District 1
Director: Bert Highland
Co-Directors: Frank Brula and Mike Peterson
District 1 Director of Minnesota Trappers Association
Hi trappers,
I hope everyone is enjoying the late fall, fall weather and is having a successful trapping season. It sure felt good to finally get out and string some steel. As of this date - Nov. 9 - the weather hasn't been too bad, although the nights are getting colder and I know it won't be long before open water trapping will come to a halt.
Our winter general membership meeting and 2nd Annual Legal Defense Banquet in Askov are coming up real soon. I don't know how many tickets remain for the banquet, but if you would like to attend contact Gary Meis at (320) 838-1570 for ticket availability. If you've never attended, you're missing a great evening out. Good food, good friends, and great prizes. A good time is had by all!
Also the St. Louis County Land Department is interested in working with us on nuisance beaver problems. If you are interested in being on a list of trappers the county can contact, please let Con Christianson or me know right away. We'd like to have a complete list of trappers before spring.
The Carlton County Fair Board has offered us a proposal for a 3-year contract to have our summer conventions in Barnum beginning in 2013. We'll discuss this at our spring district meeting and I'll take your thoughts on this back to the board.
Remember to consider donating a quality fur or two to MTA's Tanned Fur Project. Donations were way down this past year. Minnesota produces some of finest fur in the world, let’s show off to our youth and the general public the beautiful and sustainable product we produce! Contact myself, Frank, or Mike Peterson and we'll bring your donated fur to the winter meeting if you can't attend. I can also pick it up from you at our spring district meeting.
That's all I have for now, here's wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a happy and profitable New Year. Take care and God Bless --- Bert
Co-Director Report
Frank Brula
District 1 Co-Director Minnesota Trappers Association
Greetings,
By the time you read this you will be running hard during the day and skinning at night. Everyone is hoping the world economy doesn't tank so fur prices could hold or possibly increase.
The area in which we trap has extremely low water and most of the small creeks are bone-dry. Water setting will be very limited.
Our marten nesting box program in the state parks is on hold as of now. We hope we can get this minor problem resolved and move ahead this winter.
Trap 'til I die…
Frank
Co-Director Report
Mike Peterson
Hi! I am Mike Peterson and it will be my pleasure to serve the MTA as Co-Director for District 1. Bert suggested that I give you guys and gals some background information about myself.
I’ve lived nearly all my 61-years in northern Minnesota, about half that time near Floodwood with Lynn. For the past 25 years we have been Master Gardeners with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Our garden is quite large which gives us room for the annual seed “seed variety trails” for the U of M. As we no longer have livestock, the homestead (a.k.a. work farm) should someday be a hobby farm.
I retired from the Laborers but still have some irons in the fire. Old customers try to get us back in the greenhouse business, but that isn’t going to happen (at least not at the same scale). We enjoyed it at the time, but I’ve found easier ways to make a buck. Besides, I put up plenty of firewood for the old farm house and sauna without the additional 16 cord for the greenhouses. Our micro-climate seems to be in competition with Embarrass, MN for the low temps anytime of the year.
Like a lot of people growing up in the country back when, I was carrying a pocket knife before I started school - one that my dad gave me. That pocket knife in the pocket is still a constant companion. A kid that was always on the prowl trapping, hunting or fishing needed a means to take care of his catch.
Back then, no one, not even relatives would share trapping knowledge. They were very guarded secrets!
Times have changed and this September I spent three Sunday afternoons helping Wayne and Liz Thom with an annual trapper education class. The thirteen kids and three adults received the Thom’s hospitality from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. on three days. Also helping were Richard T, Jim S, Steve H and two DNR Conservation Officers so lots of advice was passed on.
Besides trapping for fur I also nuisance trap. I really enjoy beaver trapping, even with my knack at locating beaver runs. I usually find them by stepping over the top of my hip boots or the earth disappearing from under me (I’m 6 foot 2 inches tall and 240 pounds - dry). Also castor does not warrant the looks and comments that one gets when harvesting essence (skunk) doesn’t go as planned.
Beaver trapping opened yesterday where I live. It was 16 degrees when I added wood to the stove before morning coffee. It has been on the dry side so the rivers are low and the flow is slow. The rivers and creeks were iced over till 10:30 a.m. I hope we get a little open water trapping before freeze-up. Twenty years ago we had over three-feet of snow from the Halloween Storm! I got more 330’s and 750’s set today. Hopefully today’s catch will be dry in the morning so I don’t get behind skinning. Also I didn’t have to drain any hip boots today, maybe I am starting a new trend. I’ve still got the dozen #14 Oneida jump traps I ordered at the local co-op store 40 plus years ago when I started pestering the flat-tails, but they spend their time hanging in the shed.
If you have occasion to call, you might catch me near the phone. The number is (218) 476-2829, which will go to the answering machine. We appreciate calls before 9:00 p.m. as Pete gets up at O-dark-30 even if he doesn’t have to.
Also, I don’t believe I am related to Arnie Peterson.
Live Life with Sisu!
Mike
p.s. It is 8:45 p.m. on October 30th and it is 40 degrees. A tropical heat wave.