Colorado Trappers & Predator Hunters Association
Hopefully you are in full gear in pursuing your passions. Whether it be hunting, trapping, winter fishing with a little bit of sitting by the fire, drinking your favorite beverage and spending time with the family during the holidays.
Another round of elections has come and gone and no matter what you are, a Republican, Democrat or Independent, this type of landscape is not favorable to hunting, fishing or trapping.
Whether you are reading this from Colorado, Montana, Tennessee, Iowa or any other location your activities are under assault and you should really look yourself in the mirror and figure what you can do to hold elected and appointed officials accountable to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, that is under constant assault.
While it might not seem like a major problem to you right now, rest assured they are coming after it. They don’t want to take away some of it, as they will not be happy with anything other than total annilation of our lifestyles, traditions and heritages.
No other place currently is seeing this assault more than here in Colorado. The entire State is blue. The Governor. The Secretary of State. Treasurer. Attorney General. Boards and Commissions. The House 49–16 favoring the Democrats. The Senate 23-12 favoring the Democrats. If you think we had trouble in the past, you’ve seen nothing yet.
Now if you think I am anti Democrat by what I just said essentially you are wrong. I am anti stupid. I am anti illogical. And I am anti anti. I have friends, colleagues, partners that are Democrat, in name but even the majority of these conservation minded Democrats are not anti. It is the extreme Left Wing Extremists Democrats that get elected and drive their agendas while the overwhelming majority of the sheep just fall in line with the flock not realizing that there are a lot of wolves in sheep’s clothing.
To many times from Democrats and Republicans I hear “I didn’t know that” “when did they do that””how do we stop this””who do they think they are””that isn’t right”. It’s this sort of head in the sand mentality that allows us as Conservationists to get the short end of the stick, over and over again.
Look at your Game Commissions. Even in the good places look at the slow change that is happening. In the middle of the road places it becomes more obvious and in places like California, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, and the supposed once great State of Colorado it continues to grow like a cancer. Montana and Idaho are seeing more and more of it and before long North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada will have more and more attempts to derail and erode and wipe out Wildlife Management that is based on science with harvest as a management tool.
I find it frustrating that we don’t as a community stand up to these assaults even as much as we think that we do. If every hunter, trapper, fisherman, hell just Sportsmen in general, would spend as much time fighting the fight as what they do on social media bragging about what they killed or where to hunt, we would be unstoppable. If we would spend as much time writing letters and making phone calls to elected officials and boards and commissions as we do bitching about something on some forum, face book page or website we would be the most powerful group in America. If we would spend 10% of the time that we do scouting, of hanging up trail camera’s and going to Cabela’s or Bass Pro and dedicate that time to meetings with legislators and decision makers we could not be denied.
Do I think this is possible? You bet. Do I think this is likely? Not really. Our successes ride on the backs of few and our failures will ride on the shoulders of those you do not join the fight.
Our Fur Auction for the Association will be on the February 8th and 9th, 2023. Fur check in in on the 4th and 5th. Our Membership Meeting at the Auction House is on February 5th. For more auction information contact Auction Manager Greg Ashmore at 719 760 0539.
If you are interested in participating in the Stock Show in January contact Bruce Bartow at 208-521-7469 or Don Clifford at 303-775-5468.
Once again mark your calendars for August 11th and 12th for our Convention/Rendezvous in Florence, Colorado as this is shaping up to be a major event. Additionally, keep an eye out for Commercials for the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management that is the only lobbying organization for Sportsmen and women in Colorado and you can go to Savethehuntcolorado.com for more information.
Wolfengagementco.org is the website to get informed about the Wolf restoration plan here in Colorado and please make sure to pay attention to all levels of social media as this legislative session starts to heat up because we could be in for a very rough ride.
Please reach out. Go to Coloradotrapper.com for association information and enjoy what you can for this winter. Volunteer and donate when, where and however you can.
Aim Small and Miss Small,
Dan Gates
Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We would like to welcome our new members Dan & LaVan Madden, Craig, CO; Josh O’Neill, Salida, CO; Nicholas Engelman, Highlands Ranch, CO & Kenneth Bailey, Grand Junction, CO.
Make sure you mark your calendar to attend the Winter Board Meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. with the Membership Meeting to follow on Sunday, February 5th at 11:00 am. The dates to turn your fur in will be February 4th & 5th. The Fur Auction itself will be held on Wednesday, February 8th & Thursday, 9th, 2023, in Hugo, CO.
I would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important but especially now. Keep in mind we do have Brown/Black Ball Caps for sale on the Website along with Patches and Stickers.
Please make sure if you have an email address I have it. This is the only way we are keeping our membership up to date with the current information and events on a timely fashion because of the rising costs of printing and postage and the unreliability of delivery of mail and the inability to communicate immediately. We will only send out hard copies when absolutely necessary. So if you want to be kept in the loop make sure I have your correct EMAIL Address. We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current. Reports will be on the website and this publication, but reading it here is 2 months late.
Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719 275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.
