Director: Tom Marks
Co-Directors: Leon Windschitl and Bob Hanson
Director Report
Greetings Fellow Trappers,
The winter meeting went well. It was great to see everyone there. The law suit was discussed, and there are 220 issues again! Also discussed was how to bid for traps to be earned as incentives for selling raffle tickets.
District 5 and District 7 held a co-meeting at Johnson Fur, Willmar MN, on Saturday Feb 2. We had a great turn out. Lots of people brought in fur to sell to Scott.
Scott always puts on a great meal. Those pork sandwiches always hit the spot. We had quite a few young people there which was really great to see. I know there were at least 2 first timers there, because one of them was a student I certified. He came with his dad who is trapping fur also for the first time. They are having a ball and it’s fun to hear how excited they get when they catch fur. Kids can’t wait to get home from school to check traps. Their Dad said they always go right to the fur shed to see what he has caught while they were in school...
I took all my notes from the winter meeting with me to the Willmar meeting and left them there so I don’t have everything that was discussed at that meeting. I am sure another director will cover the meeting. District 7 has another meeting on Feb 23 in Dovray, MN. We will be having Elk served at that meeting for dinner.
Thanks to District 5 for letting District 7 come to their meeting. I brought up the 220 issue again. We have to be really careful with these or we will be seeing restrictions on 220’s. It’s a very good tool and I would not want to see any changes in the use of the 220. Even if you have permission to be somewhere you will always be in the public eye if someone’s pet is caught. I know it’s not right but that’s the way it is. It’s not a matter of being right, even if the dogs are running where they don’t belong and are caught, the trapper always gets the black eye. That’s just the way it is. We need to adjust and be ever watchful where we put these traps. Why take the chance? Even though I know it can happen, even if you’re really careful.
Hope to see all of you at the summer convention. Always remember without the MTA members we don’t have a MTA. Many times thanks aren’t given to people who help out the MTA. So I am saying thank you to all those people, and don’t stop helping; we need members like you.
Tom Marks
Hello fellow trappers. The deadline for this report is before our spring district meeting so look to future reports for information from the meeting.
Once again this year, District 7 will have a booth space at the Tracy Area Sportsman Show. Last year we had quite a few people stop in and check out the tanned fur. We signed up a couple of new members. I will need some help at the show, so if anyone would like to help out, just give me a call. The dates are Saturday, April 19 from 9am to 5pm and Sunday, April 20 from 10am to 4pm. On Saturday of the show there will be a Women’s Expo.
Another date to remember is August 1-3 for the Minnesota Trappers Convention in Fergus Falls. If you are planning to go, be sure to get your hotel room reservation in early.
Leon Windschitl