VTA District 7 Director's
Report
Floyd
Wood
10086
Fox Hound Drive, Nokesville VA 20181
703-969-9753
Fishwildlifeva@yahoo.com
I
would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the newly appointed
interim District 7 Director of the Virginia Trappers Association (VTA).
I appreciate the confidence and support expressed through this
appointment by Bryan Nelson, President; and Larry Kline, outgoing District 7
Director who has moved to District 8. I am committed to representing the voices
of District 7 VTA members and to support the VTA Executive Board and Board of
Directors.
Trapping has been a life-long passion
for me. If I thought I could make a
living at it, I’d give up my “day job” as an employee of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
I work for NRCS’ headquarters in
Washington
,
DC
, as a natural resources specialist developing national policies for
implementing conservation programs to protect and enhance wetlands, wildlife
habitat, and native grasslands on private lands.
In my “spare” time during the 2005-2006 trapping season, my daughters
and I caught 33 beavers, 18 raccoons, and 3 red fox. The fur sales from those
critters brought in just enough funds to support my white-tailed deer, wild
turkey, and duck hunting habits.
As a very young trapper of 10 years old,
I began trapping muskrats in the tidal marshes of my home State of
New Jersey
. I eventually graduated to trapping
raccoon and red fox. By the time I was a senior in High School, the
anti-trappers had convinced the
New Jersey
State
legislation that the use of “leg-hold” traps was too dangerous in many
urban townships because of their potential harm to pets. Today, the
anti-trappers have succeeded in banning the use of all “leg-hold” traps in
the entire State. Of course, the
true hidden agenda by such groups opposed to trapping, is to eventually outlaw
all trapping by gradually imposing legislation that will be so onerous it will
discourage present and future generations from participating in the trapping
tradition. Now, as a resident of
Northern Virginia
for five years, I see the signs – again - of anti-trapping sentiment in our
region. Not necessarily by public
officials, but from the populous at large. This
is why I have been motivated to become more involved in the VTA.
If we are to preserve our trapping heritage, VTA must continue to be a
strong voice in our State legislation and with officials within the Department
of Game and Inland Fisheries. As VTA members, we must take every opportunity to
inform local government officials and organizations that ethical trapping is the
most cost-effective wildlife management tool for controlling the burgeoning
populations of raccoons, beaver, skunks, and other “nuisance” furbearer
populations.
In closing, my goals for District 7
during the following year are to: 1) substantially increase our membership, 2)
hold two local trapping educational courses for beginning trappers, 3) host a
spring or summer picnic for District 7 members and families, and 4) hold
quarterly meetings with members. I
will be contacting District 7 members asking for your ideas on meeting events
and for your assistance with facilitating some of our activities.
As your representative on the VTA Board of Directors, I encourage all
District 7 members to contact me at any time with questions, suggestions or
concerns regarding our organization, trapping legislation, educational needs or
any other issues affecting trappers in
Northern Virginia
. I assure you that your opinions do matter and your voices will be heard. And
please, make a commitment - as I have - to take at least one young person with
you on your trap line this winter.
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