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District 6

Director: Mark Palas

Co-Director: Drake Jackson

 

Director Report

I begin this report with a sad note, as many of you know, former MTA Secretary Rich Raeker lost his battle with cancer in late April.  Rich was an extremely dedicated member, who filled the role of MTA secretary for more than 20 years, an almost unimaginable feat.  Every member of the MTA owes him a great deal of gratitude.  Thanks Rich. May your traps be full.

District 6 once again held its annual Trapper Certification Course in April. In excess of 40 students attended our field day. We run the second best trapper education class in the state, and we look to forward to improving.   Five years of trapper education has benefited us all, and we will get better.  Anyone interested in next year’s class, should put it on their calendar to call me next year in March. Thanks to all district 6 instructors who helped out.

READ THIS: Due to the high cost of shipping, the MTA will no longer ship raffle incentive traps.  You must either pickup, or arrange to have a fellow trapper pick them up for you, at the summer convention in Barnum. As district 6 director, I have in the past done this for fellow trappers, and welcome the opportunity to do it again.  These are tough times, and this is one of the ways we can all help a little, to make a big difference. Your district director is only a phone call or email away. 

Thanks
Mark Palas 
markpalas@earthlink.net
651-235-8034

 

Co Director Report

 

New to the board as a co-director with District 6 director Mark Palas, I don’t have a lot to report on at this time, so allow me to take a few lines to introduce myself.  A 40+ yrs trapper, at 53, I have trapped the booms and the busts of the past fur markets like many.  From traplines of a handful of traps, when time was almost unavailable, to semi-professional full-time trapping to pay my way through college for a Wildlife Resource Degree.  Even during years I couldn’t set a single trap I still checked favorite locations for sign, constructed a few trapless sets when in the field for only the day just to keep the trapper in me alive and always collected new locations in my head for seasons when I could run traps.  There would never be “enough” time for all the trapping I’d “want” to do even if I could trap all day long, everyday, and there were more than 24 hrs in a day or seven days a week.

Growing up trapping the ever-expanding Metro suburbs water furbearers were my major focus as they better prevented pet conflicts incidents that land trapping potentially had.  Mushrooming urban growth consumed the stomping grounds of my youth over the years. Low fur prices, having to travel far to get beyond the increasing no-trapping ordinances and endless new obligations of a new family, Wife, child and home, often left only the opportunity to squeeze in an always “way too short” trapping “vacation”.

Having the good fortune to have acquired, from years of nose to the grindstone, a built- myself cabin on, now, 135 wood acres in Kanabec Cty, and my nest successfully emptied – well at least for college, I have revived my trapper’s blood.  A new more northern trapline has given me the chance to expand the species of MN furbearers I can now pursue.  Which includes everything legally harvestable with the exception of marten (the only one I haven’t caught – YET), though two have been registered in the county.  This has required and allowed me to adapt past trapping experience as well as learn fully new trapping knowledge on my trapline.  It has brought beginner’s excitement to my line again - first fisher, first bobcat, otter and beaver in numbers.

I hope to now, through MTA membership and participation, to try to ensure that my children and everyone else’s trapping can and will continue into the future.  I also want to encourage members of District 6 (or any member) to contact Mark or myself on issues or concerns wanted to be brought to or from the board as “your representatives”.  As such though, we require your “input” to represent you.  We all have at least ONE common cause - to be able to continue trapping. 

I hope also to meet as many members, or non-members, as I can in time, but if we can’t in person, phone or E-mail me.  Look for me at the summer convention or if not at the next district meeting.  Looking forward to working with all. 

This year’s Trapper Education class and field day was well attended, with 40+ people completing the course.  Thanks to all those that set it up, helped out, spoke, etc.  A whole new crop of Jedi trappers is out there “tweeting” trapping.

Now - back to sorting out the thoroughly disorganized monster of a pile of trapping equipment that has consumed my half of the garage over the past season.  Hope none of the traps is still set.  Ouch!
Drake

P.S. Most heartfelt condolences to the R. Raeker family for their loss…  Though I was never fortunate enough to meet him I have been hearing of him and his efforts through the MTA.  We are all the lesser when we lose a good one.