Karen Gates
Secretary/Treasurer
Depending on what one’s outlook is and what they look forward to, equates to their perception of the landscape from their personal point of view. Archery season here in Colorado is done and over. Muzzleloading season has come and gone. Big Game season is in the heart of the hunt. Upland Bird and Waterfowl seasons are taking shape and Predator/Furbearers seasons are just starting off if not around the corner.
Whatever your fancy, this is the time of the year that our community looks forward to. Make sure that you enjoy it and relish the opportunity to chase your passion no matter what season, species, method of take or location.
While fur prices this year will not be an incentive to pursue our interests, take a look in the mirror and remember, as a kid how excited you were to get up at 4:00 am. and go check your traps from the day before or to sit on a stand watching the Coyote come running full bore for breakfast. Remember how you felt as legal shooting hours were minutes away and the Ducks and Geese were flying by the thousands. Remember the anticipation of not knowing what was yet to come by stalking that Mule Deer in his bed or as that faithful family pet finally learned to point only to find out it was a female Pheasant that jumped up.
While we treasure these memories and plan for the next hunt or prepare our equipment for the next gauntlet also remember that there is a growing cancer on the landscape that is trying to take away every single one of these activities and truly make them memories.
There are many concerning issues on the Colorado landscape and while we continued to remain steadfast and victorious on all fronts the current political landscape and the ideologies of elected and appointed extremists would like nothing more than to make sure that all we have left is memories.
Depending on when you get this publication either you will have a chance to vote and make your voices heard or the mid-term elections would have already happened and we will be dealing with the consequences for the next 4 plus years.
All I can say is grab your boot straps and hang on for the ride.
Our convention in Craig over Labor Day Weekend was moderately attended but overall, given the current landscape, location, timing and competition with other events was about as best as could be expected.
We probably had the best demo line-up in years and a big thanks goes out to all of those who donated their time and travels.
A big thanks goes to the vendors as well and everyone that helped to pull off the event which rounded out with a fantastic Saturday Night barbecue and live auction.
So as not to be redundant, additional information and elections and awards results can be seen in the Secretary/Treasurer report.
A final note on the convention is a big thanks goes out to Vice President Chris Jurney, Craig Power Sports, Davies Tent, Advantage Builders, Traders of the Bighorn, Bruce Bartow, Mountain Man Taxidermy, Idaho Trappers Association and all of the donors Kevin & Kandy Herrman, Al Deeds, Don Clifford, Terry Davis and to all the others for auction items. Also thanks to Miss Rodeo Colorado Ashley Baller, Lady in Waiting, Randilyn Madison and her sister Chandler Madison as well. All of these girls will be great partners to deal with in the future.
Next year’s Convention will be in Florence, Colorado with probable dates being August 11th, 12th and 13th, 2023 and this will be an event to remember with commitments from multiple organizations and entities already offering to partner and collaborate. Mark your calendars. More updates to follow.
On other fronts. Wolves are still on the landscape. License allocations and preference points are a major topic of discussion. The November elections will help set the tone for what is yet to come on the conservation and wildlife management landscape. The Northwest Colorado five year Bobcat study is starting this Fall. The Beaver continues to be on the animal rights forefront. Predator hunting as a hole is being further scrutinized.
Recreationists continue to lead discussions that effect Wildlife Management. Parks and Wildlife
Commission appointments continue to be bewildering and not for hunters and anglers. Politics continues to tamper with conservation policy. Equity, diversity and inclusivity continues to alter legitimate wildlife management decisions, along with a plethora of other things that might seem like we are up against an unbeatable force but we have a couple of choices to make.
We can stand and fight. We can rollover. We can run. Or we can make sure that we continue to make the memories of yesterday become the fortunes of tomorrow.
Time, effort, vision and money is needed to fight for all of these things.
Surely you can help provide one of the four, otherwise it all might just be a memory.
Get in the game,
Dan Gates
President
Wow what a busy summer. Nuisance work, bugs, bats and all sorts of critters.
Convention is coming along well, lots of mixed emotions on timing, interest levels, fur prices, politics, etc… We have a good line up of demonstrations with a lot of auction items and a good meal planned.
Wolf politics and details have been active this summer as well with all kinds of different emotions and directions and will be challenged on feasibility, impacts, where and how many.
Once again we will probably get more attacks in the upcoming year so it is imperative that we unite all sportsmen and sportswomen, businesses, ranchers to fight for the common cause of our livelihoods and sustainability of the resources.
Chris Jurney
Hi Everyone! We would like our new members Justin Ebarb, Marksville, LA; Josh Oneill, Salida, CO; Brent & Nathan Steele, Craig, CO; James Chapman, Craig, CO; Nate Pruce, Pueblo West, CO; Jim Balash, Purdy, MO.
Well we had our Convention in Craig, CO over Labor Day Weekend. It turned out to be hot but great weather and wonderful facilities. It was an overall great convention but our membership turnout was very low but a big thank you to the members that did travel and came and supported the association!! We did have a great turnout from locals!! It is always disappointing to see no interest from the membership, when we are doing this as a fundraiser and also making business decisions for the association.
