View the 2016 Indiana Trapper Fall Newsletter

THE
Fall 2016
ISTA NEWSLETTER
INDIANA TRAPPER
OFFICER DIRECTORY
President’s Message
My message begins with more of a
personal question to you...
DO YOU REALLY SUPPORT
TRAPPING?
Bob Hast does. He donated new
traps and lures to be handed out at
the Convention last year. This is not
the first time that he has made such a
donation, and we truly appreciate his
donation. Donations, to the ISTA’s
White Elephant sale on Friday nights,
are an excellent way to support the
ISTA which in turn works to preserve
our trapping privilege. Everyone has
some little item that they could part
with and never miss. Attending the
auction is even a better way. We always
have fun. Your participation in the Fur
Sale in January helps to set the tone
for what the ISTA may do throughout
the year. Fur prices are low, so just
donating a few furs to the auction for
the benefit of the ISTA, is an easy way
to help the ISTA out, as is sending in
a five ($5) dollar donation. The ISTA
cannot begin to thank enough the
various vendors that make donations
to our Trapper Education Classes and
other projects. These donors include,
but are not limited to, Duke Traps,
Hoosier Trappers Supply, Minnesota
Trap Line Products, Wildlife Control
Supplies, PCS Outdoors, and the FTA
for their educational DVDs produced
by Rick Schoonover. (If I have missed
anyone, my apologies.)
Do you support trapping by being
counted among those who do? I
estimate that less than seven (7%)
percent of the people who have
trapping licenses in Indiana, are
members of the ISTA, let alone other
trapping related organizations. The
Fur Takers of America (FTA) has a
National Organization that has local
Affiliates throughout the States and
Country. The ISTA is currently in need
of a representative to the FTA. The
National Trappers Association (NTA)
looks to the State Associations to
have a representative to help maintain
their communication with trappers
in that State. Stu Grell is our NTA
representative and he does a very
good job keeping the ISTA apprised
of what is going on in the USA. The
Sportsmen’s Alliance is an organization
that actively tracks legislation, pending
and passed, that affects the sportsman’s
use of the outdoors. If you don’t belong,
to at least one of these associations,
then you are not counted as a supporter
of trapping and the Anti’s thank
you. Currently the ISTA has around
330 members. Let’s all bring one (1)
new person to sign up at this coming
Convention.
