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Connecticut Fur Harvesters Association Packbasket Newsletter

CFHA Packbasket   Volume 1, Issue 4 History of the CFHA Why another state organization? Herb Sobanski, Jr. CFHA President  Fur trapping has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My earliest memories are filled with times spent with my father on his trapline. I ran my own trapline throughout my teenage years, checking traps before or after school.  Like most of us, I stopped trapping once I completed my high school years and started college and then into the workforce. I married late in my 20's and started a family.  Trapping came back into my life later in my 30's. It started with assisting my Dad with his beaver trapping and NWCO work. It wasn't long before I was running my own trapline again.   Sometime within the early 90's, my Dad and I attended a game dinner event put on by our then, one and only state trapping organization. It was then that I decided to become active in serving within an organization dedicated to preserving our fur trapping heritage.   Connecticut Fur Harvesters Association – Presidents Report       Greetings fellow trappers!  The Connecticut regulated trapping season starts on November 8th this year. If you are interested in trapping state land this year, contact Paul Rego at Sessions Woods at (860) 424-3062 and request a State Land Trapping permit form.     It has officially been one year that the Connecticut Fur Harvesters Association has been in existence.  What a year! We have met all of our targeted milestones and have successfully incorporated a new trapping organization in the State of Connecticut. I personally want to thank Tony Szrejna, Branden Bergeron, Eric Schupp, and Nick Jennings for their tireless effort and commitment. Without them, our organization would not be a reality.  I also want to thank all of our CFHA members. Without you, the CFHA would not be able to succeed.     The evolution of creating a second trapping organization in Connecticut did not happen overnight. There were a handful of us trappers that were passionate about preserving our fur trapping heritage and felt those needs were not being met.  We saw a very distinct need to pursue outreach programs and proactively be on the fore front of dispelling untrue trapping myths, enhancing the fur trappers opportunities of being heard for regulation changes, and engaging our youth in the excitement that fur trapping brings.      It was over a year ago that a few of us committed fur trappers, concerned about the future of fur trapping in Connecticut met.  We had some difficult conversations, but the commitment was clear and the future outlook positive.  Amongst the group was a trapper who had recently passed away.  He was an amazing fur trapper and will be missed by all.  Without his outspoken desire to see a change in an organized effort to preserve our trapping heritage, the CFHA may never have been organized.           From the onset, we informed the existing state organization of our plans. We ensured them that by no means were our intentions to interfere with their organization but in fact our desire was to work in association with them. That we were interested in pursuing the opportunities they were not engaged in, we would increase the protection of our fur trapping heritage, and always be willing to work in partnership with them.           Like any new change, there is always the presence of resistance. Unfortunately, our new organization hasn't been warmly accepted by some. That is expected and I hope in time, things will change. It hasn't been easy for some of us on the executive board; we've encountered attacks to our personal integrity and character that are all completely untrue and constructed purely to sway trappers away from our organization.  Regardless of these challenges, we will focus our energy on what is most important, our trapping heritage.  In the end, we all have one common goal and I still have hope our partnership will evolve over time.  In the end, we can look back at all that we have accomplished this year and be proud of the hard work we have put in and decisions we've made.  We have made a difference and we are energized to continue on this journey with our members.     Over this past year, here are a few of the CFHA has accomplishments and milestones we've achieved: Performed our first "Fur Round-Up" event with local vendor's onsite as well as CE/FS Basic and Coyote trapping courses.  Presented the FTA "Trapping in Today's World" video to a high school class at a Connecticut Vocational/Agricultural school. Attended multiple Cabela promotional events to increase the public education and awareness of fur trapping in Connecticut. Attended the NTA National Convention at Hamburg, New York as an official affiliate. Obtained our affiliate statuses from both the National Trappers Association (NTA) and the Fur Takers of America (FTA) organizations. Completed the first phase of the CFHA web site. Continued to keep trappers informed and engaged in our Facebook group and page. Commenced on our first raffle that is in association of the Furbearers Unlimited (FBU) organization. Created a monthly newsletter for our membership (CFHA Packbasket) Planning an annual "free to members" trappers workshop that will focus on fur handling, lure making, and trap setting as well as offering free trap dying.     I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and I know that we will continue to grow as a proactive, progressive, and member oriented trapping organization Connecticut fur trappers deserve. May your plews be prime and your boots stay dry.   Herb     The NTA National Convention, A Must See Event Branden Bergeron CFHA Affiliate Director     After driving the entire width of New York State, I was eager to see what the 2015 NTA National Convention had to offer.  The venue, the event, and the people did not disappoint.  The Venue     As mentioned in the last issue of the Packbasket, the 2015 convention was held at the Event Center on the Fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY (not to be confused with Hamburger).  This was the most pristine, well-kept fairground I have ever seen.  