News
2009 TRAPPER EDUCATION DAY
2009 SUMMER RENDEZVOUS
2009 Board of Directors Meeting
Las Vegas Review Journal editorial and response
Information about Department of Wildlife questionnaire
TRAPPER EDUCATION DAY
Another great Trapper Education Day took place September 12 at Kyle Canyon.
Over forty people participated in the event and everyone learned something.
Thanks for all your efforts Tracy! Take a look at some of the smiling
faces:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
2009 SUMMER RENDEZVOUS
This year's event, spearheaded by Mike Miller,
District 6 Director, was held at Hunt's Canyon. Demos, games, contests, raffles and so forth
were enjoyed by all. It was a great time in a wonderful
setting. Heartfelt thanks go to ALL of Mike's family including wife Alicia
and daughter Tricia for making this a fantastic event. Kevin Strozzi cut
the wood and helped out in numerous ways.
Alicia Miller received the Trapper of the Year while Brennan Truman
received the Youth Trapper of the Year. Pete Shepherd was inducted
into the Hall of Fame and Larry Johnson received the President's Award.
From Joel's memory: Jed Ryback won the trap setting contest by one second over
John Sullivan. Kortney Vigil won the youth trap setting contest. The scavenger
hunt was swept by Tricia Miller's team. Mike Miller & Tony Bill joined
forces to take first place in Horseshoes.
Plan to join us next year! In the meantime click through the slide show below for a taste of the action. (The slide show uses java script, which is safe to run on your computer. If the slide show does not operate be sure you have enabled your computer to allow scripts.)
2009 Board of Directors Meeting
The annual Board of Directors was called to order at 9:40 by President Joel Blakeslee. Officers and Directors present were Tracy Truman, Vice President; Judi Curran, Sec/Treas.; Jim Curran, Fur Sale Manager; Pete Shepherd, Elko; Casey Kiel, Lovelock; Steve Nelson, Fallon; Mike Miller, Tonopah; Dave Stowater, Las Vegas; John Tibbetts, Caliente; and Ted Lawry, Gardnerville. Mitch Bailey, Reno and Bobby Bradley, Ely were unable to attend.MINUTES
The minutes of the 2008 BOD meeting were reviewed and approved.
SECRETARY/TREASURE REPORT
Judi handed out to each director a copy of the year-end summary report of income and expenses. After review the report was approved.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Joel Blakeslee gave a report on the recently concluded State Legislature Session. During the last weeks of the Session, Ira Hansen had an amendment introduced on a Department of Wildlife bill that would add a new definition to the disturbing a trap regulation. Joel and Jim as well as several other sportsmen from the Nevada Wildlife Coalition testified against the amendment before a subcommittee of the Natural Resource Committee. The amendment was finally killed. The biggest fear and threat was that once any bill is opened up for amendments, the anti could have added their own changes such as changing the visitation law.
That was the only trapping related issue introduced this year.
NVTA gave a grant to the Department of Wildlife last year to hire a graduate student to put together and analyze the thirty year’s worth of bobcat data that we have collected here in Nevada. When this is completed, it should produce some very useful information to defend our bobcat seasons.
Joel recommended that on our fur sale notices that are sent out each fall that a notice of a general membership meeting will be held on Saturday afternoon of the sale.
VICE PRESIDENT REPORT
Tracy had been given the task of reviewing the Association’s bylaws and making recommended changes to discuss by the Board. Each recommended change was discussed by the Board. The Board recommended approval of the changes. As soon as a draft is finalized, they will be mailed out to the membership for approval as required in the bylaws.
Tracy reported on the Youth Camp that was held last fall and the BOD gave approval to have another this year.
DIRECTOR REPORTS
Several Directors reported hearing about an increasing number of trappers losing traps and the problem with individuals trying to reserve large areas by presetting traps and snares before the season.
John Tibbetts reported that he has had several trappers from his area propose a much shorter cat season.
FUR SALE MANAGER REPORT
Based upon information from several fur buyers and from the international auction houses, it appears that the cat market could be down another 30%-50% this coming season. This could put averages in the $100 range for cats and $10 for gray fox. Coyotes are hard to sell at any figure. Unless the Chinese and Russian economy improves we can’t expect a turn-around soon. Based on the market and lower cat harvest this coming season all over the west; Jim recommends holding only the Fallon Sale this year. The BOD agreed.
TRAPPING SEASON RECOMMENDATIONS
All of the harvest and kitten production data that the Wildlife Department sent us was reviewed. The last two seasons, kitten production was the lowest on record. Tooth data shows one kitten per 10 adult females. The Department of Wildlife is recommending a reduction in season length for bobcats starting December 1, 2009 and ending February 19th, 2010. They are not proposing any change for the gray fox, kit fox, mink, beaver or muskrats.
After a lengthy discussion, the BOD voted to support the Departments recommendation. The motion was carried 10 in support, 1 opposed.
NATIONAL TRAPPERS ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR REPORT
Jim reported that the USFWS was preparing new regulations that would eliminate the CITIES tag requirement for bobcats. Exporter out of the country would still have to prove state of origin. This may take place by next year however many states will probably still require some type of tag and the collection of biological information.
Jim also discussed the good possibility that there will be a ballot question this next year in Montana to outlaw trapping on public land. A group called “Footloose” is pushing this. It all started when a pet dog was killed in a body-gripping trap.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The terms of the President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer expire during 2010. All three officers agreed to seek another term. Nominations are open until March 1, 2010. An election committee as per the bylaws of Casey, Mike and Steve was appointed.
2009 RENDEZVOUS
Mike Miller discussed this year’s rendezvous at Hunts Canyon, Nye County. This should be a great event for the whole family.