Do you support trapping by
attending Conventions? One
complaint that I hear from a vocal few,
is that the Conventions are ALWAYS
held up in Northern Indiana, or at least
north of HWY 70. The interesting
thing is, that historically, the ISTA
Board has noted that the further south
we go with the Convention, the poorer
attendance in general that we have. I
thought Conventions in Tipton were
a nice “centralized” location, and the
Tipton County
continued on pg. 2
Visit us on the web at www.indianatrappers.org
President til 2017
Frederick P. Philips, DVM
622 W. Foster Heights Rd.
Rushville, IN 46173
765.938.1806
fpp@juno.com
Vice-President till 2016
Tom Setser
2496 N. Washington St.
Danville, IN 46122
317-287-9027
thesets85@gmail.com
Secretary till 2017
Melissa Mansfield
5758 N. 820 E.
Attica, IN 47918
765.585.7036
mo2boys@yahoo.com
Treasurer till 2016
Georgia Gifford
921 S. Locke St.
Kokomo, IN 46901
765.860.7499
georgia19689@gmail.com
Director till 2016
Byron Tiede
3236 N. 100 W.
Reynolds, IN 47980
219.863.9948
dogman@
honeycreekboardingkennel.com
Director till 2017
Deric Beroshok
921 S. Locke St.
Kokomo, IN 46901
765.860.7499
trapperfur@aol.com
Director till 2018
Paul Waldman
1232 N. Korby
Kokomo, IN 46901
765.513.7368
indianared77@gmail.com
FTA Rep. 2017
OPEN
NTA Rep. 2016
Stu Grell
2220 E. 1400 N.
Attica, IN 47918
765.572.2207
sgrell@tds.net
Trapping Education
Coordinator 2017
Deric Beroshok
921 S. Locke St.
Kokomo, IN 46901
765.860.7499
trapperfur@aol.com
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2
DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVES
(See the IDNR Law Enforcement
Districts for Boundaries)
District # 1
OPEN
District #2
Chuck “Beaverfoot” Iser
(765) 620-3361
District #3
Stu Grell
(765) 572-2207
District #4
Deric Bershok
(765) 860-7499
Alternative District #4
Georgia Gifford
(765) 438-3630
District #5
Ned Malone
(812) 659-2721
Alternative District #5
James Grubb
(812) 829-3058
District #6
Tom Setser
(317) 287-9027
District #7
Dave Jellison
(812) 639-0208
Alternative District #7
Jerry Hunefeld
(812) 536-2136
District #8
Matt Byrnes
(502) 641-6668
District #9
Fred Philips, DVM
(765) 938-1806
District #10
Randy Sowder
(219) 956-2293
(Saturdays Only please)
Printed by
Commercial Printing Services
800-888-2164
4-H Association charged us very
reasonably. After one (1) year, most
of the Vendors were very happy
with Tipton. However, some of the
membership wanted the Convention
site moved around, so we moved it,
and they didn’t come out for it last
year in Danville. This year it is back
where the ISTA was founded for its
55th Convention and Rendezvous,
Union Mills, IN. Next year, the
2017 ISTA 56th Convention and
Rendezvous looks like it will be at the
Decatur County 4-H Fairgrounds and
Exhibition Center, in Greensburg, IN.,
545 S. Co. Rd. 200 W., Greensburg,
IN 47240, a location south of Hwy
70. Will you be there? Or will you
just complain because it wasn’t within
10 miles of your home town? Support
trapping by supporting the ISTA,
and getting involved. If you want a
Convention within 10 miles of your
home, help us plan one there. If you
want that Convention to have a bunch
of Kid’s games, please volunteer to
help run them. It is easy to sit back
and complain. Why not be part of the
solution, help out!
Do you support trapping by
participating in events that highlight
trapping? Maybe you have a hard
time getting to the Convention. Maybe
you don’t really have anything to
donate to the White Elephant Sale.
But, maybe there is a sport show that
occurs each year near to you. The
ISTA will sponsor you up to $100 if
you will sit a booth at the sport show.
The ISTA will supply you with furs,
membership forms, clothing, etc. that
you may sell on the behalf of the
ISTA. Some of these sport shows
may generate several hundred dollars
of income for the ISTA, if we could
just get someone to sit a booth. Paul
Waldman took over the Deer and
Turkey show last year, and did very
well with it. He plans to run it again
this next year, February 23 – 26, 2017.
This show takes place on a Thursday,
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in
association with the Indy Sport and
RV Show. If you would be interested
in helping out with this Show, please
give Paul a call in the near future.
Don’t put it off and forget about it.
This last July 9th, I attended IDNR’s
Hoosier Heritage Day that Specialist
Rex Watters organizes and puts on at
the Paynetown Recreational Area at
Lake Monroe. Rex tries to have reenactors portray the time periods from
the 1750’s thru to the 1880’s, more or
less. The more realistic, the better, but
he makes a bit of an exception for me.
I do my best to portray a trapper, but I
really do not have the period clothing
that some of the hard core mountain
men have. What I do have are some
old traps and ISTA skins along with
my mother’s pony’s hide. I also have a
couple of old original rifles, one from
the 1840’s and the other from 1861.
The picnic tables that I cover with my
stuff draw a crowd everytime. That I
am not 100% period, doesn’t matter to
them. That these people are introduced
to trapping and the history of the fur
trade is. They are fascinated by being
able to handle this equipment and they
learn a new respect for the individuals
that pursued beaver in the 1800s. No
one can ever guess what my mother’s
skin is. LOL. If you would like to
help out with this event, Rex has it
the next weekend after the 4th of July.
Next year, it is on July 8th & 9, 2017.
Give Rex Watters, or I, a call.
So do you support trapping?
Occasionally, I hear that someone
Visit us on the web at www.indianatrappers.org
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won’t join an Association because someone else is
involved with that Association. Really? Are we back
in Grade School? How does that support trapping and
why would it really matter? Trappers should support
trapping associations and their events, and ignore
personality conflicts with individuals, if they want to
continue to trap into the future. Leadership changes
regularly. The goal doesn’t.
