MTA Novice Trapping Course

[Dave Lyons]

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Michigan Trappers Association 3rd Annual Novice Trapping Course
Water’s Edge [property of Johanne and Jack Otteson]
Rose City, Ogemaw County, Michigan

Supported by Mid Michigan Independent Trappers
Northern Great Lakes Fur Harvesters
Jack Van Hoose Trapping Endowment

Course Dates; September 24-26, 2004
Pre-registration due; September 1, 2004
Attendees – 20 maximum [first come first serve, organization affiliation is not pre-requisite] A responsible adult
must accompany youth under the age of 18. Adults are encouraged to participate in all aspects of course except; 1) setting traps Saturday night and 2) exam.
Cost – Cost of course and materials: Cost to “youth attendees” $20, cost to “responsible adult” $20; “adult
attendees [without youth] $40
Housing – Responsibility of Participant
 Primitive camping available on grounds [no charge]
 Motel / Campground listing will be provided on request.
Meals – Catered [included in cost]
Equipment – [Some equipment will be available for use during the class; don’t let lack of equipment be a deterrent to taking the class]
Participants should bring traps and trap setting equipment; Traps, sifters etc., hip boots or waders for water trapping [we have MDNR permission to set traps Saturday night - group will be split into teams, each team will set one land trap and water trap]
Participants should have Fur Harvester License prior to start of class, however the license is not a requirement for taking the class.

Curriculum –
 History
 Ethics, Law
 Wildlife Management
 Equipment [Traps, snares, Tools, Attractors]
 Basics of Fur Bearer Natural History
 Trap preparation and trap setting [lecture and laboratory]
 Fur Handling [lecture and laboratory]
 Exam and course feedback

Instructors – [all instructors will be DNR employees or DNR Certified Instructors]
 Jack Otteson
 Tom Oakey
 Mark W Spencer
 Mike Seelman
 Tom Willis
 DNR Biologist – to be determined
 DNR Conservation Officer – to be determined
Facilities –
 Large tent [20 x 30] for class room and meals
 Tables and chairs
 Portable toilets
 

For anyone that can make this District 8 is giving $10.00 to two lucky youths.  But first they must write a explaination on why they would like to trap or why they enjoy trapping.  Also I am personally giving $10.00 to one lucky youth for doing the same thing.

If you can attend and you are a youth just drop me a PM with your writings and we see if you win.

Dave

[17HMR]

I wish I would have run into some thing like that twenty years ago, Its tough to learn w/o help.  Jeff