DONATIONS
The Board approved the following donations:
| National Trappers Association | $5,000 | |
| Fur Takers of America | $ 500 | |
| Furbearers Unlimited | $1,000 | to sponsor guns at Western and National |
| Coalition for Nevada Wildlife | $ 500 | |
| Montana Trappers Association | $1,000 | fight ballot question |
| U.S. Sportsmen Alliance | $ 500 | |
| Delta Waterfowl Predator Research | $ 500 | |
| White Pine 4H Shooting Club | $ 100 | |
| Lincoln County HS Rodeo | $ 200 | |
| Dream Catchers | $ 500 | Sponsor hunts |
| Youth Trapping Day | $ 500 |
AWARDS
NVTA’s annual awards will be announced and presented at the rendezvous at Hunts
Canyon.
Hall of Fame nominations for 2009:
Marden Spencer- Alamo
Sam Jeffries Sr. – Tonopah
A TENTATIVE DATE FOR NEXT YEARS MEETING –June 12, 2010
BACK TO TOP
Las Vegas Review Journal editorial and response
On December 17, 2008 the Las Vegas Review Journal published an editorial by John L. Smith condemning trapping in Southern Nevada. To see the full text of his comments click here. Tracy Truman, Vice President Nevada Trappers Association, responded to Mr. Smith and his answer speaks volumes about the necessity of trapping. Here is Tracy's response:| John Smith says trapping in Southern Nevada doesn’t make sense. I
hate to be the one to break it to you, John, but it’s you that makes no
sense. In his December 17, 2008 wandering diatribe, Smith discards hundreds of years of history, decades of sound biological data, and everyday common sense to bring to light the single (and unfortunate) instance of a dog being caught in a legally placed trap on Mt. Charleston to condemn this time-honored tradition, and sound tool of wildlife management. (By the way, the dog’s foot wasn’t cut or broken, and the Vet bill was $1,500? Maybe the Commentary should be on the cost of Vet service in Clark County). Smith’s claims, and his conclusions, demonstrate beyond doubt how little he really understands Southern Nevada, wildlife management, or the real health and safety issues at stake. For example, Smith acknowledges that trapping reduces the spread of wildlife disease, but then in his failed attempt to be humorous, points out that trappers are not trapping deer mice. That is true, Mr. Smith. We aren’t trapping deer mice, but you probably couldn’t see from your little ivory tower that many predators in Clark County regularly come in contact with the plague bacteria (as just one example). This summer alone a 15 year old trapper trapped gray fox in the Mt. Charleston area (under a scientific collection permit) and tests showed nearly half of the fox had been exposed to plague. Officials with the Southern Nevada Health District are alarmed at these results and have asked TRAPPERS (i.e. not news writers, or dog owners) to provide additional samples to monitor the potential outbreak of this disease. But Smith isn’t about to let the truth get in the way of good “commentary.” He’s so desperate for fodder about trapping on Mt. Charleston that he has to travel clear to Northern Nevada to report how someone from Utah broke Nevada’s trapping laws. Smith’s geography is as bad as his biology. Smith’s point, apparently, is that trapping regulations in Nevada are pretty abbreviated, when compared to all the other rules, regulations, laws, red tape and fine print so prevalent in other areas of our lives. Smith won’t rest until there is an outpouring of red-tape, government oversight, and more burden on the already over tasked wildlife law enforcement. NEWSFLASH John Smith: There’s a simple reason Nevada has such simple, straight forward trapping laws: They work. Had Smith really bothered to do his homework, he would have learned the Nevada Department of Wildlife is one of the most respected wildlife agencies in the western United States, not just because its trapping laws are simple, and work, but because NDOW has a sound understanding of the need for, and importance of, predator management as it relates to viable deer, elk, bighorn sheep, gamebird, and small game management (not to mention the livestock industry). If you other sportsmen, big game hunters, bird hunters and the like would like to kiss good-bye quail, chukar, deer and other game populations, then John Smith has a solution for you: Ban trapping. Of course, once he and his crowd are done with trapping, I’m sure they will turn their attention to a sport that may be closer to your heart. But in the meantime, don’t waste your time bothering John Smith with the facts; he’s off someplace crying wolf. Tracy Truman |
Information about Department of Wildlife questionnaire
The most important subject we want to let all of our members know is
regarding the trapper questionnaire the Department of Wildlife will send
out just after the close of the trapping season.
The importance of the data that we provide the State is what they use in
setting the trapping seasons and demonstrating to the public and to the anti’s
that our furbearer species are being managed. Even though the regulation
requires all trappers to fill out and return the questionnaire, the return rate
has been not as good as it should be. It is very important, that the data they
receive on all harvested furbearers is as complete as possible. As a trapper it
is your responsibility to complete and return the questionnaire.
During 2007, the Nevada Wildlife Commission passed a new regulation regarding
the trapper questionnaire. Everybody better pay attention to this new
regulation. You will not be able to get a trapping license the following year if you
fail to return your harvest report. The exact quote of the regulation
states: “Each person who purchases a trapping license from the Department or
license agent shall complete and return any reporting form or questionnaire
required by the Department. The person must return any such form or
questionnaire regardless of whether the person trapped any fur-bearing mammals
or unprotected species of wildlife during the term of the trapping license.
Except as otherwise provided by an annual regulation of the Commission, the
completed form or questionnaire must be received by the Department no later than
April 30 of each year. Failure to return the form or questionnaire within that
period or the submission of any false information on the form or questionnaire
is cause for the Commission to suspend the trapping license held by the person
and deny the person the right to acquire any trapping license for a period of
one year”.
An accurately filled out trapping questionnaire is just as important as your
deer or elk questionnaire so as soon as you receive it in the mail, fill it out
and send it back. The Department is real serious about this regulation. No one
wants to lose their trapping license over failure to take ten minutes of time to
fill it out and send it in.