[October 09, 2012]
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Illinois Trappers Association
The Illinois Trappers Association had its annual convention in
Lincoln over the weekend. The gates of the Logan County Fairgrounds
opened at 8 a.m. Friday, and the convention continued
through Saturday.
This is a special year for the Illinois Trappers Association.
2012 marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the association.
On Saturday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., the convention offered trapper
education classes for younger trappers. Those under 18 years of age
have to take the required courses in order to be certified before
they can receive a license.
Activities and exhibits included vendors selling bait and traps,
various artwork depicting wildlife, and even canoes. Throughout the
day there were demonstrations
of skinning and trapping various animals, including coyotes, raccoons, otters, rats, possums and
beavers. Otters are a new addition this year, as 2012 is
the first year to include an otter season.
The vendors are not limited to just those from Illinois. For
example, the Miller Fur Co. out of Clarksville, Mo., was
present. Miller Fur, run by Doren and Lynn Miller, buys raw and
finished fur. At the convention, they were selling cage traps and
other trapping supplies.
The Heartland Clogging group performed Saturday night, as did
Richard Withers and The Illinois Boys, a country and western-style
band.
For more information on the Illinois Trappers Association, visit their website at
http://www.illinoistrappersassociation.com/.
[Derek Hurley]
Pictures by Nila Smith |