Greetings all. Hope everyone had an enjoyable and memory filled season. I had 3 hours to spare on Nov 30th so got a dozen traps set that afternoon here by the house. I added a few here and there over the next week til I had about 70 sets out. Filled my 3 bobcat tags in 6 days plus had to release a couple more for another day. Had another enjoyable and memorable season to add to the memory bank.
I had a new trapper, Aaron Mason, contact Bruce Rhoads after Bruce posted on the ITA facebook page about assisting new trappers. Aaron lived close to me so Bruce gave him my contact info to assist him. After some explanation, text and pictures, he set a couple footholds and some Dp’s over his Christmas break from work. Dec 30th he came over and rode along with me, asked more questions and watched as I remade sets. After getting back home, he left to run his few traps. About an hour later he called all excited to say he had caught a big bobcat. After some talk, he decided to get it tanned to hang on the wall. Congratulations Aaron on your new home décor!!
Our 11th annual ITA fur auction went over better than expected for the number of sellers and amount of fur that was present. As you can see below, prices were not the greatest but almost everything did sell. Thank you to all who sold their fur, but a big thank you to the buyers who attended and were willing to buy fur in this market --- North IA Fur - Bill Drewelow, NE IA Fur Exchange - Rick Hemsath, Otter Creek Fur - David Raber, Midwest Taxidermy - Ben Trumblee, Miller Fur - Don Miller Plymouth, IL, Hutton Valley School of Taxidermy - Roger Hutton, Hindman Fur - Al Hindman, BJ Deanton, McNutt Fur - Marvin McNutt, Baetsle Fur - Kerry Baetsle and Mountain Man Outdoors - Jeff Filloon
Help with setting up, lotting in, carrying fur during the day were Chad Thede, Peter Fritzell, Dave Phipps, Cody Hutton, Pat McAninch, Randy Porsch, Tony Evans, Roger Hutton, Calvin Barber, Joe Wheatly, Colter Beck and Allison Oser. Bret Smith - auctioneered, Nat Hill & Tracy Hutton - clerked, Dan Roberts and Kristy Lambert ran the food stand. Thank you to everyone who assisted during the day. Also, Funke Trap Tags (Allen Sayre) and Backwater Baits (Bruce Rhoads) were present selling supplies as well. I also want to thank Mike Mazur for all the fur that he donated with proceeds from the pelts going to the ITA.
We had 11 buyers, 52 sellers and 445 lots of fur. We have not had this many sellers and lots of fur since our 2013 and 2014 sales. All fur sold EXCEPT 1 lot of 5 black opossum which was mine. As you can see some fur sold for 10 to 25 cents per pelt, but it sold!!! "F" is for finished -- "G" is for green. On bobcat and otter I combined green and carcass animals together.
Species... Number... High/Low... Average... Total..
Coon …F…814... $9.25/.25c.... $4.51…$3672.50
Coon… G…1372..$6.50/10c $2.34... $3224.05
Coyote...F…151..$24/$3…$13.82…$2087.50
Coyote…G...75... $20/$2…$8.98…$674
Muskrat…F…616…$5/.25c…$3.29…$2030
Muskrat… G… 36…$3.25/25c…$2.34…$84.25
Mink…F...31…$8/$1.50…$4.08…$126.50
Bobcat...F...9..$37/$15…$17.50…$157.50
Bobcat....Carcass/G…11..$80/$11…$43.63…$480
Skunk...F…25..$14/$10..$11.52..$288
Skunk...G...41..$14/$6…$12.53…$514
Red Fox...F..14..$18/$7…$17.21..$241
Red Fox...G…16..$16/$2…$9.46…$151.50
Badger...F...2..$21/$14…$19.50…$39
Badger...G...8..$28/$13…$15.12…$121
Otter...F...4..$24/$12…$20.75…$83
Otter…Carcass/G...9..$29/$22.50…$26.72…$240.50
Beaver...F...9...$11/$3…$8.88…$80
Beaver...G...78..$9/$1…$6.69…$522.25
Opossum...F...21... $3/0.00… 89c...$18.75 --- 5 No Value
Opossum…G...5..75c/50c…70c…$3.50
Gray Fox...F...8..$25/$20…$22…$176
Kit Fox...1...$11…$11…$11
Nutria...F..1...$3.25…$3.25…$3.25
Groundhog...1...$2…$2…$2
Castor…#4.9…$42.85….$210
Squirrel Tail...4…50c…$2
Beaver tail...8...50c…$4
Porcupine hair…$8
Total…$15,058.55
The 20th Annual FBU/ITA Sportsman’s Banquet is once again planned for Saturday March 12th at the Ramada Inn on Merle Hay Rd & I-35/ I-80 in Des Moines. As in the past, doors will open at 4:00 P.M. with dinner at 6:30. The usual array of games, silent and live auction items will be a part the evening activities. Meal tickets last year were $30 each for adults and there were options to purchase different packages for the evening. If you have never attended before and are interested, you can contact me and I will get that info to you as soon as I have it which is usually late January. We are normally done about 10 to 10:30 and will have a block of rooms reserved if someone wishes to stay overnight at the motel. This has been well attended every year since we started this event in 2003. Mark that date on your calendar and plan to attend – hope to see you there!!
The Spring ITA Board of Directors meeting will be held April 3rd 10 A.M. at CrossRoads Shooting Sports 5550 Johnston Dr. in Johnston. For those attending, enter the building from the rear (south) side of the building as the front door will be locked at that time. I have scheduled June 26th for the Summer BOD meeting there as well. All current ITA members are welcome to attend any of these meetings.
Take care and be safe.
Til next time - Craig