NY State Trappers Convention

WCS will be attending the NY State Trappers Convention being held in Herkimer, NY over the Labor Day weekend. This is perhaps the eighth or ninth year in a row that we've attended this show. It has gotten to be a mixture of business and pleasure for us as it is as much a social event as anything else. This show draws an excllent crowd and there always is a large number of familar faces. If you haven't ventured out to a show like this in the past I would highly recommend it. The area is great for sightseeing also !

Anyway, I wanted to post something regarding this show since we are setting up a booth in the main building, we will be pulling our trailer and bringing products for display. However, this year we will be traveling "light" as we will be picking up a large quantity of goods during and after the show. By necessity, we cannot come fully loaded with products. My point in mentioning this is that if there is something you specifically need or want from us, don't leave it to chance that we will be bringing it. Call ahead, we will ensure it makes it onto the trailer. I'm just trying to avoid any disappointment. Even in past years, try as we do to bring a wide selection there is always someone who comes by and says "oh, I thought you'd be bringing that" ! Don't take the chance if you really need it......CALL !

Tube Trap Modifications

Tube Trap Customer Wrote:

Hi Alan I dont think anything less than my sample would be strong enough to absorb the huge impact. If you could get tubing just as hard as the sample that I am mailing it could work. Feel free to use what I tell you any way you want. If you make a million send me a box of double spring Koro traps. Please find attached the picture you requested. Also the rubber is held in place with two nuts and bolts. The rubber should be about a 1/4 inch up the slot so when it fires it wont bottom out and bend the rod. I don't know where you could get this rubber. I have a roll of it that was used to make pads for railroad track plates. Yes I am retired but if you want I could send it to you. Its quite heavy.

I will put the sample in tomorrows mail.
Bill Lane

Suggested TUBE Trap improvement from a customer

I thought folks might like to see this, a suggestion in from a customer on the TUBE TRAP. Just a note here……you should NOT DRY FIRE TUBE TRAPS as you would perhaps a bodygrip or foothold trap.
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Hi Alan: Recently you were good enough to replace some Tube Traps that were damaged due to Dry Firing.
Well thank you very much !
I felt a little guilty taking them but have now figured a way to try and pay you back.
Please find attached some pictures of what I think is the answer to the problem. The rubber pad is meant to absorb the shock of any Dry Firing.

Also I figured how to straighten the kill rod after it gets bent.
I put the tube trap on my work bench and put a long screw driver on the inside of the trap and on the rod. With a lump hammer I give it a couple of shots and the rod returns to its original straightness. Simple but it took me a long time to figure it out.

The screw driver has to go thru the trap in the kill rod slot
Thanks Again
Bill Lane

Beaver: Live Trapping Techniques DVD Testimonial

Heres a testimonial we recently received on our NEW DVD titled "Beaver: Live Trapping Techniques"

Guys,

Our IADCA Association just bought your DVD as a giveaway in the raffle at our next meeting on Aug. 11. Since I bought it for the association I thought I should preview it to make sure it is acceptable for the members to view… ha ha. I must say you guys have produced the absolute best instructional DVD that I have ever seen. The photography and information presented is very clear and concise. Anyone buying this DVD to learn the equipment and techniques should be able to go right out and do a good job at live beaver trapping. That is quite unlike it was 14 years ago when I bought a two Hancock traps and had to learn by the “seat of my pants” including how to set the traps safely.

You guys have set the standard for instructional information and one can only hope that others will take the cue from you.

Thank you, Tim Christie, Wildlife Management Services

NTA Convention '07

I'm sitting in the Detroit airport on my way to the National Trappers Convention (NTA) being held Aug. 2 - 5 in Goshen, IN. I've attended these events since the early 70's, I think my first NTA Convention was at the Space Mink farm in Beemerville, NJ. Chuck Spearman was just introducing the Trapper Magazine (called the Midwest Trapper at the time), to the fur trapping community. There wasn't anything like it on the market at the time and Chuck timed the market perfectly as the fur market was experiencing a fur boom.

Anyway, back to '07, if you've never attended one of these events and you are interested in any aspect of capturing ot controlling wildlife I guarantee you it will be time well spent. While it remains primarily a fur-trapping focused event, there is no question that the wildlife control industry continues to increase its' presence. Hence, the reason for my going. There is equipment of all types, there are hobbyists, professionals, and weekend warriors , tailgaters selling used equipment, demonstrations ongoing and it is sure to be an action packed weekend.

While I have been attending these events for 30+ years I predict that this year will be a turning point in its' character. To set the stage for those that have never attended, the NTA Convention while being a week-long business meeting for the organization itself, it is also considered a modern version of the rendezvous' held by the mountain men of yesteryear. Now don't get me wrong, there is very little buckskin, few campfires, and no blackpowder shoots. What I mean is it has been "the" tradeshow of the fur industry where dealers of all sizes and sorts come together to market/sell their wares. Many dealers in the summer months are orphans from their families pulling oversized and many times over-weight trailers all over the country, packed with as large a quantity of inventory as will fit. The consumer (trapper) has used these conventions to purchase supplies for the upcoming season and avoid shipping costs.

While I still consider these events to be absolutely worthwhile and should/will continue for many years to come, what I predict is that the character of the Convention will EVOLVE into more of a mainstream show where dealers, manufacturers, factory reps. will set up displays and showcase their latest products, or hot products of the year, etc. But the hauling of a complete inventory of products all over the country will by necessity decline. Heres the nasty little secret....... the economics just don't support the rendezvous any longer. It's a known fact that everytime you move or touch a product it costs money. So by the time you load a product into a trailer, drive X number of miles, unload it, reload whatever doesn't sell after a convention, and then unpack it once you get back home .......... on top of $3.00 gallon +/- gas, food, hotel rooms, the expense of being away from the business. Do the math !

I'm not saying this change is bad, I'm just saying this is an evolution that makes sense. There are a number of very large and well known fur trapping supply dealers who will not be attending the '07 NTA Convention for the reasons I've outlined above. We'll see if my prediction comes true.

In the meantime, I'll be spending time with Tim Julien, Pres. of NWCOA, at the NWCOA booth.........it will still be fun !!! Just different !