December 2010

President Report

Shawn Johnson

Greetings Trappers,

I'm pleased to report that the Appeals Court sided with trappers in Maine and that the anti-trapping folks were dealt a serious blow that has established case law that will further weaken any future attacks on trapping under the guise of the Endangered Species Act by anti-trapping groups.

Chalk one up for the good guys!

MTA Legal Counsel Gary Leistico will be going into greater detail in future reports on this subject.

Although this is a time for rejoicing, it is imperative that trappers don't become desensitized to other legal challenges that no doubt will come up in the future.

Now is the time to set aside some funds to counter future legal actions. I look forward to the Legal Defense Fund Banquet that will be held January 8, 2011 near Isle the evening of the Winter General Membership Meeting. This is an adults only event and is designed for an evening of fun and fellowship with trappers and their families in order to earn money for future battles. By this time, it's unlikely that any tickets will still be available but if you're interested, it's worth a telephone call to Gary Meis to find out. 320 838 1570. Guns and other items available for silent auctions and door prizes.

I hope to see many of you there.

Minnesota weather- you just never know. Floodwaters greeted trappers in many areas of the state followed by a long spell of unseasonably warm weather. As of today (November 10.) the creeks are still fully open here on the North Shore of the Big Lake and not a single mink has made "bubbles" at the end of any of my trap chains this season.

As a matter of fact, none of my steel has seen any action yet this fall. Regretfully, I have yet to put a single trap out due to work. All that is certain to change within the next two weeks when winter will no doubt make an appearance. Still I think most of the mink will be safe from me this year by that time.

It's interesting that so many trappers from the Forest Zone make the point that winter comes early so often that trapping seasons need to be adjusted because of freezing temperatures and transportation problems due to substantial snowfall. I'll refrain from getting into any arguments about fur priming faster as some also claim.

On a lark I took a look at the trapping seasons for the state of Alaska, a place internationally known for freezing temperatures and excessive snowfall. I was surprised to learn that the EARLIEST fox trapping season opens in Alaska is November 1st. The rest of the state opens on November the 10th this year!

You think that might be tough to swallow? Mink open November 10 at the EARLIEST and December 1st for the rest of the state.

Perhaps we don't have things so bad in Minnesota after all?

I'm pleased to report that from all indications, the MTA will have the opportunity to host the NTA Convention in Owatonna in 2012. The Owatonna folks impressed the NTA with their facilities and at this point it looks like all systems are a "go."

More detailed information will follow as it becomes available- many thanks to the Committee that put in the leg work to file an "Intent to Bid" for the National.

I'd also like to thank Rusty and the gang at Cumberland's for the great spread they put on in honor of "Trapper Appreciation Days" this past September. I heard Rusty

lament that should the NTA choose Owatonna for the 2012 convention site, some of his guys will be complaining that they have to go home at night after working a convention!

You just can't please everyone now can you?

I'd also like to personally and publicly thank Deb Offerdahl former Education Director and Wayne Thom former NTA Director for their many years of service to the trappers of Minnesota. Regretfully, both have decided to step down from their positions in order to devote more time to their individual career pursuits. In the interim, Todd Roggenkamp has volunteered to temporarily fill the NTA Director's position until a permanent replacement is appointed while I'll remain the go-to person for all MTA Education information.

Please direct any questions or concerns in either of these areas to the two of us in the meantime.

I was also given the opportunity to write an article for the Wadena Pioneer Journal on trapping this fall (October 30, 2010) and the sport as well as the MTA received some positive exposure as a result. A former MTA director from that area was approached for an interview about trapping but was hesitant because of some bad experiences with the press in the past. Someone suggested that perhaps a trapper would like to write an article to avoid any misquotes during an interview and yours truly received the phone call. I'm pleased to report that the article was virtually untouched by the editor's pen and was printed as it was written. Thanks go out to the Wadena Pioneer Journal for being true to their word.

On a final note, I'd like to take the opportunity to give anyone who's entertained the thought of making the trip north to Fur Harvesters Auction spring convention in North Bay, Ontario some food for thought. Kay (Catherine) Bachman from Frazee has won the ladies beaver skinning competition multiple times over the years.

Five first place awards (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008) and even a third place in the men's division one year. (2006) In addition she also placed second in an untimed event which as she put it "that was a pretty beaver put- up not a speed competition." Kay didn't attend last year because the cost for one person to attend alone was just too much. Kay would love to attend the three day event this spring if a married couple or two or three other women would like to attend with her to split costs. She estimates the total cost to be between six and seven hundred dollars for gas and lodging for three nights.

She'd like to leave on March 30th because it's an eighteen hour drive and plans to stay on the Minnesota side of the border Wednesday evening and drive up to North Bay Thursday and returning home to Minnesota on Sunday April third. This would be a great opportunity for some MTA members to experience and she would love the company.

A current passport is required for border crossings however. Kay has also confessed that this will probably be her last trip to the competition because as she puts it, six titles should be enough for anyone."

I take it she's planning on taking the first place trophy back to Minnesota once again?

I wouldn't bet against her folks. If you're interested and would like more information, please give Kay a call.

218 847 1945

Keep your skinning knives sharp and I'll see you in Isle!

Shawn