VTA District 5 Director's Report
Jerry Pangle
2567 South Ox Rd
Edinburg VA 22824
phone 540-984-9604
Virginia Trappers Association
District 5
August 2005 Report:
District 5 held there May meeting at Bryan Nelson’s house. Attendance was good. Warren Pence donated a set of hand carved Fur boards with a forbearing animal from the State on each one. The boards were donated to the district for a fundraiser or as we see fit to use, with a special thanks to Warren for these beautiful boards.
We talked about many things including hosting the state picnic on October 8, 2005.
I set up a display with fur and old traps at Strasburg’s May fest celebration on Saturday, May the 14th. This display was set up at an old building that once housed a tannery. The display was well accepted and we expect to be asked back next year.
I spent a lot of time hunting turkeys this spring and had a very good time doing it. I hunted Virginia, Tennessee and Iowa. I was able to kill a few long beards and got a chance to look a some really nice trap ground. While in Iowa I met a trapper and asked him about his catch. He caught 734 mink and 2700 coons witch he sold all in the round. Just when you think you can trap a little bit you meet a guy like this. I was invited out to trap when I retire and I just might have to take him up on that.
Scott Dean and myself attended our regional game commission hearings in Verona. I spoke on behalf of the VTA in our quest to have a limited otter season west of the Blue Ridge. I also spoke for myself on the need for a deer stop on snares if we raise the height I was very well received on both issues.
In June Scott Dean, Bryan Nelson, Ed Crebbs, Bud Jenkins, Larry Kline, Tom Tyree and myself attended a special meeting in Charlottesville to discuss the game commission’s law changes for 2006. We spoke for the VTA on a limited otter season west of the Blue Ridge. If we cannot get this season we would like to be able to keep the Otters we catch no target an turn the circus over to the commission after skinning. We also talked on behalf of ourselves on the other furbearer topics. When I talked to Mike Fies in Verona I asked him to check all other states for snare regulations on stops. At this meeting he said he did this and at the point he seemed to be in favor of the stop. It is my opinion that the stop on snares is nothing but good for us as it will help us with deer and other no target catches.
Our June meeting was held at my house as I had to work that night. Our attendance was good and we covered a lot of topics. We made plans to do the food at the convention and talked about upcoming law changes.
At our fur sale we learned that Pat’s (my wife) non-publication membership had run out. I could not believe we let this happen but in checking this out I found we are not sending out renewals to our non-publication members. I have asked 5 other old members that were non-pub members why they dropped and they said they did not get a renewal. I believe we need our membership secretary to send renewals to all our non-pub members starting right a way. I am sure this will help us with our membership numbers.
I would like to take this opportunity as District5 Director to announce my support in the upcoming election for Bryan Nelson-President, Scott Dean-Treasurer and Scott Painter-Membership Secretary. I thin Bryan Nelson has done a great job and has improved our relations with the Virginia Game commission greatly. Scott Dean is a good friend of mine and I know him to be a very hard working honest person. With Scott’s love of trapping I think he will do us a great job if we give him a chance. Scott Painter is a member of my district and has always been there when we have needed him. I think if we give Scott a chance he will devote his time to building our membership up with projects like renewals to all members including non-publication and membership drives.
Thank you
Jerry Pangle