May, 2025 President's Report

Greetings all. Another season has passed under the belts for many of us, except for beaver. I hope that everyone had an enjoyable season even with the prices received. After 52 seasons I have witnessed a full range of price fluctuations and all the weather conditions possible. Even with these conditions, you will find that the true hardcore trappers out there running their lines every day. I had a good season even through my first check was Christmas Eve day. I only had 36 sets max anytime on one 300 acre farm and 6 of those sets were canine footholds. In 67 days I had 16 that were no catch ending the season harvesting 44 raccoon, 35 opossum, 15 skunk & 11 coyote from that one farm. Even with finding 6 remains of dead raccoon, I presume was distemper, there were plenty of critters remaining. Last year that same farm yielded 30 raccoon, 17 opossum, 9 skunk, 6 coyote, 2 reds, 2 bobcat and 1 badger. Maybe sometime this month I will hit the creeks and rivers if time allows me.  

At our Winter Board meeting, Jeff Kempf was accepted as our FTA Director and Lyndon Sutcliffe as our REAP Director. Thank you to Jeff & Lyndon for accepting these positions.

Kristan reported our current membership at 1468 with 556 (now 559) lifetime members. New lifetime members since my last report were Lyndon Sutcliffe, Edward Hebbe IV, Curt Hynek & Heath Frieden. I know we have received some new members as Kristan has sent emails to put into my membership email list. After convention through the end of January we had 35 new members, 84 renewals and 6 lifetimes. Since launching of our new website in August of 2023 we had 318 memberships processed online through the website. Just 5 years ago our membership was at 805 with 425 lifetimes. Thank you to everyone for your support.

ITA bills introduced in the legislature for breaching beaver dams, use of either name/address or DNR ID number on trap tags, lowering fur buyer license fee and lifetime disabled veteran furharvester license have all moved forward in the process currently. To this point all have seen easy passage, hopefully all will be passed before this session ends.

There has been talk about moving our convention date to not be on the same weekend as Wisconsin. A poll was done of vendors last fall, results of that poll were as follows - 73% were opposed to moving our convention date, 26% were ok with our current date, but not opposed to moving. Those questioned who DON’T currently go to Wisconsin, 40% would not go. There have been times where convention was held the 2nd or 3rd weekend, but that was due to availability of fairgrounds from our normal weekend. With those results, the ITA convention will continue to be the first weekend after Labor Day, UNLESS there is an issue with booking our normal weekend.

The ITA sustaining donor patches are selling well. In about a month of having them 47 of 100  have already sold. As stated in my last report, sustaining donor patches are available to anyone at a cost of $25 each per patch. This is NOT a membership to/for the association, but for those which wish to further assist the association financially or those who just collect patches. Please contact me or send your requests and payment to 1825 Kirkwood St. St. Charles, IA 50240. Make checks payable to the Iowa Trappers Association or ITA please. I will have them when I attend different events as well. Those who have purchased since my last report are Randy Church, Owen Hall, Brian Marak, Terri Webb, Chris Pohl, Ray Eserhaut, Brian Cogill, Richard Gettle, Curt Kajer, Kelly Willett, Sam Hutton, Roger Hutton, Frank Reugsegger, Phil Huffman, Tyler Freeburg, Monroe Shindelar, Tom Walters, Cody Hutton, Mike Sells, Travis Dudley, Spencer Hill, Shane Burmeister, Richard Tharp, Jeff Kempf, Ben Deter, Dan Roberts, Craig Eckhardt, Allyson Oser, Dennis Johnson, Logan Exline, Bruce Hamblen, Spencer Slifer & Tony Evans. Thank you guys & gals for all your support!!

The ITA’s 15th Annual, should have been 17 years but wasn’t allowed for 2 years, Legislative Breakfast is scheduled for April 1 from 7:15 A.M. to 9 at the Statehouse. This has been very good event over the years to meet and speak with legislators one on one. We display pelts, coats, hats, fur trimmed items, scarves, fur teddy bears and much more. The two hours spent educating and talking with our lawmakers over years has been helpful for the time and money spent. I have spoken with a female legislator the past two years at our breakfast, 2023 was her freshman year. Last month while waiting in the Statehouse Rotunda for a meeting to begin we saw each other. She came over and greeted me by my first name as I did her, even though she was wearing her legislator name badge. I was wearing my leather jacket covering my ITA shirt with no ITA name tag or anything indicating my name she could see. We talked for about a minute as she was rushed to attend a committee meeting. I told her I would send her an invite for our breakfast April 1st. She placed a note in her planner and said “I will be there”. Of all the people she has met over the past 2 years, she still remembered my name. It truly indicates what small amount of time spent in face to face conversation can do. This not only pertains to those in government positions, but to normal everyday people we encounter every day. Just a simple “hello” or “how are you doing” can make a difference in someone’s day IF you make the effort to do so. I was with my son one evening talking about people I know. I started naming friends I personally know from other states. There are very few states that I don’t personally know someone and it is all due to my involvement with trapping. All these friends made have been due to face to face conversations I’ve had over the years. Try it, your life will be enriched by doing so.    

Our 23rd annual FBU (now National Trappers Foundation)/ITA banquet will be held April 5th at Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel 1800 50th St in West Des Moines. The hotel is located just east of I-80/I-35 at the University Ave exit. There will be games, raffles, silent and live auctions then general raffle during the evening. If you are interested in attending, email me at hightoweria@aol.com and I will get the banquet letter to you.  Tickets are $50 each which includes admission and a sit-down meal. Doors open at 4 P.M. with dinner being served at 6:30. All tickets MUST to be turned in to Cody Hutton NO LATER than Monday March 24th. When you get to the motel park on the southside of the building, walk through the double doors and down the hallway to the banquet room. Hope to see everyone there.

March 7-9th the ITA had a booth at the Deer Classic in Des Moines. Many kids and adults stopped by to chat and touch the different pelts on display. Conversations found many people had heard about the trapping classes held last year and wondered about them for this year. Some had attended last year and were very thankful for the knowledge and equipment received to get them started last fall. When I indicated about possibly expanding those classes, fur handling was high on that list by almost everyone. As with attendees questioned last year, many of these people had heard about them on facebook. Another odd finding when I asked where they lived,  most lived within a half hour or so of Des Moines. I indicated to stay tuned to the ITA Facebook page for information when it becomes available next summer. Thanks to Tony Evans, Dave Phipps, Tracy & Cody Hutton, Allyson Oser & Calvin Barber for helping in the booth.

The Spring ITA Board of Directors meeting will be held April 6, 10 A.M. at Pizza Ranch 4954 86th St in Urbandale. Pizza Ranch is located just south of I-80/I-35 at NW 86th St or Exit 129.  

I have scheduled June 29th at this location for the summer meeting as well. All current ITA members are always welcome to attend any of these meetings.

That is about it for now. Be safe!! Til next time - Craig