719-743-2552, (C) 719-760-0539, ashmore@esrta.com

Western Stock Show Booth Manager

Jim Hooks, P.O. Box 51, Kremmling, CO 80459

jameshooks09@gmail.com

Raffle Manager

Kacy Herrman, 1635 County Road 293, Rifle, CO 81650

970-379-4680, klherrman@yahoo.com

Agora Wealth – Brit Waugh, 719-440-2384

CPA – Ron Goodrich, 719-543-0516

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

With the end of the season comes a time for change as we remember the last seasons successes and failures and as we start planning for the next November of how we will change and what we intend to do better to make us more efficient, successful and at least break even if not be prosperous.

For anyone who has paid any attention to Wildlife related politics it only becomes more confusing if not mystifying how more and more experts continue to surface when all they really care about is their agenda.

The landscape in which we fight has changed dramatically and it has altered how we prepare and what the best line of defense will be for the future.

In Colorado the current legislative session demanded our constant attention at everything from Wildlife issues to Firearms topics to Land Use and a variety of other hot buttons that continue to muddy the waters on all fronts. It has not been a time for people who do not want to get engaged, as it never seems to stop.

Dealing with a variety of subjects has taken me to Texas, Arizona and Missouri in the last month and many months of preparation for the April 27th Sportsman Day at the Capitol, the multiple Commission Meetings and a multi attendee involved trip with many different Sportsmen and Women from Colorado going to Washington DC between May 9th – 13th, 2023 along with preparing for the Summer Meetings and Conferences and the big event, our Convention/Expo August 11th and 12th in Florence, Colorado.

This will be the biggest event in decades as we expand our outreach, foot print and message to partner with many other groups, businesses and individuals to show case all aspects of what we do and stand for and trying to highlight the Science based management under the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

“Outdoorsman Days” is the name of the event. August 11th and 12th, 2023 are the dates and it is located at the Pathfinder Regional Park Event Center 6655 State Hwy 115, Florence, CO 81226.

You can go to Coloradooutdoorsmansdays.com or the coloradotrapper.com for Vendor, Sponsor and Event information that will consistently be updated from mid-May through the event. You can also call 719 275-4077 or email office@coltpha.com.

There will be a ton of events and there is definitely excitement on the landscape. Check out the websites and keep checking back for updated information.

Volunteers are needed to help pull this off and we are accepting applications for vendors and presenters for demonstrations as well. If it has to do with our pursuits whether it be trapping, calling, firearms, fly fishing, archery, you name it, it will more than likely be here.

As I said it is a changing landscape and we need to change if we are to survive.

Save the date. Reach out. Spread the word. Get engaged. Get in the game. Look forward to seeing you and supporting the cause and fighting the fight. Aim small, miss small.

Dan Gates

SECRETARY’S REPORT

Hi Everyone! We would like to welcome our new members Jason Meekins, Snow Hill, MD; Kyle Neith, Severance, CO; Kenneth Zuber, Littleton, CO.

Our Outdoorsman Days/Convention will be held at the Pathfinder Regional Park Event Center, at 6655 State Hwy 115, Florence, CO 81226 over August 11th,12th and 13th, 2023. We will need volunteers to help set-up/during the event and tear down. Please let me know if you would be willing to help out. Also, you can go to coloradooutdoorsmansdays.com or coloradotrapper.com for the most up to date information such as Sponsor and Vendor forms. There will be updates clear up to the event.

Our Annual Board Meeting will be held on Sunday, August 13th, 2023 at 9:00 am with the Membership Meeting to follow at 10:00 am in the Pathfinder Regional Park Event Center. This year we will hold elections for Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, NE Director and SW Director. All current reports from the Board Members are on the website.

I would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important but especially now.

Please make sure if you have an email address, I have it. This is the only way we are keeping our membership up to date with the current information and events on a timely fashion because of the rising costs of printing and postage and the unreliability of delivery of mail and the inability to communicate immediately. We will only send out hard copies when absolutely necessary. So if you want to be kept in the loop make sure I have your correct EMAIL Address. We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current.

Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719-275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.

Karen Gates, Secretary/Treasurer

Connecticut Trappers Association

www.connectiuttrappersassociation.com

President — Frederick J. Becker, 8 Grove Street Clinton, CT 06413, (860)669-2847, fjbkmbecker@comcast.net

Vice President East — Scott Kneeland, 860-234-3192

Vice President West — Jules Perreault 1271 Durham Rd. Wallingford, CT 06492

Treasurer — Laure Perreault, 1271 Durham Road, Wallingford, CT 06492, (203)284-8051

Secretary — Beth Casanova, 203-214-7084, be.casa@att.net

F.T.A.Director — Scott Kneeland, 860-234-3192

N.T.A. Director — Rob Lee, 18 Hicksville Road, Cromwell, CT 06416, (860)982-2107

Public Relations Director — Donna Peck, 860-933-8254

NEWS REPORT

The 2023 session of the Connecticut General Assembly will adjourn in a few days Weds. June 4th midnight and it strongly appears that no anti-trap legislation will be passed in this session. Keep in mind, I am writing this on April 25 and a trapping amendment could show up before the session ends, but I doubt it. So, we are safe for another year! However, the SB-1148 bear bill and SB-1149 bill that would have eliminated all restrictions on Sunday hunting were not approved by their respective committees. So, that is bad news for all sportsmen. Recently an Avon woman was attacked and injured by a 12-year-old bear with 3 cubs. The bear was euthanized. Hopefully, the legislature will wake up and pass a bear bill.

As many of you know by now, in March we lost one of the best members the CTA ever had, past CTA President Alan Huot passed away on March 1st 2023, after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 68, much to young to leave us! Alan was a strong advocate for a coyote land trapping season and even developed a set of sample regulations that DEEP used as a guide when it did create a coyote land trapping season. Alan was also responsible for the DEEP trapping regulation which allows the use of the 110 conibear above the surface of the water as long as a portion the trap frame remains in contact with the water. He was a pioneer and leader nationally in the nuisance wildlife control industry! He was a frequent speaker at industry conventions, trade shows and training sessions. His experience with wildlife allowed him to develop a well respected and highly successful, industry leading company, Wildlife Control Supplies [WCS]. Alan was an expert trapper who specialized in canines. I am proud to say he was a very good friend and even a better person! Rest in peace Alan!!

Donna Peck and Bob Andryzeck put together the booths for the Springfield Sportsmen’s Show held in West Springfield Ma. on Feb. 24 thru the 26, 2023 and the Mohegan Sun’s Connecticut Fishing Outdoor show held at Montville, CT. on March 24 thru 26 2023. These are both great shows. Thanks Donna and Bob and all those who helped to make the CTA booth so successful at both shows!

As promised in the last issue here is the report on the CTA annual fur sale which was held on Saturday April 8th, 2023 at the Fin, Fur and Feather Club on Chewink Road in Chaplin Ct. The Sale started at 8:00am and lasted until about 12:00pm. There were 14 lots of fur. Free food was available. There were four fur buyers at the sale {auction}, Tom Gebo, Jim Kolmen, Bruce Conroy and Jim D. Three DEEP fur biologists were there to tag fur and Rob Comtois agent for THE Fur Harvesters Auction Inc. was on hand to collect fur to be sent to the FHA Auction.

FUR PRICES

166 Beaver avg. $24.22

15 lbs. Castor avg. $36.69/lb.

149 Muskrats avg. $1.41

5 Coyotes avg. $15.00

10 Mink avg. $4.44

1 Possum $1.50

17 Otter avg. $28.98

27 Raccoon avg. $3.58

3 Red Fox avg. $18.83

5 Skunk avg. $20.00

Many thanks to CTA members Scott Kneeland, Rob Lee, Laure and Jules Perreault, Beth and Mark Casanova and Mike Cote for making the sale [auction] so successful!

It appears that the fur market is making a little comeback!

I do realize that the above