Rendezvous Raffle Winners
1st Place - Manny Warren
2nd Place - Reg Fredericks
3rd Place - Gerry Williamson
Nova Scotia Girl Bitten
by Raccoon While Sleeping
A four year old Nova Scotia girl,
Ella Marshal was awoken in the night by a raccoon biting her
nose and face. The parents, Jonny & Marianne Marshall awoke to
a terrifying scream from their daughter Ella. The mother ran
in the room and saw the raccoon sitting on her daughters head.
When the mother screamed, the raccoon ran out of the room,
leaving the girl crying and bloodied on her bed. The girl was
taken to hospital and treated for animal bites, cleaned up and
released. Doctors are now recommending that she have post
exposure rabies treatment as a precaution.
The girls father Jonny, thinks the
raccoon may have torn the screen off an open window and
entered to the downstairs of the house in search of cat food.
He then believes that it may have followed the cat upstairs
which normally sleeps with his daughter.
Eastern Canadian Moose
Calling
Championship Winners
1st Place - Deverne Jones (center)
2nd Place - Randy Mersereau (left)
3rd Place - Dale Clark (right)
Restraining Traps Certified for
Raccoon
Canadian Trappers will have a
couple of more options for this season in regards to available
traps for raccoon. Two dog proof restraining traps, the
Duffer's Dog Proof and the Lil' Griz Getter have both been
approved and certified for use on the line for raccoon. They
will give trappers some options on different types of sets and
locations than would be possible with bodygrips. Provincial
regulations must still be followed in regards to legal setting
distances, however, they will be ideal for locations where
trappers previously passed up setting bodygrips because of the
risk of dogs running at large. The Duffer's and Lil' Griz are
more money than 160s and 220s, they start at about $20 each
depending on where they are purchased and may require a
setting tool.
Resolutions, submitted to the
Department of Natural Resources each year, is the main tool
for the New Brunswick Trappers & Fur Harvesters Federation to
request changes to Legislation in regards to seasons, species,
equipment, types of sets and other fur harvesting issues. It
is one of the many important functions of the NBTFHF. Many
trappers are not aware or know very little about this process.
Click here to view the 2010 NBTFHF
Resolutions!
Trapping Stories & Articles
We like to keep things
interesting here on the NBTFHF Website. Trappers love to hear
and read about other trappers experiences out on the line.
Whether its about your first season, favourite set, a funny
experience, tips and tricks or any other trapping related
subject, we'd love to put it on the site. No need to worry
about spelling, punctuation or grammar, we can edit it and fix
it up like you were the Teacher's Pet in English class. If you
have a few pictures to go along with it, even better, send
them along too.
Send your stories &
articles to the NBTFHF Webmaster by Clicking here.
In Memory of
Merritt Edwin
Carlisle
November 30, 1931 - July 20, 2009
The Bristol Trappers
Council was very saddened over the loss of one of their
founding members. Merritt was very instrumental in the
formation and monthly meetings of the council. Over the past
few years the council held their meetings at Merritt's and
his wife Leah's home. Merritt was always there with his many
stories and trapping skills to share with others. He will be
sadly missed by the council and we wish his wife Leah and
his family our sincere condolences.
The funeral service for Merritt Carlisle was held July 24th
at Florenceville N.B. Merritt lived his entire life in the
small community of Summerfield where he is survived by his
wife Leah, one daughter, two sons and five grandchildren.
Merritt loved the outdoors very much and was always on the
lookout for animal tracks and trails while pre-scouting his
trap line from his ATV.
Although Merritt’s parents operated a small country store
for many years, his passion was to be a farmer. After
working on construction and on a potato farm for a few
years, he settled on a hog farm and operated the farm for
thirty years before retiring. During this time with the
assistance of his family he had a fair amount of time to
enjoy his passion of hunting, fishing and trapping from his
camp in the Juniper area.
After retiring, Merritt put his efforts in trapping. Merritt
had a strong passion on catching otters, beaver and fisher.
He thought fishers were easier to skin and worth more money.
Merritt and his wife Leah hosted the Bristol Trappers
Council for many years and enjoyed attending Conventions and
Rendezvous over the many years. Merritt was never short on
story telling and entertained many a person over the years
to anyone who would listen. Merritt will certainly be missed
by the many people who had the pleasure to have met and
associated with him.
Fatal Coyote Attack In Nova Scotia
A 19-year-old folk singer from Toronto has died after being
attacked by two coyotes in Cape Breton Highlands National
Park.