Our Annual Membership Meeting was held on Sunday the 4th of September at the Convention were elections were held. Dan Gates was re-elected as President, Kevin Herrman re-elected as NW Director and Ethan Gates was re-elected as SE Director. The Proposed By-Law Amendment for Dissolution of the Association was adopted. Solely for the purpose of updating the By-Laws. This is in the unlikely event that the association is dissolved.
Awards were also handed out the night of the barbecue dinner and live auction. Ms Rodeo Colorado Ashley Baller – Appreciation and Support Award; CPW Director Dan Prenzlow – Wildlife Professional of the Year; Christy Cressler – Workhorse of the Year; Haily Staker – Jr. Trapper & Predator Hunter of the Year; and Naomi Yates – Trapper & Predator Hunter of the Year.
Other significant business decisions were also made including continued support for The Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management.
Make sure you mark your calendar to attend the Winter Membership Meeting on Sunday, February 5th at 11:00 am. The dates to turn your fur in will be February 4th & 5th. The Fur Auction itself will be held on Wednesday, February 8th & Thursday, 9th, 2023, in Hugo, CO.
I would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important but especially now. Keep in mind we do have Brown/Black Ball Caps for sale on the Website along with Patches and Stickers.
Please make sure if you have an email address I have it. This is the only way we are keeping our membership up to date with the current information and events on a timely fashion because of the rising costs of printing and postage and the unreliability of delivery of mail and the inability to communicate immediately. We will only send out hard copies when absolutely necessary. So if you want to be kept in the loop make sure I have your correct EMAIL Address. We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current. Reports will be on the website and this publication, but reading it here is 2 months late.
Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719 275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.
Karen Gates
Secretary/Treasurer
I have attended the Sportsman’s Roundtable meetings virtual. It is still very important to attend meetings to just find out what issues people are really interested in and what the landscape is like out there.
Ethan Gates
I have also helped my dad, Dan Gates with some projects he has been involved in and looking forward to the start of the new trapping season.
I will continue to attend meetings throughout the Fall/Winter to keep myself and our association updated with any current activities and/or questions or concerns.
As always anyone in my area that has any questions please feel free to contact me at Ethangates21@gmail.com.
Hunting season is gearing up! I am excited to see who I run into out in the woods this year for big game, and after that, who is going to be out and about running hounds and trap lines. I feel like we are building a good relationship with the houndsmen getting involved from the last legislative session, and I hope to continue to strengthen that relationship. Trappers and houndsmen aren’t always easy to get together, however we are starting to wake up to the notion that we have to. It is exciting to see both houndsmen and trappers at the capitol building, and events held by associations.
Naomi Yates
As I am writing this report the convention/ rendezvous is just around the corner. Kandy and I have been attending this event every year for over half our lives and my children have attended for most of their lives. We have many fond memories over the years and are blessed to have met a lot of great people that have turned into great friends.
In June, I attended the board meeting in Frisco where we discussed plans and strategies for moving forward. I was able to attend a couple of the wolf introduction meetings in Glenwood Springs.
I want to give a thank you to member Paul Kaufmann, he owns a sporting goods store in Rifle. He has been a supporter of our organization and has been generous with donations to us. Recently, he has been promoting trapping and has begun to stock trapping supplies in his store in an effort for further promotion.
As we are all aware, the anti’s are not letting up. This reinforces the reality that we all need to stick together and push back- vote carefully, recruit new and active members, join and support groups that support us, do anything. If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.
Thanks,
Summer is coming to a close and there is a cooler wind in the air. I for one am thankful for that and I am already looking forward to the upcoming hunting seasons. Most of this corner of the state had been getting good rain this past summer helping to change what started out as another dry year into one with greener grass and fuller ponds. I am already seeing a jump in our local population of rabbits, chipmunks and other “little critters”, and as we all know when the “little critters” are doing well so the predator population follows.
I don’t have to belabor what we all know and saw in the last Fur Harvesters Auction. We all saw it coming. I for one have never let low prices affect my willingness to trap or hunt and I encourage everyone to do the same. It’s when fur prices are lower that we have to be more creative with the selling of our catch. There is always the taxidermy market and the craft market. We might have to shorten our lines, or our days spent in the field but let’s not forget why we do these things in the first place. To get out, enjoy nature and help control the predators.
I hope everyone finds the time to attend a trapping/sportsmans convention this fall. Not only are they a fantastic way to learn new techniques and about new products, but they are also a terrific way to network with like-minded people. Plus, they are a whole lot of fun!
I challenge everyone to take the time this season to get someone new involved in the sport. If they only want to ride along for a day or hunt a few stands, take them! Our sport will only thrive if we continue to engage others.
Hi Everyone,
Not much to report on the raffle- I promise we are going to have a raffle again, we have had some logistical and scheduling issues.
With the revision of the raffle, there will be changes. Some of those changes include: a price increase for the tickets as we have had underpriced tickets for a long time, especially compared to other organizations. Also, the cost of everything has gone up; paper, ink, postage, bank fees, etc and we can’t absorb that.
I think Dan and myself have covered the good points with taking our raffle online; cost savings, easier to manage and the ability to easily reach thousands of people.