There were no dusty gravel paths, everything was paved and in great condition.  The landscaping was beautiful and well-manicured, the buildings were clean, and there was ample space for all of the vendors and tailgaters. It is definitely a top-notch facility. The Event     While the quality of the venue made the facility more enjoyable, let's face it, we're all trappers and it could have been held almost anywhere and would still have been an excellent event.  The price of admission was low, almost every trapping vendor I've ever head of was in attendance, and there we great deals to be had on both new and used gear.  In addition to the trapping supply vendors, there were representatives from numerous conservation groups, other trapping organizations, and NAFA onsite.  This was a great networking event for the CFHA, stay tuned to future editions of the Packbasket to see the results of our discussions with various groups that were in attendance. The People     Anyone that read my article last month will realize that the list of demos scheduled for the event was truly impressive.  There were great trappers, great topics, and many great lessons learned from these demos.  In my experience, the small tidbits of information gathered from these demos were truly enlightening.  For example, most trappers understand how to build some sort of a drowner rig for beaver, but not everyone knows how to build a truly functional drowner the way that Trent Masterson described in his demo.  It may not seem earth shattering, but the two or three minutes of his demo where he described it in detail were certainly worth the price of admission.     In addition to the fantastic demonstrations, walking around the event and speaking with vendors and tailgaters was another great way to pick up information.  A quick discussion with Jeff French opened my eyes to a quick and easy way to build a compact, lightweight bodygrip stabilizer that will undoubtedly find a permanent place on my trapline.  I also learned more about predator calling from John Chagnon at PCS Outdoors in 5 minutes than I ever have from an hour on an internet forum.  Despite owning a supply business, John didn't try to sell me the most expensive electronic caller or tell me that I need seven different mouth calls to kill a coyote.  He laid it out plain and simple for me.  There is no doubt that in those 5 minutes, John earned a customer for life. Conclusion     I bought way too many traps and other supplies while I was at the Convention, but I learned a great deal of information, met many great people, got to spend quality with my CFHA brethren.  I also decided that I will be traveling to Kalamazoo, MI for the 2016 convention.  I can say without reservation that you need to attend the next NTA Convention as well, it is worth every penny.   BMP's for Trapping Raccoon in the United States What are the BMP's for raccoon? Herb Sobanski, Jr. CFHA President     Best Management Practices (BMPs) are carefully researched educational guides designed to address animal welfare and increase trappers' efficiency and selectivity. The extensive research and field-testing used to develop BMPs are described in the Introduction section of this manual. The evaluation methods used to develop BMPs have been standardized, enabling them to be easily updated and revised as new traps and techniques become available. All traps listed in the BMPs have been tested and meet performance standards for animal welfare, efficiency, selectivity, practicality and safety.       Trapping BMPs provide options, allowing for discretion and decision making in the field. BMPs are meant to be implemented in a voluntary and educational approach and do not present a single choice that can or must be applied in all cases. BMPs are the product of ongoing work that may be updated as additional traps are identified through future scientific testing..   Sections include:   The Raccoon at a Glance General Overview of Traps Meeting BMP Criteria for Raccoon in the United States Specifications of Traps Meeting BMP Criteria for Raccoons in the United States Safe Use of Bodygrip Traps   Traps tested and evaluated in these BMP's for raccoon were: ( and are legal to use in Connecticut )   Woodstream™ Victor No. 1 coil-spring trap Sleepy Creek™ No. 1 ½ coil-spring, modified with double-jaw. Duke No. 1 1/2 coil-spring trap, modified with double-jaw, laminated. Sleepy Creek™ No. 1 1/2 coil-spring, wide jaw,offset, modified with double-jaw. Sleepy Creek™ No. 11 longspring, double-jaw, offset. Lil' Grizz Get'rz™ Trap Tomahawk™ Cage Trap, No. 108   Note on Connecticut Regulations:   All Bodygrippers ( Conibear type traps ) tested in this BMP for Raccoon CANNOT be used in Connecticut for trapping raccoon.   UNPADDED METAL TRAP RESTRICTIONS   May only be used below the surface of the water in a pond, lake, stream, spring hole, or tidal water.   Opening greater than 5 3/4" is prohibited, except that traps with an opening of up to 7 1/2" may be set for beaver in waters frequented by beaver       Below is an excerpt from the Sec. 26-66-5. Trapping:General / DEEP Regulations:   (b) Subject to the provisions of section 26-66-5(a) unpadded metal traps and smooth wire traps shall only be placed, set or attended below the surface of the water in a pond, lake, stream, river, spring hole or tidal waters, except smooth wire traps having an opening of four and three quarters inches or less may extend above the surface of the water provided a portion of the trap frame must remain in contact with the water.   BMPs serve as a reference guide to wildlife management agencies, conservation organizations, tribal nations, researchers, trapper organizations, individual trappers and others interested in the continued improvement of traps and trapping systems.   For more information on the BMP's for Trapping Raccoon download the PDF file at: http://www.fishwildlife.org/files/Raccoon_BMP_2014_F.pdf     Integrity Matters Branden Bergeron CFHA Affiliate Director     Merriam-Webster defines the word "ethical" in four ways.  The most important definition in my mind, especially as it pertains to trapping, is "conforming to accepted standards of conduct."     