March 2011

District 5 Director

Pete Jonas

Hello everyone,

We had our spring meeting at Johnson Fur in Willmar on Saturday, February 5th. We had another good turnout of people and the weather was nice.

Thanks to Scott and crew for letting us have our spring meeting along with his customer appreciation day and providing a very good roast pork lunch for everyone.

Thanks to Jason Smith for doing Fur Handling Demo's and thanks to Dena Olson for helping with the drawing. Karen and Eugene Anderson deserve a thank you for once again donating a raccoon hat for the kids drawing. Each kid (12 and under) received a weasel box with a trap. Thank you to Jason and Lisa Smith for helping build the weasel boxes for the kids.

Our drawing went very well also, thanks to the generous donations of traps and supplies from Gerald and Doreen Schmitt of Schmitt Enterprises, Tim and Nancy Caven of Minnesota Trapline Products and Scott Braegelman. If you get the chance, please thank these dealers for donating to our drawing.

The 1st Legal Defense Banquet was a big success. Thanks to everyone that helped make this happen. Everyone I talked to had a lot of fun and said they would go again.

I will be having another trappers education class this fall, the last part of August. It will be a two day class. If anyone else is planning on having one this spring or summer and needs help, let me know, and if I can I will gladly help.

Take care,

Pete

March 2011

District 5 Co- Director

Hello Trappers,

Just got back from the District meeting. Very nice turnout. Thanks to Johnson Fur for having the meeting there. We are moving forward with the snaring issues brought up by our district. Also, it is very encouraging to hear of members stepping up and trying to encourage young people to join in our heritage. Some are setting up with schools and parks departments. Encouraging the youth is the only way we will be able to keep this great heritage alive. Please take some time and bring a kid or kids with you trapping. Teaching them the REAL truth about trapping and its' value to wildlife management is key. I hope everyone is staying warm and cleared out with all the snow. Should make spring beaver trapping interesting!

Hopefully see you at the summer convention. Make reservations now, if you’re staying at a hotel. It looks to be a great time. If you would like to have an education class this spring, let Pete or Mark or me know. We can help you out. Some great things are happening because many of the members getting more involved with the MTA and I want to say a special thank you to all of you.

Til next time.

Be safe,

Jerry