As always, our organization needs help! Please get active in this organization because if you don’t, we won’t have an organization. We all have busy lives, we all have a million things to do, but if you care about the future of trapping or hunting in this state, the time to act is now. We need donation items for all of our events/ raffles, we need sponsors, we need recruitment, we need boots on the ground and we need to step up our efforts.
Thanks,
Kacy Herrman
The stock show is January 7th-22nd, 2023. I’m still looking for cashiers, 9-3 or 3-8. The booth is paid for and Miss Rodeo’s coat will be done by the time it is presented at the rendezvous. We are also looking for help in the booth. Members that want to put tanned fur in the booth must have the list turned in by December 10 to Don or Ryan Clifford.
Phone 303 775 5468 for questions
Don Clifford
Stock Show Manager
Hello everyone. I hope your Summer has went well. Trapping Season is around the corner! The fur market does not look too favorable in the near future, but only time will tell as we get closer to the auction. Mark your calendars for February 8 and 9, 2023! Flyers will be mailed out around the first of the year with all of the details. As always, the information will be posted on the website in early 2023. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
Greg Ashmore/Fur Auction Manager
719-760-0539
To be voted on at the 2023 Winter Membership Meeting
To amend ARTICLE VI – Membership Meetings, Section 1., Regular Meetings, by:
1. Rearranging subsections A, B, and C into a more logical order.
2. Changing the wording of the new subsection B by striking out “during the Rendezvous, which historically has been scheduled on Labor Day weekend each year” and inserting “in the spring or summer of the year.”
ARTICLE VI – Membership Meetings, Section 1., as currently stated in our bylaws:
Section 1. Regular Meetings. Regular membership meetings shall be held twice a year.
A. The Annual Meeting shall be held during the Rendezvous, which historically has been scheduled on Labor Day weekend each year. The purpose of the Annual Meeting shall be the election of Officers and Directors, reports of Officers, Directors, and committees, and for any other business that may arise.
B. The Winter Membership meeting shall be held in conjunction with the CTPHA
Fur Auction. The purpose of the Winter Meeting shall be for reports of Officers, Directors, and committees, and for any other business that may arise.
C. The time and location of the next membership meeting will be determined by the Board of Directors and announced at the previous membership meeting and through the CTPHA column in the Trapper’s Post.
ARTICLE VI – Membership Meetings, Section 1., with proposed changes:
Section 1. Regular Meetings. Regular membership meetings shall be held twice a year.
To amend ARTICLE VI – Membership Meetings, Section 3., Electronic Meetings, by:
Inserting “and oral” between “aural” and “communication” so that amended Section 3 reads:
Section 3. Electronic Meetings. In the event that a Membership Meeting (Regular or Special)
cannot be held as an official gathering in a specified location, the meeting may be
held by electronic means as long as there is opportunity for simultaneous aural and
oral communication among all members. The call of the meeting will include
adequate instructions as to how to connect to and participate in the meeting.
If you wait to read this report through the magazines you are sometimes as much 60 days behind the 8 ball. Viewing it on the website is normally the best way to stay up to date. Waiting 60 days or more is like reading yesterday’s paper 2 months from now, you might eventually find out what is going on but you probably missed all of the events or the opportunity to engage.
There has been a ton going on. The Legislative Session ended on May 11th and what a roller coaster ride that was. While the Sportsmen and Women Community had no losses in the State their were many bills that have to do with hunting and angling that support and testimony was provided on to either defeat or to claim victory on, depending on what the issue was.
The support that the hunting and angling community receives from the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management is undeniable and is imperative to maintain that relationship and connectivity. Without that organization we and others would be doomed, which brings up a point that our adversaries are doing everything in their power to degrade and erode the relevancy of CRWM at every level. The Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management has become the #1 target on the Colorado landscape not only because they are so effective but because they are the only organization in the State that lobbies on behalf of all hunting and angling issues in Colorado. No other organization has Capitol representation for hunters and anglers. You can go to savethehuntcolorado.com to find out more information.
Coming out of COVID we got somewhat back on track with our Stock Show Booth, a fabulous Fur Auction, considering the market, our Sportsman’s Banquet, the April 21st Sportsmens Day at the Capitol, multiple conferences, Commission Meetings and behind the scenes engagements that are literally full-time jobs.
A big thanks goes out Kandy Herrman and the entire support group that she has surrounded herself with. They once again pulled off a fabulous organized effort on behalf of the CTPHA.
We are gearing up for a busy summer and for the Labor Day Weekend Convention at the Moffat County Fairgrounds in Craig, Colorado. There will be vendors and demo’s along with barbecues, games and raffles, a Saturday night auction, membership and board meetings and if you care at all about trapping and hunting in Colorado you need to show up and support the cause. Contact Vice-President Chris Jurney at 970 620-1454 for more information. Look for the flier in the magazines, on the Website and we will be sending information to members out as well.