Support trapping!
Watch your top knot. Keep your eyes along the skyline.
Fred “DR” Philips, DVM
Pres. ISTA
ISTA 55th CONVENTION AND
RENDEZVOUS
ISTA 55th CONVENTION AND RENDEZVOUS is
coming up very soon. There should be a Ballot with
this newsletter. Please be sure to fill out the Ballot and
either send it in so it arrives by the deadline, or bring
it with you to the Convention. The Convention will
be held September 16 & 17, 2016, at Mill Pond Park,
100 Mill Pond Rd., Union Mills, IN. 46382. Set up
will begin Thursday, September 15th, at noon. On site
primitive and electric hookup camping is available.
There is a nice paved path for tailgaters to set up off
of and a nice pond to watch the ducks and demos on.
Ron Elliott has once again “volunteered” to be the
Booshway of this event. His contact information is
(C) 219-241-1299 or the birdieman@hotmail.com. I
cannot thank him enough for his help and support.
He has lined up demo’s from several members at this
time. Fred Philips, DVM will speak on Zoonosis
(Diseases that affect animals and man, alike) and give
a demonstration of the GopherHawk trap. Ron Elliott
plans on doing a coyote demo. Doyle Flory doesn’t
know what he will give a demo on, but he will do
something. Maybe dance. Jerry Schilling is going
to do one of his famous Turtle demos. Jeff Robinson
will give his take on Coyotes. Deric Beroshok will
speak about doing and being an ADC person. Kenny
Peregrine will demonstrate Beaver and maybe some
Otter trapping. (If we ask nice, Amos Malstaff will
skin his 10,000th muskrat.) The FTA Fur College
will be ending Saturday around noon, and we can
only speculate on who may stop by our Convention
Saturday afternoon. Ron may be able to get some of
the Vendors to give their take on trapping some specie.
Coyotes appear to be one of the potential bright
spots for this coming season, so I am sure it will be
emphasized.
Carthage TE: What do you do when your boots are not tall enough to cross the creek? Hitch a ride of course.
Visit us on the web at www.indianatrappers.org
4
ISTA Secretary’s Report:
Melissa Mansfield: Hello, Everyone! Here it is
already the middle of July and we are just over a
month away from heading to the National Trappers
Association Convention. I am really looking forward
to being in Kalamazoo, MI with Stu and our dogs. My
Great Pyrenees puppy will be 9 months old then and
I am anxious to show her off to all the people. The
National Conventions hold many fine memories for
me and I expect this one to be no different. Hope to
see lots of you there. We have elections coming up
again for our Vice President, Treasurer, a Director’s
position, and the NTA representative as well. We also
are in need of a representative for the FTA position if
anyone would like to step forward to volunteer. As
there have been no others to come forward to oppose
those already in office, it will take a majority of writeins to overturn any of them. With that being said, I
would like to mention something about volunteering
and some of the discontent that has been going around
in the social media lately. First, I would like to
commend all the officers of the Board. They all work
on a volunteer basis and put in much more time than
many of you realize. The majority of this board has
been here since the whole association was on the brink
of extinction in 2011 and worked very hard to not see
that happen. Yes, the membership has been higher
in past years, but it has also increased considerably
since I joined in 2012. Now, I have to say that I don’t
often visit the blogs or pages where other trappers
are commenting about us, but I did go there when
requested to check it out. I was extremely dismayed
at the unsubstantiated remarks about the ISTA being
“crap” or that we “suck”. We all try very hard to give
you an association that will teach and supply trapping
information to any who desire it. We attempt to put
on a yearly convention and at least one membership
meeting in the Spring. We hold raffles as fundraisers
and we hold Trapper Education courses at numerous
times throughout the year. Yet I have seen comments
of how some would love to be members, but not under
the current Board. Then why don’t they volunteer to
be officers, get elected, and show us how much better
they can do it. There is very little participation within
the membership. We have made offers to compensate
any member who would like to set up a booth at an
event to help spread the word about trapping. NO
ONE has come forward to accept the materials and
the $100 compensation. We still have an FBU/ISTA
gun to raffle from 2015! Where is the participation to
help keep this organization afloat? We would like to
have another National convention here in Indiana, but
that takes LOTS of volunteers to pull off a really good
one. Those kind of fundraisers can net the association
1000s of dollars and would then help us to help others
such as the Montana trappers who are facing a serious
issue concerning the exportation of CITES tagged
furs. There is no way that we could expect to have
that kind of participation for a convention if things
continue the way they are. Instead of speaking out
against the association, how about stepping up to help
out and make this the kind of membership that it used
to be? I would like to thank Bryon Tiede for stepping
up and taking the open director’s position that was
vacated when Tom Setser stepped up to Vice President
after Lonnie Phillip’s resignation. Please remember to
take those ballots and vote! Get it in early so that you
don’t set it aside and forget about it. Write yourself
in as FTA Director and have your friends do the same
for you! I hope that all of you are having a great
summer and enjoying the weather. Get that list of
supplies ready and bring it to the ISTA Convention in
September at Union Mills. It is our 55th year and we
are celebrating at the site of the very first convention.
