Greetings all. April 12th was our Spring Board meeting in Boone. Our membership is currently at about 887ish with 591 lifetime members. We added a few more new members and lifetimes at both Chelsea and Fairfield. New lifetime members since my last report are Riley Shea, Doug Barnes, Last Step Trap Supply & Tanning, Nick Bohms & Timothy L. Rainey. Thank you to all our new and renewing members.
The ITA has received our sheared beaver coat and vest for next months crowning of Miss Iowa and Miss Teen. ITA has given a fur coat to Miss Iowa since 1990 and vest to Miss Teen since 2017. To date all gals have greatly appreciated receiving these items as the coat and vest are the ONLY items they are able to retain after their resign. Also, with this sponsorship we are allowed the gals presence twice during their reign. We have also signed a 2-year agreement with Miss Iowa Pageant to continue our sponsorship of Miss Iowa and Miss Teen events in the future.
I finally received info about our ITA license plate decals we were applying for through the DOT. After sending in corporation, bylaws, non-profit papers etc. our application was denied. The reason for denial was we were not a 501c3
organization, but a 501c4. It would have been a lot easier to indicate you need to be a 501c3 from the start instead of going through all that work, two times to boot. Oh well that is government!!
As most know, the ITA has animal mounts we utilize at some events, most were donated by Roger Hutton. Due to storage space in our trailer, the ITA Board has decided to donate those mounts. I received a call a few days prior to writing this report from A Jay Winter of the DNR. Those mounts will be heading to the DNR Building at the Iowa State Fair for display and will seen by many more people than ever viewed them while in our possession. If you are in the DNR building at the State Fair look for those mounts.
Mike Fletchall will oversee demo area sponsorships again this year. They are $100 for a 2ft X 3ft banner and need to be in by August 1st deadline as last year. Contact Mike at 641-202-1115 or Fletch_70@hotmail.com
Officer positions up for election this fall are president & treasurer. Nominations from the Board are Craig Sweet and Chris Grillot for their current positions. Nominations will remain open until the General Membership meeting on September 12th.
There were two legislative bills addressed and passed this session, both are headed to the Governor for signing. SF 654 would allow breaching beaver dams, being able to use your DNR ID number on trap tags and reducing fur buyer license fees to $50 regardless of resident status. The other was HF2471 which addresses disabled veteran’s lifetime fur harvester license fee. This would set that fee at $5 plus processing fee for that license. A little FYI info on trap tags, this will allow use of EITHER your name and address or DNR ID number whichever you prefer. You can still use your current tags or can buy new tags with your DNR number.
Our 2026 ITA sustaining donor patch features a bobcat. I still have a few 2025 sustaining donor patches available with a mink. If you have not purchased one, they are $25 per patch for either year and are a way for anyone to assist ITA whether you are a member or not. If you would like one, send a check made out to ITA or Iowa Trappers Association. Mail it to me, Craig Sweet 1825 Kirkwood St. Saint Charles, IA 50240 and I will get them mailed to you. I will also have them available at NTA, FTA, Charles City and Nebraska. People who have donated since my last report are Vaughn Suhling, Logan Exline, Chad Walker, Tim Anderson, Spencer Hill, Jon Andersen & Dennis Johnson. Thank you all for your support of the ITA.
Iowa Trappers Association in conjunction with the Iowa DNR will be hosting beginner trapping classes during the July to October timeframe in several locations around the state. Classes cover basics of Iowa’s trapping regulations, water, predator and basic dryland trapping. Currently, classes are being planned near the following locations - Knoxville, Washington, Cherokee, Elkader, Mt. Pleasant, Mason City, St Charles, Wellsburg, and possibly Harlan. As soon as dates are confirmed I will send them out and post them on our ITA website.
The ITA will be raffling a Mossburg Patriot .22.250 bolt action with a Vortex 3x9x40 scope. Tickets are $20 ea. with only 200 available. Drawing will be held Saturday September 12th at convention. Proceeds from this will assist with funding of traps, stakes ect. for our beginner trapper classes. If you are interested in a ticket or two contact Tony Evans at 319-548-0029 or agevans1961@gmail.com
I will be attending the NTA National July 23-25th in Richmond, IN, FTA Rendezvous August 7-8th in Macon, MO. due my positions on these Boards. I plan on attending Nebraska Fur Harvesters convention September 25-26th in Lexington and depending on weather conditions I may attend a couple more as well.
Make plans for September 11-12, 2026, at the Floyd County Fairgrounds in Charles City. This is going to be another great location for us with easy access off Hwy 218 at Hwy 14. Motels are located about 3 miles south of the fairgrounds off Hwy 218. The motels and their direct phone numbers are: Sleep Inn & Suites 641-435-1949 – 20 rooms blocked under Iowa Trappers $110 per night 10 Double queen’s and 10 King. Super 8 – 641-228-2888, Hometown Inn – 641-228-4820. There will be plenty of electrical hookups available for everyone and plenty of primitive camping space as well. Primitive camping will be $10 per night & with electricity $20 per night, tailgating will be $25 per space for the weekend. I have contacted my normal inside vendors plus a few new vendors are attending. Vendors that will be attending to date are: Funke Trap Tags, Cumberland’s, Keg Creek Baits & Lures, R&M Lures, Roberts Trading, No BS Lures, Top Lot Stretchers, Dakota Prairie Baits, Billingsley Brand Lures, Last Step Trap Supply/Tanning, Blakeley’s Bait & Lures, Fiber Tuff Pack Baskets, Cook Fur & Leather, MJ Enterprises, Sleepy Creek Tannery, Mike O’Hearn, Springleaf Stabilizers, Bret Smith – Lenon Lures, Blu-82 – Charise Oser, Charles City Chamber of Commerce, Iowa DNR, Backwater Baits, Papio Creek Lures, Frank’s Lures, Mallard Curl Calls, WildFur By KB, NTA, FTA, ITA. A tentative schedule for convention can be viewed on our ITA website – www.iowatrappers.com
Friday evening will be the potluck. We will again be holding a beginner trapper class starting at 9 A.M. Saturday morning as we have in the past for anyone interested. Dealer buildings will be open 8-6 Friday and 8-5 on Saturday
Also, don’t forget the ITA photo contest. Most bring their photos to convention, get your photo/s to Tom Walters before noon Saturday for judging. Also, remember to put your name on the back of your photo as well. Categories for the photo contest include: Animal in Trap, Trapper and Catch, Multiple Catch and Youth (16 & younger).
ITA’s Summer Board meeting will be held Sunday June 28th at the Boone Senior Center 1112 Story St in Boone starting at 10 A.M. The Fall Board of Directors meeting will be held THURSDAY September 10th at 7 P.M. at the Floyd County Fairgrounds in Charles City, General Membership meeting will be held at 1:30 P.M. Saturday September 12th. As always, all members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Til next time - Craig
