2007 NEWS

9/30/2007
: First, I just want to say that it was very sad that we lost two great members of the trapping community this year in the forms of Raymond Whitaker and Angelo Buscemi. They will be missed. The Fall Annual was a wonderful success this year. It was held again at Century Sportsman’s Club, and we were pleased at the number of members who attended despite the outing taking place on the same day as the Big Moe (One of the Larger Outdoor Expo Days in Massachusetts). We raffled off many items that were donated thanks to vendors nationwide, including Bass Pro Shops, Dicks Sporting Goods and far too many more to list! We were pleased to offer demonstrations this year on the BMP’s given by John Benedetto, and Cage Trapping Bobcats and Beavers, Techniques and Tricks to Improve your Catch by Dale Duryea. Annual Elections took place, and this year’s Board of Directors are:

Malcolm Speicher – President
Elizabeth Stephens – Vice President and NTA Alt. Dir.
Alfred Aubin – Secretary
Mary Speicher – Treasurer
David Porier – NTA Director
Eastern Directors – Greg Dowdy, Steve Silvia, Joel Larson- Alt. Dir.
Central Directors – Jeff Zottoli, Joe Gauthier
Western Directors – Chuck Thomas, Hugh Shepherdson
Legislative Committee – Herb Bergquist, Tim Connors, Elizabeth Stephens, Don Heenan
Lifetime Membership Committee – Malcolm Speicher, Fred Aubin, Elizabeth Stephens, Joel Larson


The pot-luck luncheon was a success with Marinated Goose, venison chili, meatballs, hamburgers, hotdogs, pasta salad, potato salad… at that point, I think I exploded! The food was great, the raffle was a lot of fun, and the kids competitions were wonderful! The two competitions held this year were the Match The Track. This contest consists of taking to-scale tracks and Velcro-ing them next to the name of the furbearer. Eddie Brunton got a perfect score in 45 seconds! He won a raccoon Hav-a-hart. Second place was Charlie Anganes, with 7 out of 13 correct! He won a raccoon Hav-A-Hart. Third Place was Matt Silvia who got 5 out of 13 correct! He won a certificate to Dick’s Sporting Goods. Fourth Place was Cameron Prescott, who also got a certificate. The second contest was the Snap-The-Trap contest. Kids won hats, ear muffs, scarves and certificates. Every one who participated walked away with something!!!

We are taking nominations for the Lifetime Membership Award. Nominations must be in writing, and submitted no later than December 16th to be awarded at the March Meeting. Person should be a member in good standing, but it is not required. Nominations should include their history with the Bay State or Massachusetts Trappers Association, how they have helped the Association, and how they have made an impact with regards to trapping in New England. Please submit nominations to: Elizabeth Stephens, 4 Wildwood Rd. Millbury, MA 01527

A note for those who trap otter. MassWildlife has made it clear that otter taken by body grippers during 10 day emergency permits cannot be kept, even during the season, and must be turned in. The Body-Gripping trap is not an approved method of take with regards to Otter. They will be very skimpy on the incendental tags this year in an effort to cut down illegal otter targeting. To help avoid incendental otter take, there are ways to set your trigger wires so that they are beaver specific. If this is something that concerns you, please contact any one on the board of directors. Please stay warm, dry and safe this season. Look forward to seeing you all at the Nashoba Sportsman’s Club on December 16th at the fur sale at 9:00AM!!! – Elizabeth Stephens

8/19/2007
: Wow what an exciting weekend! This weekend was the New England Trappers Weekend up in Bethel, Maine, hosted by Neil Olson, of Olson's Fur Sales and Tent Rentals. There were tons of vendors present, and all but a couple donated something to our raffle!!! From bottles of lure to traps, to books and magazines, it was quite the lucrative trip to Maine, so I hope you all are excited for the raffle in September! In addition to my going around and soliciting donations for our Fall Outing, we managed to sign up two new members! Total value in donations raised: $353.00. Membership dues collected: $25.00

While I was up in Maine, Malcolm Speicher (President) was down at the Treasure Valley Boyscout Camp for the Trailblazer's Weekend! He brought furs, traps and was visited by many kids and good weather! Read more about it at: Trailblazer program makes outdoors fun

08/04/07: Whoo what a ride! After a 13 hour drive out to Goshen, Indiana, where the Indiana State Trappers Association was hosting the 2007 NTA National Convention, I was pooped. Several days of meetings followed, but the most poignant information was that membership dues increase after December:

$30.00 - 1 yr
$55.00 - 2 yr
$80.00 - 3 yr
Lifetime stays the same. The last time increased: 1996.

Bylaw change:

A person must be a member in good standing with the NTA at least a year before they can become an NTA director. -- Purpose: to make sure that whoever is an NTA director at least has a little background on the issues affecting the NTA.