Let’s make this the best one yet and everyone come by
to say hello when you are attending. Hope to see you
there.
Live, Love, Laugh,
Melissa Mansfield
Red Fox with Sarcoptic Mange. Can you catch this
infestation?
Visit us on the web at www.indianatrappers.org
NTA Representative Report:
Stu Grell: It never ceases to amaze me how busy
every season of the year is. There is always something
going on with trapping all year long. I did not make
the trip to Kansas this year for the FTA convention.
I’ll be representing you at the NTA convention in
Kalamazoo, Michigan in August. I hope to see a
bunch of you there. The NTA has entered into the
battle in Montana with the antis over the right to
export animal hides that have CITES tags. You can
read more about it in the American Trapper and on the
NTA website. The antis want to stop the exportation
of all CITES tagged animals. This will affect 49
states including Indiana. Money is needed to fight
this lawsuit. As a trapping group we should try to
contribute to this fight. But we (the ISTA) have a
problem. No money to send. Why, because our fund
raising projects are not getting your support. We
have two different gun raffles going on. The one that
concerns me the most is our 2015 FBU/ISTA Gun of
the Year .223 rifle. We still have about 100 of the 250
tickets left to sell. See the ad for it in this news letter.
We need your help in selling (or buying) these tickets.
When we get them sold the ISTA will clear about
$500. I have the tickets. Contact me about getting
some sold, please. I just cannot do it all myself.
Stu Grell
NTA Director
IN PASSING:
The Indiana State Trapper Association recently
lost a couple of its members, Bill Lewis and Kaleb
Buck. Bill was a long time supporter of the ISTA and
dedicated Trapper Education Educator. In Bill’s 80
some years of life, he has taught hundreds of kids and
adults how to trap. He had forgotten more information
about trapping than I am sure that I will ever learn.
Bill received many awards, including the ISTA
Trapper of the Year, ISTA Hall of Fame, and multiple
NAFA Top Lot Awards. He was always willing to
help out, donating time, money and opening his home
and shop to innumerable meetings over the years.
Kaleb’s young life was cut short by cancer. He had
just become interested in trapping a few years ago and
was Awarded the Very Special Youth Trapper of the
Year in 2014. I pray that Kaleb meets Bill in Heaven
and that they both have an eternity to trap. May their
chains always be tight. Rest in Peace boys.
Stop Montana I-177
Which will prohibit trapping and snaring on
public land in Montana.
5
Bill Lewis (right) receiving the Ruger Scout .308 Rifle from
Stu Gell in 2012.
Send a donation to the
Montana State Trappers Assn.,
PO Box 133,
Gildford, MT 59525
Visit www.montanatrappers.com for more
information.
Carthage TE: Dennis Cobb making the opening cuts on a
raccoon while the class looks on. The gentleman to the left,
with the stripe on his arm, is from Canada. He was an IU
student who saw the advertisement for TE Class in the
Gad-A-Bout.
