President's Report

Once again "SUMMER RENDEZVOUS" has come and gone and an excellent time was had by all. I would like to thank the Rendezvous Committee for a very excellent job and thanks for all the hard work they have done to make sure it was a success. Marshall as chairman and Chris and Sue worked very hard the past few months in putting it together. I will leave the details of the week-end to the committee to report on the events and thanks to our many sponsors and donors to our auction. However I want to personally thank Fur Harvesters Auction for sending Dave Bosma down to represent them and to be our auctioneer again this year. Dave does an excellent job on representing Fur Harvesters and trappers enjoy the time in talking with him on trapping issues. Also Thanks to the Fur Harvesters for their generous donation again this year. I also want to thank NAFA for having Brian attend to represent them and for their generous offer also as it was greatly appreciated. The Wild Fur Shippers Council this year had Kirby Burtt (Atlantic rep) and Bill Mackowski from Maine(US rep) attend for the week-end to promote the WFSC. Thanks to Bill for putting on muskrat and beaver demonstrations they were greatly appreciated.
A thank-you to all the board of Directors who were able to make it to the Friday night directors meeting and many traveled a long ways to attend. This shows your dedication for your council and the Federation.

One disappointment stemming from the meeting was a letter from the Minister of Natural Resources explaining why the Province will not be adopting an earlier opening date for muskrats. After different approaches to dealing with this decision, a motion was passed that we write back to Minister Wally Stiles voicing our displeasure with his department’s decision and our intentions of taking it up with the incoming government. So speak to your MLA'S and voice your concerns prior to the election.

Trappers are being asked to watch for and or report any collared coyotes this year as the State of Maine has collared and ear tagged some for research. One has been reported in the Fundy Park area so do your part and report any catches.

I was approached by Gord Stickles of Ontario that he is interested in purchasing beaver castors directly from the trapper and would be paying a premium price for well handled legal castors collected by trappers and NCO'S. Mr.Stickles has been invited to attend the work-shop at the winter convention that will once again be held in Fredericton Motor Inn to demonstrate the grading and handling procedure to trappers to ensure top dollar. This will certainly add to the value of beaver trapping and takes a short time to prepare castors for market . Convention details will be in the next issue so stay tuned.

Marshall will have been to the CNTA meeting in Alberta to try and resolve their issues and get it up and going to represent trappers from across Canada in a unified voice on the National and International level as it was originally created to do. It is a must that all provinces belong to it with equal voting privileges and hopefully funding put aside to assist provinces that have low finances. Failure to do so could find New Brunswick withdrawing its support to the CNTA and work to revive the ATLANTIC ALLIANCE as before to give the Eastern provinces a unified voice.

Once again funding has been assured by the Wild Life Trust Fund for the TRACK TRANSECT lines so make sure to contact Marshall on the information as this is a very important year for making the study on the results being compiled over the past few years.

I hope you all have a great summer and hunting season along with a prosperous trapping season .See you at the Convention
 

Dale Clark
President NBTFHF