The Upper Peninsula Trappers Association will hold a reorganizational meeting March 29 in Ontonagon County to help recruit, retain and reactivate trappers, or those interested in learning about trapping, in Gogebic, Ontonagon and Iron counties.
“We are eager to hear your ideas on how to strengthen this trapping organization,” said Bob Steinmetz, a U.P. Trappers Association member from Escanaba. “Please feel free to bring along a friend, neighbor, child or fellow trapper.”
The association’s District 2 reorganizational meeting will be held at 9 a.m. (CDT)/10 a.m. (EDT) at Twilly’s Sports Bar and Grill, located at 13909 U.S. Highway 45 in Bruce Crossing.
The U.P. Trappers will be providing a simple meal with pulled pork sandwiches, a couple of salads, coffee and water.
“The Michigan Department of Natural Resources supports efforts to retain and strengthen organizations promoting hunting, fishing and trapping,” said John Pepin, Michigan DNR deputy public information officer. “With low fur prices, some trapping organizations, or parts of them, have struggled to maintain membership rosters.”
Since 1962, the U.P. Trappers Association – a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization – has been striving to educate trappers on the safe, sustainable and humane harvest of furbearers and the part trappers play in ensuring healthy furbearer populations for the enjoyment of future generations.
The association maintains five districts in the Upper Peninsula.
“Through fair booths, sportsmen’s conventions, radio interviews and other outreach programs we also hope to educate the general public on the many benefits of trapping,” the association’s website reads. “We try to convey to those who don’t often interact with wildlife how the nation’s professional wildlife managers use science; population data; and the help of trappers, hunters and fishermen – to protect habitat, keep predators and prey in balance, limit disease outbreaks, minimize human and wildlife conflicts, protect endangered and threatened species, and promote the health and well-being of the animals themselves.”
District 2 needs more members and more of its membership to get involved in leadership roles. Participants at the meeting will find membership forms available, participate in officer elections, engage in great conversation and enjoy a provided lunch.
Membership forms may be filled out prior to the meeting to expedite the process. Please pay membership dues with cash or a check or money order made out to U.P. Trappers District 2.
Those interested in membership who cannot attend the meeting can complete a membership form and mail it to district President Ryan Koivu, whose address is on the form.
Michigan has 17 species of furbearers that can be harvested using hunting or trapping methods. The term “furbearer” generally applies to those species that historically have been harvested for their fur. Most of Michigan’s furbearer species are carnivores, with a few notable exceptions such as beaver and muskrat.
Given the large number of furbearer species that can be harvested in Michigan, there are many different types of furbearer-related recreational opportunities throughout the state. Fur harvesting has played an important role in the lives of many Michigan residents since long before statehood and has continued to the present day.
To find out about how to earn a Michigan trapper’s education certificate, visit the DNR’s trapping education webpage. For more information on trapping in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/Trapping
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