The purpose of this program is to provide professional recognition to individual trappers.  It is designed to recognize the sustained effort of a trapper to both become a more successful trapper and to participate in the training and education of future generations of trappers.

  There are three levels of achievement possible in this program for which a Virginia trapper may receive recognition from the Training Program to denote levels of accomplishment.  They are called:  Apprentice Trapper, Journeyman Trapper, and Master Trapper.  Additionally there are patches (rockers) available with the name of each of the eleven Virginia Furbearer which can be caught by a trapper during a legal furbearer trapping season.  The patches available are: otter, beaver, muskrat, mink, raccoon, opossum, skunk, coyote, red fox, gray fox, and bobcat. (Nutria is not included due to the small region of the state in which they are found.)  The appropriate patch and rockers will be awarded at each level.  No duplicates will be awarded.  (This patch is in addition to the already provided Trapper Education patch earned at the successful completion of the Virginia Trappers Association Basic Trapper Training class.)  Each applicant will submit an application documenting his or her completion of the requirements for that level, including a Catch History of furbearers and a record of time spent afield, during the regular trapping season for furbearers in Virginia .  Upon submission and approval of the appropriate information a certificate and a sew-on/iron-on patch will be awarded to the applicant.

  There are some issues with availability and accessibility to certain furbearers by those in far eastern parts of the state.  These issues will be addressed on a case by case basis.

  Only one award may be applied for in a calendar year.

  To earn the Apprentice Trapper Award the applicant must:

1. Be a resident of the state of Virginia .
2. Be a current member of the Virginia Trappers Association.
3. Have attended the Basic Trapper Training Course within three years of the application date.
4. Have attended the VTA Annual convention within three years of the application date.

  To earn the Journeyman Trapper Award the applicant must:

1. Be a resident of the state of Virginia .
2. Be a current member of the Virginia Trappers Association.
3. Have earned the Apprentice Trapper Award.
4. Have attended the Advanced Trapper Training Course, Part One (land trapping) or Part Two (water trapping).
5. Assisted in the teaching of a Basic Trapper Training Course, either classroom (podium) or trap setting section.
6. Provide documentation of forty-five (45) or more trapping days within the most recent licensed furbearer season and a record of catch providing documentation to show the legal catch of at least eight (8) different species of furbearer taken within the most recent licensed furbearer season including two of the following:  bobcat*, coyote*, mink*, or otter* (copy of trapping log or diary for that year). (No animals caught outside the licensed furbearer trapping season, i.e. early live fox catch period or Damage Control, may count towards this award.)

  To earn the Master Trapper Award the applicant must:

1. Be a resident of the state of Virginia .
2. Be a current member of the Virginia Trappers Association.
3. Have earned the Journeyman Trapper award.
4. Have attended the Advanced Trapper Training Course, part one (land trapping) and part two (water trapping) within the last three years.  (One of these requirements will have been met under the Journeyman Award and is not included in this time requirement.)
5. Mentor one beginning trapper for one trapping season.  This shall be done within the last three years.  Documentation of this shall be maintained in a diary or trapping log and a copy of same provided upon request.
6. Conduct one training demonstration (trap-setting) and one classroom section at a Basic Trapper Training Course within the previous three years.

  As a trapper earns each of the three award levels he/she shall receive a certificate of recognition, a Program Patch for that level, and the patches (rockers) that signify the catch of the required animals.  These patches will be on a one time issue only.

  All applications will be submitted through the trapper applicant’s District Director.  The District Director is to ensure the proper and accurate completion of the application upon his receipt.  The District Director shall then forward the application to the appropriate Regional Training Coordinator who shall recommend to the Training Coordinator the appropriate action:  1) issue the award; 2) return the application for more information and resubmit. 

   Upon approval of the Award the Training Coordinator will notify the applicant, the District Director, the Regional Training Coordinator, and the President, VTA, to determine an appropriate occasion for presenting the award.  All awards shall be read into the minutes of the ensuing general membership meeting.

  A check made payable to the VTA in the amount of $25.00 for the Apprentice Trapper award, $30.00 for the Journeyman Trapper award, and $35.00 for the Master Trapper award shall accompany the application.  If the award is not approved the fee will be returned to the applicant.  

  Any member of the VTA may purchase the rocker style patches which accompany the award for his/her own use but the three program patches (one-time issue only) may only be earned through participation in the Awards Program.

  All applications submitted to the program coordinator become the property of the VTA and shall remain on file for three years from the date of application. 

    An electronic file of all application information and awards shall be maintained for five years for historical purposes.

   The Training Coordinator shall, through the VTA webmaster, establish a web page on the VTA web site listing all Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Trapper awardees.

Highlight and Print the following:

Application for Master Trapper Program award

Name:_______________________________________     Age: __________________

Address: _______________________________________________

City: _______________________________  

State: ________   Zip Code: _________________

County:  ___________________________  

District: __________   Training Region: _________

I am applying for the ________ Apprentice __________ Journeyman _________ Master Award.

Date of Completion:

Basic Trapper Training course: ___________   

Attended the VTA Annual convention: ________

Apprentice Trapper Award: ________________

Assisted with a Basic Trapper Training Course, classroom or field exercise (circle one)

instruction: _______

Advanced Trapper Training Course,

Part One or Part Two: ________

Journeyman Trapper Award: _______________

Conducted one training demonstration (trap-setting) and one classroom section at a Basic

Trapper Training Course: _____________________

Advanced Trapper Training Course, Part One or Part Two: __________

Mentored one beginning trapper, season of: ______________________

If you cannot locate your date of completion for any training you have participated in and know the location, contact the State Training Coordinator for this information prior to submitting this form.  Go to www.virginiatrappers.org for contact information.

I certify that I have caught the following animals as required above for the (circle one only) Apprentice / Journeyman / Master Trapper Award:

Coyote* __________             Red Fox __________                         Gray Fox __________

Bobcat*___________             Raccoon __________             Opossum __________

Otter* ____________             Beaver ___________              Muskrat ___________

Mink* ____________             Striped Skunk _________

I certify that these animals were caught by me with no physical help from another person and that these animals were caught in a trap other than a cage trap (steel live-catch foot hold trap, Conibear style trap, or snare.  I further certify that none of these animals were caught outside the licensed furbearer trapping season, i.e. early live fox catch period or Damage Control. 

A copy of my trapping log or diary is attached providing documentation of _______ or more

days trapping and ________ different animals caught as cited above.

A fee of $25.00 / $30.00 / $35.00 accompanies this application.  Check # _________________

___________________________________              ________________________________

Signature of Applicant                            Date

___________________________________              ___________________________________

Signature of District Director                                                  Signature of Regional Training Coordinator

Patch and certificate issued to District Director for applicant: ____________________________

                                                                                                   Date                                 Initials (RTC)

Patch and certificate awarded to applicant by ________________________ on ______________

Date form received by Training Coordinator: ________________

Date entered into database: ____________________   Initials: _____________________

                                                                                                  State Training Coordinator

Home Page               Training Coordinator's Page