While I continue to serve on more things than I can count, I am asking that you take a look in the mirror and figure out how to engage. If you don’t know what is going on, ask someone. Educate yourself. If you don’t know how, ask someone. While you are contemplating about your license draws or where you are going to hunt, or how you are preparing for the trapping season, your enemies are strategizing and scheming and calculating and raising money to stop everything that you do when it comes to Wildlife or Hunting, Fishing and Trapping. This is an Election year and if you are not engaged and don’t know who to vote for and don’t know what issues are on the table you better figure out a way to get into the game. This is a real issue and all of the organizations that are fighting to sustain what you cherish in Colorado rely on the efforts of the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management and without you, those efforts will eventually fail and you will be looking at how Colorado became Californicated before your very eyes. This column only hits a small segment of who we need to engage. It’s up to you if we live your die. Many other people are fighting for you. What are you doing?
At our Annual Membership Meeting/Convention in Craig, CO over Labor Day Weekend, September 1st – 4th, 2022, we will hold elections for President, NW Director and SE Director. We will also conduct a vote on the Proposed By-Law Amendment.
Aim Small, miss small,
Dan Gates, President
Hi Everyone! We would like our new members John Howard, Grand Junction, CO; Jason Santos, Littleton, CO and Kenneth Antos, Eustis, FL.
Our Sportsmen Banquet on April 16th, was a huge success! For those of you who attended Thank you! We were sold out and a big thank you goes out to Kandy Herrman and the Herrman Family and all other volunteers who helped for all their hard work! Also a big thank you to all of our Donors and Sponsors! Without you we could not put on this event. Everyone had a great time. It takes a lot of time and effort to make something like this successful.
Chris Jurney is currently working on the Convention this year, which will be held at the Moffat County Fairgrounds, 640 E. Victory Way, Craig, CO 81625. September 1st -4th, 2022, over Labor Day Weekend. Will keep you and the website updated with the most current information. If you have not already ready received a Vendor/Sponsorship Sheet, please let me know and I will send you one. Let’s make this year’s Convention bigger and better!! This is a huge fundraiser for the Association, so please attend and join the fun.
At our Annual Membership Meeting/Convention in Craig, CO over Labor Day Weekend, September 1st – 4th, 2022, we will hold elections for President, NW Director and SE Director. We will also conduct a vote on the Proposed By-Law Amendment. Everyone should have received a hard copy in the mail. Also, we have it on the website if you would like to review. All current reports from the Board Members are on the website.
I would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important but especially now.
Please make sure if you have an email address I have it. This is the only way we are keeping our membership up to date with the current information and events on a timely fashion because of the rising costs of printing and postage and the unreliability of delivery of mail and the inability to communicate immediately. We will only send out hard copies when absolutely necessary. So if you want to be kept in the loop make sure I have your correct EMAIL Address. We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current.
Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719 275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.
Karen Gates
Secretary/Treasurer
The thrill of Victory and the concerns over the agony of defeat:
Thanks to the thousands of emails, phone calls, in person testimony along with the hundreds of substantial financial contributions through the organization of the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management. The attempt at banning Mountain Lion and Bobcat Harvest with Senate Bill 22-031 was defeated by a margin of 4 to 1 at the State Capitol in the Senate Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee.
A sigh of relief. Temporarily. After partnering with dozens of other organizations and creating a coalition to stand united and support Science Based Wildlife Management and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation we helped lay the ground work for continuing to fight this and future issues that we know are inevitable.
We strongly believe that another version of this misguided assault could be possible in another bill form or even worse, through a ballot measure as early as this November.
Strategies are already being devised and strengthening the coalition is already a top priority. A coalition of efforts including but not limited to Safari Club International, Rocky Mtn Bighorn Society, Mule Deer Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, National Wildlife Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Colorado Bowhunters Association, Colorado Outfitters Association, Colorado Wildlife Foundation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, National Wild Turkey Federation, Boone and Crockett Club, Sportsmen for Community, Keep Routt Wild, Trout Unlimited, Colorado Trappers & Predator Hunters Association, Congressional Sportsman’s Foundation, Rocky Mountain Roosters, Colorado Muzzleloaders Association and the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management have provided the structure that the CTPHA not only is part of, but needs if we are to survive.
We recently had a successful Stockshow and considering the landscape and State of affairs the annual Fur Auction was a success.
Organizationally the upcoming Raffle which was postponed because of some issues with the Secretary of State and technology upgrades are in the works and the Sportsmans Banquet, that we are back on track with after COVID will be in Grand Junction on April 16th, 2022. The Convention is scheduled over Labor Day Weekend September 2nd, 3rd and 4th, in Craig, Colorado and there are dozens of other events that we are participating in from Conferences, to Commission Meetings, to other association Banquets and so on.
These functions are just the tip of the spear as the Legislative Session runs through May 11th, and if a Ballot Initiative does arrive it will be the biggest thing that we have had to deal with since Amendment 14 in 1996. This next move could be a game ender not a game changer.
While we can temporarily relish in our recent Victory we can not sit idle, on our asses and wait to see what happens. That’s why we are working so hard at so many levels to maintain our relevancy. No longer are the days that we can sit back and sing the blues of our losses and just be thankful for what we have left. We, along with the many partnerships that we have developed need to be proactive while also, at the same time plan on how to be reactive.
This takes time, effort, vision, strategy, partnerships, and MONEY.