Taylor Josephine Stephanie
Luciow, who went by the stage name Taylor Mitchell, died
overnight at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. She
had been on tour in the Maritimes.
Mitchell was hiking on the
Skyline Trail when she was attacked Tuesday afternoon. She
was taken to the hospital in Cheticamp, then airlifted to
Halifax in critical condition.
Park officials said Mitchell
was walking the trail alone. They said other hikers managed
to scare off the coyotes and call 911.
An RCMP officer shot at one
of the animals but couldn't find the body. Later Tuesday
evening, park staff located another coyote and killed it.
Derek Quann, the park's resource conservation manager, said
he doesn't know whether it was one of the ones involved in
the attack. He said there were no signs on the animal's body
that it had been shot.
Quann said he believes there
are five or six coyotes in the area. Park staff were still
trying to track down the other coyote involved in the attack
Wednesday.
"One of the individuals may
be dead now and may have gone off into the woods and died
after some distance," said Quann.
Germaine LeMoine, a Parks
Canada spokeswoman, said the hunt for the second coyote
would go "around the clock." The trail where the attack
happened has been barricaded.
LeMoine said even if a second
animal is found and killed, the trail would not be opened
until officials could conclude they had both coyotes
involved in the attack and the trail was safe for the
public.
Beauty Queens With Style
These girls know how to dress with
style! These four pretty young ladies are the Royalty in the
2009 Miss Harvey Pageant, held in the town of Harvey, New
Brunswick. Jessie & John McFadyen of
Fur N' Things in Harvey
provided the coats for the girls to wear. It's refreshing to
see that these girls are loaded with class and willing to
promote a renewable resource by wearing fur. Hats off and a
big thumbs up to you ladies, your all class!! The word is, you
may get to meet these gorgeous girls in person at the NBTFHF
Annual Winter Convention in Fredericton, January 16th, 2010.
Left to right; 1st Princess
Destiny Cole, Miss Harvey Morgan Acker, 2nd Princess Karen
Brown, and Miss Congeniality Allee Nason.
Norman Allison Greer
Feb. 17, 1936 – March 20, 2009
The trappers of New Brunswick are
very saddened to hear of the passing of Norm Greer.
Born in St. Martins, NB, Norm lived his childhood years
overlooking the Bay of Fundy. Norm married Faye Campbell and
had 49 loving years together. Norm is also survived by 3
daughters and 2 sons.
Norm taught Industrial (shop) for 38 years at Tobique Valley
High School in Plaster Rock. Norm retired in 1994 and enjoyed
every minute of his retirement. Norm loved to ATV, fish for
brook trout, hunt partridge and most of all pick blueberries.
Norm was a Director for Tobique Council for years and
represented the Council on the Board of the NB Trappers and
Fur Harvesters Federation.
Norm was a very up front person who didn’t mind expressing his
views on what he thought was right. Norm’s greatest moment in
trapping came in 1997 when he caught 9 beaver in one pond and
the sale average was $49.00. Also, one pelt was in the top
lot.
Over the past 10 years the Tobique Trappers Council has had
some impressive booths at the Provincial Trappers Convention.
The head engineer was Norm who put his 38 years as an
industrial teacher to work. Norm supervised and helped
construct state of the art log cabins, beaver and muskrat
houses.
Every year the Tobique Trappers Council has a field day in
October. Norm was one of the main organizers of this event and
also one of the main participants in our skeet shoot. Norm
also managed to win his fair share of the shoots.
Norm has a son Glenn who is a dedicated trapper and is
following in his father’s footsteps.
His family and all the students of Tobique Valley High School
will sadly miss Norm. Most of all Norm will be missed by the
trappers of New Brunswick, especially those in the Tobique and
Northwest Councils who knew him best.
The NBTFHF with funding from the
NB Wildlife Trust Fund is carrying out a Marten Nesting Box
project in New Brunswick forests. NB Trappers are placing the
nest box in areas that Marten inhabit but may not have many
suitable nesting locations. It is hoped that with the aid of
the nest boxes, Marten will remain in the area and use the
boxes for nesting locations, enhancing a healthy population of
Marten in the province. Click here to read more on the Marten
Nesting Box Project.
Black Bears Raising Concern
Black Bear sightings in urban
areas in New Brunswick are raising some concern from residents
not used to seeing them so close. Increased sightings are
occurring in many parts of the province but seem to be most
common in the Fredericton and Saint John areas.