DNIA was elected (Lobbyist) and contract negotiations to commence after board of directors appoints negotiations committee. -- Result: Dave Miller from New York. Has been lobbying for trapper's rights for the past 21 years. Has moderate experience with grant applications (successful 100% however few).

Karola Owens from New Hampshire got Director of the Year.

Don Aycock got an award, but I don't know what but the man rocks and I'm sure he deserved it.

Scalf and his wife got into the Hall of Fame.

Petition went around to revisit a motion to amend the bylaws to prevent someone from holding a position on the board of more than one similar organization atthe same time. -- Idea: someone can't completely devote themselves without risking impropriety while also representing a similar association that could directly, or indirectly benefit from decisions being made that affect the one or the other. Krause announced his upcoming retirement officially.

Budget was balanced with the help of the new BOD member, Charlie Rath.

I set up a table at the NTA and sold patches, pins, bumper stickers and memberships. It was wonderful! Lots of people were excited about our progress and new programs we've implimented! We raised $165.00 in donated items, and we raised $80.00 in memberships. We raised $125.00 in patches, pins and bumper stickers!!! It was a 17 hour ride home, unfortunately, as Pennsylvania's I80 is under major construction.

: Some of you may be familiar with the USSA's program: Trail Blazer's. For those of you who aren't, here's a little information about it.

The Trailblazer program is a program that is run by the United States Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA). It's designed to expose children and families to outdoor sports and give them an opportunity to learn more and participate. This was the first year that they held it in Massachusetts.

Naturally, when they emailed our association to participate, given our new platform of operation we were eager to help. Myself and Greg Dowdy went down to Yarmouth, MA (on Cape Cod) to the boyscout camp down there packed to the hilt with pelts, traps, and fur garments. We left the mainland around 6, and got to where we were going just before 8.

The boyscouts fed us very well for both breakfast and lunch, and were very hospitable. We were supposed to be sharing a 40' tent with MassWildlife (our Division of Fisheries and Wildlife), Trout Unlimited (who were supposed to put on a fishing demo), and the Environmental Police (EPO's). Unfortunately, Trout Unlimited and the EPO's flaked on the day, so it was just MassWildlife and us. But, we made the best of it. We took 4 tables and joined them across the end of the tent and just spread our stuff out really far and shared it with the really nice MassWildlife guy (who first started working for MassWildlife in 1949!).

We were swarmed with eager kids, and it was great. From kids getting their pictures taken wearing the 'daniel boone' hats, to playing with the tanned skins like puppets, all were just enthralled by the furs. Lots of great questions, and were very impressed as I gave informative facts while waving my hand around in the air with a foothold trap clamped onto my fingers.

Parents and children alike really enjoyed the demonstrations that we put on, and the MassWildlife guy was HILARIOUS! Even I was entertained by his talks on Woodducks and Turkeys.

By the time the day ended at 4, we were exhausted and ready to come home, but we felt we had a great day. And we were very impressed at how much the children already knew about trapping with regards to Western Expansion.

Naturally, the USSA representative invited us back for their Worcester day in August and we accepted. It was a lot of fun, and it was great to see all the 'Cub Scouts, Bear Scouts, Weeblo's, Weeblo2's, Boy Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouts' there. The only reason I know those names is because a little boy, couldn't have been more than 9, took the time to explain in DETAIL about the cub scouts, bear scouts and Weeblos (which is what he was then). I had no idea! -- Elizabeth Stephens

3/25/2007
: General Membership Meeting at Century Rod and Gun Club. Due to the absence of the treasurer and secretary, there were no old minutes or treasury reports listed. We were very pleased to announce that we broke even on the furs that were purchased from the trappers in December at the fur auction. Some of them were held back for the purpose of tanning for merchandise made available on our website. There was no old business to be discussed so we moved on to new business. It was suggested that we get involved with the Sportsmen's clubs, and accepted the invitations extended to us by the Auburn Sportsmen's club to participate in the flea market in June. We also accepted invitations to participate at the annual and youth day functions at the Auburn Sportsmen's, 200 Sportsmen's, and Leicester Rod and Gun clubs. Fisheries and Wildlife asked for usto participate at the PowWow, and we accepted. They asked for volunteers to help for the Trailblazer's on 4/14/07 in Yarmouthport, and on 9/15 as well. Discussed the program on advanced education course to cover targetting certain animals and advance furharvesting techiniques. Pre-registration and course cost approximately 10.00. It would be a supplement to the basic trapper's education course.

With regards to legislation, Maryland contacted the president for information. John Benedetto shared news of victory in New Hampshire. Connecticut has been slapped with a bill to ban footholds. Fisheries and Wildlife is looking for someone to replace Colleen Olfenbuttel, the former furbearer Biologist that has left for North Carolina. Reminder to fill out and return the trapping surveys. coyote review at Fisheries and Wildlife being presented in an attempt to change coyote hunting regulations. These suggestions include giving applications to hunt coyotes longer, lift the rifle restrictions, look at buckshot as an approved ammunition, clarify nightvision as legal, and add the coyote to the Problem Animal Control list as long as additional training is mandated. Two public hearings to go over the study will be held, one in May in the connecticut Valley and the other in June in the Westborough area.