Educate yourselves. Pay attention. Step up. Participate. Engage in the process. DONATE. As the anti-movement stays the course in trying to take away EVERYTHING at EVERY LEVEL. We need to remain vigilant and be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
If you were not at the Capitol on February 3rd, you should have been. It was the largest gathering of Sportsmen and Women at the Gold Dome in many decades and they were from all avocations, pursuits, enthusiasts and methods of take.
It was a PROUD Day. 10 degrees, with a common goal. To defeat the anti’s and Support Science Based Wildlife Management and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.
Help make sure, no matter what lies ahead that we conquer our enemies. The CTPHA’s involvement and support for the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management has made all of this possible. CRWM is the only Sportsman Organization in the State that has s lobbyist working the Gold Dome and representing common interest and goals, and without it we can not survive. Dig deep inside, whether financially or otherwise to help the cause. Defeating SB 22-031 in the manner in which we did was monumental, but dealing with what is yet to come will be 20 to 30 times the effort and money that will be needed.
Reach out to anyone of the Board Members. Check the websites for more info.
Aim Small, Miss Small,
Dan Gates
Hi Everyone! We would like our new members Mike Martinez, Big Timber, MT; David Riley, Hugo, CO; Brian Shellberg, Lamar, CO; Dwayne Frasch, Windsor, CO; Jeremy Weese, Grenville, NM; Allan Nall, Haxton, CO; Skyler Rains, Sharon Springs, KS; Kevin Heyl, Sharon Springs, KS; Dave Fogey, Pierce, CO; Northern Colorado Fur, Wellington, CO; Marvin Cattoor, Craig, CO; Randy Wetherbee, Genoa, CO; John Ball, Hugo, CO; Michael Savage, Windsor, CO; Mike Kelly, Lake George, CO; Jordan DePriest, Rockyford, CO; Bill Yates, Livermore, CO; Christopher Harper, Deerfield, CO; American Hide & Fur, Burns, OR; Travis Black, Wiley, CO; Tom Schmid, Colorado Springs, CO; Dewayne Zimmerman, Craig, CO; Nicholas Hagan, Ft. Collins, CO and Jessie Higgins, Englewood, CO.
Our Sportsmen Banquet is scheduled for April 16th, in Grand Junction, Colorado. Contact Kandy Herrman at 970-379-6024 for more information on how you can help. Don’t wait for somebody else to do it. Step up. It is always a great time.
Chris Jurney is currently working on the Convention this year, which will be held at the Moffat County Fairgrounds, 640 E. Victory Way, Craig, CO 81625. September 1st -4th, 2022, over Labor Day Weekend. Will keep you and the website updated with the most current information. If you have not already ready received a Vendor/Sponsorship Sheet, please let me know and I will send you one. Let’s make this year’s Convention bigger and better!! This is a huge fundraiser for the Association, so please attend and join the fun.
At our Annual Membership Meeting/Convention in Craig, CO over Labor Day Weekend, September 1st – 4th, 2022, we will hold elections for President, NW Director and SE Director. We will also conduct a vote on the Proposed By-Law Amendment. Everyone should have received a hard copy in the mail. Also, we have it on the website if you would like to review. All current reports from the Board Members are on the website.
I would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important but especially now.
Please make sure if you have an email address I have it. This is the only way we are keeping our membership up to date with the current information and events on a timely fashion because of the rising costs of printing and postage and the unreliability of delivery of mail and the inability to communicate immediately. We will only send out hard copies when absolutely necessary. So if you want to be kept in the loop make sure I have your correct EMAIL Address. We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current.
Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719 275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.
Karen Gates
Secretary/Treasurer
VICTORY! VICTORY! VICTORY! As short as it might be, celebrating the recent defeat of Colorado Senate Bill 22-031 which would have stopped all harvest of Bobcats and Mountain Lions, we realize that we only pushed the dragon back as it will inevitably attempt its tyrannical attack in the not so distant future.
The 4 to 1 Vote Against the bill was the culmination of an expedited defense that happened in just over 19 days with an all hands on deck approach from 20 plus conservation/hunting ,fishing and trapping organizations that came together for a common goal to not only support Science based Wildlife Management but to also defeat the bully on the conservation block, the Humane Society of the United States.
This is the 4th time in 4 years in Colorado that we have defeated such lunacy. 3 times at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission and the latest being at the Colorado Legislature. While this shows just how powerful the hunting and angling and trapping community can be, it also shows that the opposition will never be satisfied. They will never be satisfied with the answers or the results. Even if they are victorious on one issue, they will continue to attempt to devour, like a cancer, the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. The American Conservation Funding Model. Responsible science based Wildlife Management. All forms of hunting, trapping and fishing along with any low hanging fruit regarding domestic or agricultural livestock. All species. All methods of take. All seasons in all States across the country. We realize that this, for the last 10 years is only the beginning and the foreseeable future is only what we can look to address. Wins and losses of the past, are just that. Either we brush ourselves off or clean the dust off of recent trophys but either way every fight is like a new season and we have to maintain success and momentum and finish the game.