Department of Natural Resources
personnel have placed live traps in a number of locations in
hopes of trapping and relocating the offending bears to a more
remote location. However, competing with compost, household
garbage and dumpsters is making it difficult to lure the bears
into the live traps.
Part of the problem seems to
be an increase in population due to less hunting pressure. The
downturn in the North American economy and the higher Canadian
Dollar means fewer non resident hunters are visiting the
province to hunt, allowing the population to increase rapidly.
License Fees Increase
New Brunswick Trappers, Hunters
and Fishers have been hit with an increased cost in license
fees for 2009. A Fur Harvesting license has increased from
$42.94 to $54.24, a deer hunting license has increased from
$30.51 to $38.42 and a resident angling class 9 license has
increased to $25.99 from $22.60. Resident Ice Fishing licences
have doubled to $22.60 from $11.30. Non Resident License fees
have also increased significantly which will most likely hurt
New Brunswick outfitters and guides already hit by declining
non resident guests in recent years.
Click here to view a list of all license fees.
European Union Votes To Ban Seal
Products
HARPER GOVERNMENT WILL DEFEND
CANADA’S
HUMANE AND SUSTAINABLE SEAL HUNT ON THE WORLD STAGE
OTTAWA – The Government of Canada today expressed its deep
disappointment, concern, and opposition to the vote by the
European Parliament to move towards a ban on products from
Canada’s humane and sustainable seal hunt.
“The decision by the European Parliament lacks any basis in
facts,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries
and Oceans. “The Canadian seal hunt is guided by rigorous
animal welfare principles which are internationally recognized
by independent observers. I once again caution my European
counterparts about the dangers of pursuing politically
motivated bans on other countries’ traditional industries. Our
government will stand up for the jobs and communities that
depend on the seal hunt.”
“If the EU imposes a trade ban on seal products it must
contain an exemption for any country, like Canada, that has
strict guidelines in place for humane and sustainable sealing
practices," said the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of
International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.
"If there is no such acceptable exemption, Canada will
challenge the ban at the World Trade Organization (WTO).”
The Government of Canada is studying the exact wording of the
proposed regulation and will take appropriate action to
protect the Canada’s sealing industry and continue to defend
the interests of Canadian sealers. It will also continue to
work with provincial, territorial and industry partners to
maintain access to other markets for seal products and to
identify and build new markets.
“A European ban would have a devastating impact on thousands
of Canadian families in remote coastal communities who rely on
the seal hunt for 25 to 35 per cent of their annual income,”
added Minister Shea. “In these difficult economic times the
impact of such a loss is even more serious and many families
will have to make tough decisions about their future if access
to the European market is lost.”
The European Parliament’s proposed ban cannot become law until
it has been adopted by the Council of the European Union,
which represents the member states. Ministers Shea and Day
announced that the Government of Canada will continue to
aggressively counter the misinformation campaign being waged
by professional anti-seal hunt lobby groups in order to ensure
that the decision of the Council would be based on accurate
information.
Have you renewed your membership yet?
A reminder that NBTFHF Memberships
expire on the 31st of January each year. If you haven't
renewed your membership, you will not receive the magazine
associated with your membership until it is renewed.
Not a Member Yet?
The New Brunswick Trappers & Fur
Harvesters work both on the frontline and behind the scenes to
enhance, improve and preserve trapping and fur harvesting for
New Brunswick Trappers. Do your part and support the NBTFHF by
purchasing your membership today. For details on joining,
renewing and the benefits of doing so, go to our
Membership Page by clicking here.
New Brunswick's New Furbearer
Biologist
New Brunswick has a new
Furbearer Biologist.
Jean-Michel DeVink has taken the position left vacant from
former Wildlife Biologist Cade Libby. The New Brunswick
Trappers and Fur Harvesters Federation looks forward to
working with Mr. DeVink on matters pertaining to fur
harvesting and wildlife. You can contact Mr. DeVink at:
Jean-Michel DeVink, PhD
Wildlife Biologist/Biologiste
de la Faune
New
Brunswick Department of Natural Resources/ Département
des resources naturelles
P.O.
Box 6000
Fredericton, NB
E3B
5H1
Ph:506-444-5254
Fax:
506-453-6699
jean-michel.devink@gnb.ca
Enjoy talking trapping
with other trappers?
