The
Renous Trappers Council held it's 2nd annual
workshop in Miramichi on Saturday, February 25th.
We had a decent turnout, considering many areas were
getting freezing rain in the early morning. About 45
people attended, but, like most events lately, very few
were young trappers, who would benefit most from
demonstrations. Only four out of over forty taking
recent trapping courses in Bathurst and Miramichi
attended. As disappointing as that is, we still had a
great time catching up with other trappers we usually
only see at the winter convention.
At
both of our workshops, Regis LeClair has been the DERD
guy that opens the garage early for us, makes coffee,
and helps out. At trapping courses he cooks dinner for
instructors, going above and beyond his regular duties.
Last year, in the magazine article, I thanked him for
everything. At our next meeting, Yvon Morais pointed out
that we should buy him a NB Trappers membership,
otherwise he would never know we thanked him. We
presented him with the membership and a Renous Council
Hat on Saturday. Thanks again Regis!
Thanks to those who put on demos; Larry Estabrooks, Yvon
Morais, Esmond Daigle, Carl Hunter, John Richard, and
especially James Ritchie, who drove all the way from
Riverview.
Also
thanks to Miramichi Pro Nature and Fur Harvesters
Auction for donations for door prizes. John, we couldn’t
do this without you.
Door
prizes went to Eugene Babineau, Shawn MacIntire, Venance
Comeau, Gildor LeBreton, and Cody Lee.
We
sold tickets on a Trappers Bundle: stretchers, 3 traps,
snares, tail splitter and stripper, push pins and safety
gripper. The winner was Stephan Landry.
We
have discussed at length how to get more young trappers
out, but, like one of our members said, until they come
up with a trapping app for a cell phone, things won’t
change much.
Thanks again to all who came.