Visit us on the web at www.indianatrappers.org
6
FWCC / Bobcats:
The IDNR is working on a rule that would legalize
Bobcat trapping in some counties of Indiana similar to
what we now have for Otters. The Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Committee (FWCC) discussed this, as
well as many other items at the recent FWCC meeting
held on July 16th, 2016 at Camp Atterbury, Edinburg,
IN. I attended this meeting as a representative of
the ISTA. Be watching the IDNR website for more
information concerning this subject and where further
public meetings will be held. We need members to
attend these meetings to show the Anti’s that we do
exist and care about the “Rules”.
ISTA FUR SALE:
The ISTA Fur Sale is set for January 14th, 2017, same
place, same time, IF there is a sale. The Board is
still discussing the lack of members’ involvement with
this sale, the extremely low fur prices, and the lack of
enough commission income to justify having this sale.
Many more non-members sold fur this past January
than did members, and too many did not join the
ISTA to support trapping throughout the year. They
only took advantage of what benefited them directly,
and moved on. In the short run, this cost the ISTA
financial resources and hence did not support trapping.
In the long run, it does give exposure to the ISTA and
hopefully those that did not join in January, joined by
July, so they could get a voting privilege.
Name ___________________________
Phone ___________________________
Name ___________________________
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Name ___________________________
Phone
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Phone
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Carthage TE: Success on the line. CO Scott Johnson and
a student pose with a raccoon. We kept her standing there
for several minutes to see how long she would hold it there.
Phone
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Name
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Phone
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Visit us on the web at www.indianatrappers.org
FurBearers Unlimited &
Indiana Trappers Association
Gun of the Year 2015 ~ Engraved 1 of 1
New for 2015 ~ Just Releasing from Factory!
AN AMERICAN LEDGEND IS BORN
Ruger
"American RANCH RiflE"
Ruger 6965, 5.56 NATO "AMERICAN RIFLE RANCH" Ruger Marksman Adjustable™ Trigger offers a crisp
release w/ a pull weight that is adjustable between 3 and 5 pounds, allowing shooters to make that perfect shot. Ergonomic,
lightweight flat dark earth composite stock (designed for quick, easy handling) blends a classic look with modern forend
contouring and grip serrations. Swivel studs are installed. Soft rubber recoil pad is crafted for maximum recoil reduction.
The one-piece, three-Lug 70 degree bolt provides ample scope clearance. The bolt also utilizes a full diameter bolt body and
dual cocking cams for smooth, easy cycling from the shoulder. Power Bedding® is an integral bedding block system that
positively locates the receiver and free-floats the barrel for outstanding accuracy. The threaded barrel is cold hammerforged, resulting in ultra-precise rifling that provides exceptional accuracy, longevity and easy cleaning. (1/2"-28 thread
pattern on 5.56 NATO; 5/8"-24 thread pattern on .300 BLK.) Features an easy-to-actuate tang safety that provides instant
security, visibility and accessibility. Rotary magazine fits flush with the stock and offers the smooth feed that has become the
hallmark of Ruger® rotary magazines. Features a factory installed one-piece aluminum scope rail.
The 100% American-made, is the latest engineering innovation
from America's leading firearms manufacturer!
Tickets $10.00 each or 3 for $25.00 only 250 tickets sold!!!
Don't Miss Your Chance on this Collector's Item
For More Info or tickets contact:
Stu Grell @ 765-363-2207
Visit us on the web at www.indianatrappers.org
7
ISTA
921 S. Locke St.
Kokomo, IN 46901
REGULAR / FAMILY WITH MAGAZINE..................................................$35/YR______
REGULAR / FAMILY WITHOUT MAGAZINE..........................................$25/YR______
JUNIOR (UNDER 16 YEARS OLD) MEMBERSHIP (includes Magazine)...$20/YR______
LIFETIME INDIVIDUAL WITH MAGAZINE............................................$350.00______
LIFETIME INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT MAGAZINE....................................$200.00______
SENIOR LIFETIME INDIVIDUAL WITH MAGAZINE.............................$150.00______
Mail completed application to the Treasurer: ISTA, 921 S. Locke St., Kokomo, IN 46901