Why not check out the
Canadian Trapper Talk Forums! Over 700 trappers from all
across Canada, the USA and around the world are already
members and visit the site regularly. Pick up some tips
& tricks, new sets, fur handling methods or just shoot
the breeze. Besides the the forums/message boards, the
site also features a chat room where you can chat live
with other trappers. Click on the logo above to visit
the site.
Fur Pick Up Dates for 2009 - 20010
Season
Fur Harvesters Auction
Agent - John Richard's Schedule
North American Fur Auctions
Agent - Furafee Trading Schedule
2009 - 2010 Regulations & Season
Dates
Click Here for 2009 - 2010 Regulations & Season Dates
Wisconsin Trapper Catches White
Fisher
Jared L. Cass of North
Central Wisconsin had an amazing catch when running his line
in early December. Rather than normal brown fur, the fisher
he caught was white. "I about died of the shakes this
morning when I came across this white fisher in one of my
fisher sets,
Maybe a once in a lifetime catch. Man...I'm still pumped!"
Cass said. Jared sold the fisher to a local taxidermist who
collects unusual furbearers. His friend watched another
white fisher in the area the following day while sitting in
his deer stand.
Jared L. Cass shows the white
Fisher he caught.
BREITKREUZ BILL TO SCRAP THE
USELESS LONG-GUN REGISTRY
Registry proves that law-abiding
gun owners are not the problem
http://www.garrybreitkreuz.com/breitkreuzgpress/2009/feb9.htm
February 9th, 2009
Ottawa – Saskatchewan M.P. Garry Breitkreuz has introduced a
Private Members’ Bill to scrap the decade-old Canadian
long-gun registry (see link below to Bill C-301).
The long-gun registry was originally budgeted to cost
Canadians $2 million, but the price tag spiraled out of
control to an estimated $2 billion a decade later.
Breitkreuz says it’s time to pull the plug on this useless
money pit, because the registry has not saved one single
life since it was introduced.
“The registry is a political pacifier created to give the
impression that Canada would be safer for it,” explains
Breitkreuz. “Nothing could be further from the truth. I
believe Canadians would rather see their tax dollars keeping
guns out of the hands of criminals and gangs, instead of
trying to control law-abiding citizens.”
If Breitkreuz’s bill receives support from a majority of
M.P.s, it will also invite the Auditor General to conduct a
public safety test on all gun control measures every five
years. The Auditor General’s reports will reassure Canadians
that all gun control laws are cost-effective at improving
public safety, reducing violent crime and keeping firearms
out of the hands of criminals.
“We need hard evidence to guide us in forming cost-effective
crime control measures,” says Breitkreuz. “This is a
non-partisan issue and I hope it will be supported by all
federal parties. Certainly there are M.P.s in all parties
who believe hunters, farmers and sport shooters have been
forced to comply with an onerous registration process that
made no sense. It’s high time to switch our focus to the bad
guys.”
Breitkreuz’s bill also introduces legislative steps to
streamline the Firearms Act. The changes will improve
efficiency and enhance Canada’s public safety objectives,
while still providing our police with all the information
they need for effective law enforcement.
“My bill would finally make public safety the priority of
our country’s gun control laws,” explained Breitkreuz. “Many
Canadians have come to realize that the long-gun registry
wasn’t working because it targets the wrong people. It’s a
waste of time and money to lay a piece of paper beside every
gun in the country. And the last I checked, criminals were
not hampered in the least by the registry. Those are the
people we need to go after if we really want to control
crime.”
CBC Show "Land &
Sea" features NB Trapper
The CBC Television
show "Land & Sea" recently featured a trapper from northern
New Brunswick on it's weekly series. The trapper, Ed Cottreau,
along with a trapper from Nova Scotia, were hired under
contract to live trap Marten in northern NB for relocation in
Nova Scotia. Live traps were modified to include a nesting box
at the rear of the trap to reduce stress on the Marten once
they were captured. The traps, 60 in all, were set in an area
south of Campbellton, NB for a period of two weeks. The show
tags along from building holding pens, setting and checking
the traps, to releasing the Marten in Nova Scotia.
The show can be
watched online from the CBC website. Click on the link below
and then click the icon that says "Watch This Episode" at the
top of the page.
http://www.cbc.ca/landandsea/archive/2008-mar-30.html
Did you know the November Full Moon
is called "Beaver Moon"?
Watch the video from Farmers Almanac and see why!
