Maine Trappers Association

This cabin, constructed in the 1980's by the Maine Trappers Association at Leonards Mills in Bradley Maine, was typical during the early days of trapping. The line cabin was designed for an overnight stay while checking the trap line. It was very simple and meant to provide temporary shelter only. Trappers could cache food supplies, fur stretchers, extra traps and tools needed to maintain his equipment in the cabin. Leonards Mills holds their Living History Days each year. In 2009, the date of the event is October 3 & 4. Other history days are July 11/12. It's open every Saturday in July, Aug and Sept. Check their website for more info and directions to the Maine Forest and Logging Museum at Leonards Mills.

www.leonardsmills.com

Continuing Support

Stephen L #363 — Patron

William Harmon SL #112— Benefactor

Jerry LeBeau L #169— Endowment

New Life Members

#377 Mark Alexander

#378 Allen Eppleman

#379 Cindy Johnson

New Senior Life Members

#148 Robert Graham

#149 Gerald Bell

#150 Wm Butch Fuss

#151 Donald Feeney

#152 Thomas Slattery

#153 Les Thompson

#154 Charles Merrill

Calendar

Dec 6, 2009—Executive Committee/Directors meeting, Bangor Motor Inn, 9am

DECEMBER 13, 2009 (Sunday) - Fall Fur Auction in Dixmont, Maine at the GoldCrest Riders Snowmobile Club, hosted by Central Maine Chapter. 8AM.

Feb 27 & 28, 2010 - Cabin Fever Reliever at the Brewer Auditorium in Brewer, free admission

Check the Calendar page for more event information.

Walter L. Arnold, trapper, and one of the founders of the MTA, at his cabin in northern Maine in 1977. photo by David Hiser

See the most recent Legislative Update (updated quarterly:January, April, July, October)

The Maine Trappers Association was established in 1947 to provide an organization by which those with a common interest in the sport of trapping could come together to discuss their common goals.

Meetings of the Executive Committee are held 4 times per year. Membership meetings are held twice each year, on the first Sunday in May and in the month of September (usually the 2nd weekend).

A newsletter, The Maine Trapper, is published quarterly and sent to all current members. If you'd like to join the MTA, go to the membership page for information.

Want info on a local chapter in your area? See the CHAPTERS page.

This page was last updated on: November 13, 2009

The MTA has a proud history of bringing about changes that have enhanced the image of trappers and trapping. We have been leaders in supporting the development of traps and trapping techniques that are effective and humane. We have successfully supported legislation that has made trapping more acceptable to the non-trapping public, including mandatory trapper education. We have successfully opposed legislation when we felt that the changes would be harmful to the future of trapping or to the furbearers we harvest.

In the late 1940's, Maine trappers were dissatisfied with the trapping season. The Legislature set the season at that time. Clyde Wells of Saco and H.E. Ford of Berwick thought that unifying the trappers in Maine was a necessity. On September 1, 1947, the Maine Trappers Association (MTA) was formed. Luther DeVoe was elected president, Elwyn Smith was elected vice-president and J. Cliff Francis was elected secretary-treasurer. It seems that this meeting took place without the knowledge of either Mr. Ford or Mr. Wells. Membership dues were set at $1 per year.

Continue with the History of the MTA on the History Page.

Newsletter :

The next deadline for the MTA newsletter will be DEC 20. Please send your submissions to the editor, Gary Sewell

'Dedicated to sound wildlife management through the harvesting of our surplus fur resources'

Maine Trappers Association

IF&W Furbearer Biologist Report - John DePue - October 2009

Hello Trappers,

First I have to point out an error in the 2009-2011 Hunting Laws and Rules book. The new regulations (implemented December 2008) for setting conibear traps on land in WMDs 1-11 did not make it into the law book. The complete rule is: All killer-type traps in Wildlife Management Districts 1 - 11 that are set on land, the pole or tree that the trap is affixed to must be: 1) no greater than 4 inches wide at 4 feet above the ground, 2) at an angle of 45º or greater to the ground the entire distance from the ground to the trap, 3) The area within 4 feet of the trap in all directions must be;-free of objects greater than 4 inches wide and, -free of slanted trees or poles between the ground and the height of the trap. If using a pole, the pole must be a natural section of tree, which has not been planed or sawed to create a flat surface.

The purpose of this rule is to ensure there are no objects that make it easier for a lynx to access the trap. Some exceptions are made for blind sets and sets under overhanging banks. Please see p. 42 of the Trapping and Hunting 2009-11 Laws and Rules booklet for details.

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2009-2010 Beaver Trapping .

WMDs...........................Season Dates

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1, 2, 4...........................October 18 – April 30

3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11.........November 1 – April 30

18, 19, 28......................November 1 – April 15

7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20...........December 1 – March 31

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29

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In WMDs; 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, and 10 there is no required setback distance from an active beaver dam.

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OK-now to the fun stuff, the final 2008-2009 harvest numbers are in, and the totals are; Beaver-9,119, Otter-528, Mink-1,297, Bobcat-407, Coyote-1,901, Fisher-1,456, Marten-2,291, Red fox-893, and Grey fox-163. As you can see the otter catch was really low in relation to the beaver catch and the red fox catch was the lowest on record. On a positive note, the fisher harvest was up from the previous year as was the number of fisher per fisher trapper, and the percent of land trappers that caught at least one fisher is right on with the 5 year- average. We will have a better indication of how the fisher population is responding to the 10-fisher limit in the next few seasons. More information is available in the beaver mailing located on the IFW website.

I hope all your trap preparations are going well and despite the predicted low fur prices, I hope you have an enjoyable and productive trapping season. I am definitely looking forward to my first trapping season in Maine, I can hardly stand the wait…have fun out there!

-John DePue