As far as the organization itself is concerned the Stock Show Booth was a success and the Fur Auction in February was as well given the current landscape and market conditions. Next on our list is more Gold dome issues. The Partners Conference in Vail in April. The Sportsmen Banquet April 16th in Grand Junction along with monthly Legislative Caucuses and a plethora of other engagements and interactions
Hopefully the Raffle is up and running in March and we preparing for the Convention in Craig over Labor Day Weekend.
Look at the website and/or Facebook for the most up to date information also go to savethehuntcolorado.com which is the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management website to stay up to date on Colorado issues as well.
As always, if you are engaged. up your game. If you are not get into the game.
President Dan Gates
Hi Everyone! We would like our new members Josh Ketels, Lamar, CO; Rylee Nelson, Simla, CO; Nicholas Anderson, Monument, CO; Cody Heitschmidt, Florence, CO; Michael McKeever, Larkspur, CO and Brad Ruff, Hanston, KS.
Our Sportsmen Banquet is scheduled for April 16th, in Grand Junction, Colorado. Contact Kandy Herrman at 970-379-6024 for more information on how you can help. Don’t wait for somebody else to do it. Step up. It is always a great time.
Chris Jurney is currently working on the Convention this year, which will be held at the Moffat County Fairgrounds, 640 E. Victory Way, Craig, CO 81625. September 1st -4th, 2022, over Labor Day Weekend. Will keep you and the website updated with the most current information. If you have not already ready received a Vendor/Sponsorship Sheet, please let me know and I will send you one. Let’s make this year’s Convention bigger and better!! This is a huge fundraiser for the Association, so please attend and join the fun.
I would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important but especially now.
Please make sure if you have an email address I have it. This is the only way we are keeping our membership up to date with the current information and events on a timely fashion because of the rising costs of printing and postage and the unreliability of delivery of mail and the inability to communicate immediately. We will only send out hard copies when absolutely necessary. So if you want to be kept in the loop make sure I have your correct EMAIL Address. We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current.
Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719 275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.
Karen Gates
Secretary/Treasurer
While the reports we submitted last month were not included in this publication you can go to our Website and get the President’s and Secretary reports there.
By the time you read this report we will be deep into the 2022 Legislative Session. On January 12th Senate Bill 22-031 was introduced in Colorado to Ban the Harvest of Mountain Lions, Bobcats and Lynx even though Lynx are fully protected in the State of Colorado and fall under State and Federal Regulations.
This Legislation might have been solved by the time you read this and you might already know the outcome but however it turned out, For or Against us, this will not be the last ATTACK.
This sort of Legislation shows the lunacy of the Animal Rights culture and just how demented their agenda is in trying to Stop all forms of harvest no matter what species or method of take or season structure or management objective.
They will continue to assault, degrade and erode the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and Responsible Wildlife Management. They do not care about the public trust doctrine. You and I are part of the public trust, but they think it only applies to them. You and I are stake holders through the American Conservation Funding Model. They want you and I to pay for it and then they demand that we should not be able to pursue, harvest, utilize and manage it.
This is not a Colorado problem. It is not a National problem. It is a Worldwide problem where they despise us as a culture. Their Agenda is to impose their morals, beliefs and values on not just Sportsmen and Women and Hunters and Anglers but on every part of society that does not conform to their wishes, wants, desires and beliefs.
As far as they are concerned we should not be able to have Bacon and Eggs. Eat a Burger, a real Burger. Have a Goose down Coat. Wear a Wool Vest. Have Leather Shoes or a Belt. Hunt or Fish. Have a Dog. Ride a Horse. Utilize Fur. Make Life Saving Drugs. Manage our Habitat and Eco Systems. Or anything else that comes up that they consider to be taboo.
It will not STOP. They are like a Cancer themselves.
WE EITHER FIGHT, QUIT, OR DISAPPEAR. SOUNDS LIKE A RANT BUT IT IS THE TRUTH.
Our Banquet is scheduled for April 16th, in Grand Junction, Colorado. Contact Kandy Herrman at 970-379-6024 for more information on how you can help. Don’t wait for somebody else to do it. Step up.
Our Fur Auction and Stock Show, Board and Business Meetings where successfully conducted in January and February. Once again go to the Website for the newest updates.
Our Convention this year will be in Craig, Colorado over Labor Day Weekend. Contact Chris Jurney, Vice-President at 970-620-1454 about Vendors, Sponsorship’s and possibly doing a demo.
Reach out to any of our Board Members or myself about engagement and helping with the cause. I have said it before and will continue to say it again it’s up to you if we Win or Loose.
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. (Teddy Roosevelt)
Dan Gates, President
Hi Everyone! Happy New Year and hope 2022 will be a great year for you and your family. We would like our new members Boyd Herrmann, Delta, CO; Michael Garnett, Evergreen, CO; Brandon Harvey, Crawford, NE and Virgil Houle, Buena Vista, CO.
Chris Jurney is currently working on the Convention this year, which will be held at the Moffat County Fairgrounds, 640 E. Victory Way, Craig, CO 81625. September 1st -4th, 2022, over Labor Day Weekend. Will keep you and the website updated with the most current information. Always looking to make it bigger and better! This is a huge fundraiser for the Association so please attend and join the fun. I would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important but especially now.