The Worcester county League should have trapping included in regs. and possession of fur. Discussion on additional hearings. Colleen (absent) and Tom O'shea invited. Dave Poirier spoke re: Traps and coyotes. Mass Sporstemn sponsor bill/no trappers considered. Discussion to make sure coyote hearing/trapping could be extended along with hunters. MTA should send formal letter reequesting our interest in extending coyote bill for trapping too. Maybe put notices in Trapper and Predator. Mac would like to put a legislature committee/new bill/ re-word with BMP's. Beaver BMP's are almost finalized as per John Benedetto.

Legislation Commitee: Don Heenan, Tim Connors, Elizabeth Stephens, and (later editted to add on 04/25/07) Herb Berquist.

John Benedtto explained BMP's covered all furbearers. BMP study website interesting and on disk. Mac wil get website. JR conservation camp held in webster want some type of trapping a this camp F&W ordering tools trapping materials etc. Would the MTA bwant to sponsor someone essay? Age 13-17. Deb Benedetto made motion to set up essay contest. Vot carried to use runner up for this year's fundraiser. Fall outing? Maybe 9/30. Check with vendors. Fur auction dates? Change bylaws to change fall outing dates. TAlk to other vendors first. Irene Hayes made motion to change bylaws to incorporate September and October to hold annual meetings. Seconded. Passed. Furbearer's Unlimited? Having a calendar trapping? Donation to Furbearer's Unlimited. Dave P. made a motion to send FBU 300.00 donation. Seconded. Passed. Find out if Joel sent money to S.A.M. Dave P. motioned for membership in the league. John B. Secon. Traps for Kids, 2 membership donation. Motion made and seconded. A suggestion to do t-shirts for outings and to shop for prices. Find out cost/good product. Since September, membership has increased 40%. Liz contacting people. We have approximately 160-170 active members. Graphic designer, Bob.

Elizabet Stephens wants to cover Dave P at nationals. Motion to represent us April NE leadership, May 5 NY. Dave Poirier motioned for elizabeth to attend nationals. Budget $800 to go if she does represent us should reemburse her. Seconded. Find out if we have any active soldures and give free memberships. Put on website and trapper and predator. Franny Norman motioned to give plaque to Bill Spears. Tabled. MAPAC has a meeting tuesday 4/3 7:pm in Millbury. Meeting adjourned 12:10pm.

1/10/2007
: The Board of Health Meeting at West Boylston went very well! Many trappers were in attendance, as were some Problem Animal Control agents! With the room split easily 70/30 in our favor, the MSPCA and their little minions and followers were well outnumbered. Only about 10 people in attendance were anti-trapping of the beaver, and half of them were high school and college students.

The Board of Health gave the floor to Colleen Olfenbuttel who gave a fantastic background on the growing problem that we've had in this state since the ban of our foothold traps and the restrictions placed on our body grippers. Fielding questions, Collen was able to give some fantastic figures such as the population boom of over 293 percent between 1995 and 2001, and that right now, the population could be anywhere up to, and maybe even exceeding 100,000 in the state. These figures obviously had an impact on the anti's in attendance. Some questions were more geared towards cutting down the use of the animal, but explanations on how the pelt can be sold or worn, the meat can be consumed, the glands are used, skulls are sold, and how the remainder of the animal can be made into baits for other animals followed. A snippy remark made by one woman about the consumption of the beaver was cut off by an offer to share recipes if she was so inclined. She declined, sadly. Her loss.

When it came time for the MSPCA to make their presentation, they declined, and instead walked out without so much as a word being spoken. The high school students and college students from WPI who attended but arrived late expressed disappointment that they had missed the MSPCA's presentation, and were promptly informed that they had made no presentation, nor spoke during the entire forum. They were disappointed and dismayed, and one can only hope that perhaps it gave them some insight. Though, the young caucasian man with the 'marley dreds' probably took the most surprise from it.

The Board of Health seemed interested in changing some of the regulations to include reporting requirements to try and keep track of just how many beaver are creating these problems, and perhaps to remove the restrictions placed on Conibears, but they were informed that they do not have the ability to enforce that or request it, and given the information about contacting legislators. All in all, it was chalk one up for the good guys. And the support from Colleen, Nicole, Tara, Bill Davis, and Marion Larson fantastic. Thanks to everyone who helped nip this one in the bud!

1/03/2007
: Havahart offers to donate 3 traps to our fall annual for 2007! We also have donation interest in Lenons Lures, Team Coyote lures and Baits, and Hide and Beak.