There has been a great deal of discussion about the ethics of "trophy hunting" as of late due to Cecil the Lion issue.  As with any issue in the media, I'm not sure what to believe and what not to believe.  Ultimately, I will not weigh in on Cecil, I will, however, go on the record to say that I am fully in support of fair chase, legal lion hunting, end of story.     Some of the details of the Cecil story, including the smashing and removal of a tracking collar that was on the lion, bring to light a very important issue, not only for trapping, but life in general: ethical behavior.  Smashing a collar and removing it from a harvested animal is high unethical.     Every licensed fur trapper in the State of Connecticut must attend a mandatory Basic Trapping course and if they choose to land trap coyotes, they must also attend the Coyote Land Trapping course.  These classes teach some very rudimentary trapping skills, but the most important take away from them should be legal and ethical trapping practices in Connecticut.  Connecticut is constantly one issue away from losing fur trapping.  We live in an urban state where most residents are very disconnected from nature and the harvesting of wildlife.  As a result, we must all be on our best behavior 100% of the time. A great deal of our trapping activities go unnoticed by the general population.  Keeping a low profile helps prevent trap theft, makes dealing with competition easier, and is conducive to a more productive trap line.  People may not see what you're doing, but they could.  The people watching you may not be anti-trapping, but they could.  Passersby may not know legal trapping methods from illegal trapping methods, but they could.  The bottom line is that a trapper could get away with illegal or unethical trapping practices for many years or even indefinitely.        Get caught doing something unethical or illegal by the wrong person and fur trapping in Connecticut could easily become a thing of the past. Sadly, one bad apple could easily ruin it for all Connecticut trappers.     By trapping illegally or unethically you risk being the reason why we all lose trapping.  Even if you don't do anything illegal or unethical, turning a blind eye to these practices is just as dangerous.  By not turning in those that are trapping illegally we could all suffer.  To report illegal trapping activity, contact the CTDEEP TIP Line at 800-842-4357.   Don't be shy, all of us legal trappers will commend you for it.  Be an ethical trapper, be an ethical person, period.   Trapping News Submitted by Herb Sobanski Jr.   Connecticut Fur Harvesters Association new FTA Affiliate – August 14, 2015 The Connecticut Fur Harvesters Association is now an official Fur Takers of America state Affiliate! This accomplishment, coupled with our NTA Affiliate status, cements our ability to give Connecticut fur trappers a clear voice in our national trapping organizations!   New Jersey game council OKs use of foothold traps – June 15,2015 The New Jersey Fish and Game Council agreed this week to allow raccoon trappers to use foothold traps that have been outlawed since 1984.   California Fish & Game Commission voted to ban bobcat trapping statewide – August 5, 2015 The commission also considered taking a zone-based approach, in which bobcat trapping would have been prohibited only in certain regions of the state. But that approach was rejected. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors opposed the ban, excepting only Third District Supervisor Mark Lovelace. The board majority argued the ban would represent an overreach of the commission's authority, and it also felt trappers should have been consulted. The ban does not affect bobcat hunting, which remains legal, nor does it prevent the trapping of nuisance bobcats, such as those threatening livestock.              Classified Section: ( If you would like to sell, buy or trade any items, please contact us! )     For Sale: 15 foot canoe. $100 or Best Offer.                                   Contact Herb at 860-874-3172   For Sale:  Metal and plastic barrels all sizes for sale.                        Contact John at 860-543-5376 For Sale:  Motorguide 67 lb thrust bow munt trolling motor -mount not included. Great spare trolling motor. $150 OBO.                             Contact Branden at 860-377-7640     Furbearer Facts  Despite their name, fishers do not actually eat fish. They prey on smaller mammals, and are considered a specialty predator because they prey on porcupines. Fishers do not have any major predators. Bobcat and lynx have been known to prey on them on occasion as well as wolves. A male fisher will patrol a territory of approximately 30 square miles, making circuits and passing through the same area once every two weeks or so. Females patrol a smaller territory around 10 square miles. Most fisher activity is not seen by humans during daylight, as they are most active and tend to hunt at night time.  Calendar of Events CT Fur Harvesters Monthly Meeting Date: September 15th 2015 at 7p.m. Place: Herb Sobanski's House 194A Abbe Road Enfield, CT Hunting and Fishing Day at Sessions Woods Date: September 26th Place: Sessions Woods 341 Milford Street, Burlington, CT CFHA Trappers Workshop for Members Date: October 24th Place: Tolland Agricultural Center 24 Hyde Avenue, Route 30, Vernon, CT Free trap dyeing to all members (up to two dozen traps per person). Trap set making and fur handling demos. $30 to become a member and have your traps dyed for free! Affiliates   Connecticut Fur Harvesters Association     I am enclosing payment for one years' membership in the CFHA which includes a one year's subscription to "The Trappers Post" magazine. I will work with the association to conserve our natural resources, educate the general public to bring about fair trapping laws and work to prevent unfair legislation from becoming law.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Name:   16yrs and older - $30.00/yr   Address:       15 yrs and younger - $15.00/yr   Town:   Zip:       Email:   Phone:                   Mail to:  Tony Szrejna c/o CFHA P.O. Box 2091 Vernon CT 06066 New Renewal       Make checks payable to "CFHA"                             Facebook Website

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