President — Joel Blakeslee (Sherri), 7455 Star Hill, Sparks, NV 89436; phone: 775-425-0900
Vice President — Scott Byrd, 530 Reservoir Rd. Lovelock, NV 89419; phone: 775-273-3140
Secretary/Treasurer — Judi Curran, 4170 St. Clair Rd., Fallon, NV 89406; phone: 775- 867-2239
Fur Manager — Jim Curran, 4170 St. Clair Rd., Fallon, NV 89406; phone: 775-867-2239
Membership Options:
• Individual membership including subscription to The Trapper & Predator Caller — $17
• Husband & wife with subscription — $20
Complete membership application on first page of
association section and send dues to:
NTA, Secretary/Treasurer
Judi Curran
4170 St. Clair Rd., Fallon, NV 89406
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Well, it looks as though we escaped the 2009 legislative session relatively unscathed as far as trapping is concerned. There were some last-minute efforts to introduce amendments to current trapping legislation, but nothing really materialized. That’s good.
However, it now looks as though NDOW will be looking for a substantial reduction in the bobcat and gray fox seasons for 2009-2010. Hold on to your hats! Things are really up in the air this year.
Several of the key Wildlife Commissioners’ positions are up for change, so who knows where this will end up. While I think most trappers are willing to go along with a modest reduction in the season, the current NDOW recommendation is a bit of an over correction in my humble opinion. I believe we will see a reduction in fur prices, a reduction in trapper interest, a reduction in harvest and an increase in the cost to produce ’cats (i.e. fuel). In addition, we have had encouraging weather for this time of year, with good late spring snows in most areas, and timely early summer rainfall.
My observations and trail camera footage show good hatches of quail and chukar in nearly every area of Southern Nevada. I hope the weather treats you folks up North just as well. Let’s hope we can work with NDOW and come up with a sensible season this year.
The other interesting news tidbit is the TrailSafe folks have reared their … heads again. You remember the group that tried to ban trapping near trails and roads a couple of years ago? Well, they’re back. Despite their representations to various public bodies that they weren’t anti-trappers seeking a larger agenda, they have shed their sheep’s clothes and shown they want nothing less than total elimination of trapping in Nevada. Their poster child, so to speak, is the bobcat.
They have published a pamphlet, complete with cute baby bobcats describing how the big, bad trappers will be slaughtering these helpless little blue-eyed kittens if something isn’t done immediately (usually, the “something” involves cash donations). Anyway, we need to be vigilant and respond with professional information.
By the time you read this, we will be in the throws of our Summer Rendezvous at Hunt’s Canyon July 10-12. Hope to see you all there.
— Tracy Truman
