VTA District 8 Director's Report
Art Foltz
6706 River Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Home: 540-412-9607
Mobile: 540-630-1756
August 2010
District 8 area is comprised of nine counties; Caroline, Essex, Lancaster, Mathew, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, Spotsylvania, and Westmoreland. Current membership is 38 trappers and trapping-interested persons. Our membership covers a wide range of experience from senior to novice trappers, fur graders/buyers, and wildlife managers.
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Anyone seeking animal damage control assistance in the District 8 counties; please see the DGIF Nuisance Wildlife Trapper list at http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/nuisance/trappers/ for names of trappers by county. However, this list is not all inclusive of the trappers in the district and not all of the trappers on the list are district members. If you would like additional trapper contact information, please email or call me and I’ll forward your request for assistance to our closest district member to you. The district holds regular meetings/cookouts during the off-season (March-September) to discuss issues related to the trade/hobby, provide trade-related demonstrations, and engage in camaraderie around pot luck meals. All VTA Officers and our local DGIF Wildlife/Land Managers have open invitations to attend our meetings to share the meal with us, participate in the discussions, and field questions about trapper concerns. |
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We had a good turnout at our August 8th district meeting with 25 attendees. We thank Ron Hughes, DGIF Lands Manager, and VTA President Steve Colvin for attending and providing their input and views to the group. Blaine Foltz and Francis Richards conducted excellent trap adjustments/modifications and fox trapping demonstrations. During the official business session, we had a lot of discussion concerning snare requirements (height, break-aways, deer-stops), the upcoming DGIF Regulatory Review Process, and the Fredericksburg (FBG) Watershed Management Plan (FWMP). Now is the time to input changes to trapping regulations; if you have suggestions you can go it alone or submit them to the VTA Board of Directors (BoD). If the BoD and General Membership approve the regulation change proposal it will have the voice of 650 members. The FBG City Planning Commission will be conducting a FWMP public comment meeting on September 8th. When I determine the time and location, I’ll contact the VTA Executive Board and district members to rally for a large trapper presence. Mr. Ferrell stated that the Spotsylvania Izaac Walton League desires our district to conduct a trapping briefing/demonstration during their Nov/Dec meeting. We certainly want to oblige one of our brother outdoor conservation organizations. When the date is confirmed, I’ll contact members to setup the event. |
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Our last of the year district meeting is scheduled for September 26, 2:00 PM at 6706 River Road, Fredericksburg. The demonstrations scheduled are fur preparation techniques (skinning, hole repair). A meeting announcement with site directions will be sent to district members and guests however, the event is open to all trappers and trapping-interested persons. If you would like to attend, please contact me for details and directions.
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Respectfully, Art Foltz District-8 Director