Please make sure if you have an email address I have it. This is the only way we are keeping our membership up to date with the current information and events on a timely fashion because of the rising costs of printing and postage and the unreliability of delivery of mail and the inability to communicate immediately. We will only send out hard copies when absolutely necessary. So if you want to be kept in the loop make sure I have your correct EMAIL Address. We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current.
Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719 275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.
Karen Gates
Secretary/Treasurer
Colorado is a tumultuous landscape. Not just on Wildlife but on everything that we deal with. The Election a couple of weeks ago further confirms that.
It looks like the Fur Ban in Boulder passed by a 100 or so votes. Out of 33,000.
Other states issues from New Mexico to Oregon, from Montana to Massachusetts are being thought of by the influx of people that continue to invade the State like locust on a crop.
There is no stopping it. Its just how we decide to deal with it.
King Polis and his minions continue to create fear at all levels whether it is about Agriculture, COVID, Gun Rights, wildlife, you name it, but marijuana is safe and animal rights, not welfare are at the top of the list.
The Wolf introduction that voters passed in 2020 continues to move forward and I am one of the lucky ones (sarcasm) that get to help guide the ship on that introduction. 16 of us from around the State make up the Stakeholder Advisory Group. Talk about diverse opinions. A lot of people need to carry a mirror around with them to check their vanity.
The Holidays are fast approaching and the next legislative session is shaping up to be a dandy.
Once again if you are interested in our Fur Auction February 9th and 10th, 2022 please contact Greg Ashmore at 719 760-0539 or Otis Latham at 970-812-7473.
We do have April 16th, 2022 scheduled for our banquet in Grand Junction, Colorado. Don’t sit on the sidelines. Contact Kandy Herrman at 970-379-6024.
As I continue to mention the difference between participation and engagement, it is the difference between success and defeat. Winning is a choice. Losing is not preparing for the task at hand. If you are truly interested in winning find a way to not only participate but engage. Become involved. If you get tired of hearing it, it is your choice to win or lose.
I will not get into fur prices and the state of the industry but I can tell you that everything that you care about, no matter what it is can be easily altered or taken away at the stroke of a pen, at the ballot box or at the Legislature or the Governor’s office and if it happens and you have not done anything, let alone your fair share then the blame is on you and you will see it when you look in the mirror.
Happy Holidays enjoy your time in the field. Help make sure it’s not your last.
Dan Gates, President
Hi Everyone! Hope Everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a great Hunting season and Trapping is going well for you. We would like to welcome our new members to our Association Duane Baur, Penrose, CO; Conner Silverberg, Walden, CO; Richard Lovett, Woodstock, GA; Mike Mattney, Wrangell, AK.
I have had some inquiry’s about the Renewal Application where do you find it. If you go to our website Coloradotrapper.com and click on the tab for Membership and go to Application, you can print it off or you or you can signup/renew with Paypal. Please mark on your calendars to attend the Winter Membership Meeting on February 6th,2022 in Hugo, CO. Please look over the Proposed Amendment to the By Laws of the CTPHA Article XI – Dissolution of the Association. We are doing this to strictly update our bylaws nothing else. This will be voted on at the Winter Membership Meeting. This would also be a great opportunity for you to Support the Associations Fur Auction. Also, would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important, but it is especially now.
The dates for the 2022 Fur Auction are drop off Fur February 5th & 6th and the Sale dates are February 9th and 10th. The Winter Membership Meeting will be February 6th, 2022 in Hugo, CO to coincide with the Fur Auction.
Please make sure if you have an email address I have it. This is the quickest way to keep our membership up to date with the current information and events, because of the rising costs of printing and postage and the unreliability of delivery of mail and the inability to communicate immediately. We will only send out hard copies when absolutely necessary. So if you want to be kept in the loop make sure I have your correct EMAIL Address. We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current.
Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719 275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.
Karen Gates
Secretary/Treasurer
Even though attendance was down, the August Convention was a huge success. But considering the state of the Fur Market, the political landscape, the animal rights attacks along with COVID and all of our other issues, general support and enthusiasm is pretty damn good.
First and foremost, kudos go out to the Herrman Family for what they did to pull together a convention and they were also recognized as a family for Workhorse of the Year. With them it is a team of horses.
Thanks to Joe Herrman for spending almost 8 years as my Vice-President and welcome to Chris Jurney who is now the new Vice-President. Chris is already making plans to hold next years convention in Craig, Colorado, the heart of Colorado’s hunting and fishing, probably on August 12th, 13th and 14th, 2022. Mark your calendars and plan on taking a vacation to what Colorado used to be and what the Northwest still is. To contact Chris about the Convention or other issues he can be reached 970-620-1454. Chris is also a Fur Buyer and Wildlife Control Operator as well.
Welcome aboard to Christy Cressler from Dove Creek, Colorado as your new Southwest Director. Christy is a Taxidermist, a Trapper and mother of 2 and will be a great asset in helping to promote what we all stand for by helping to throw a broad net. She can be contacted at 970-739-6437.
Naomi Yates is the Northeast Director that was appointed this Summer after longtime Board Member Gary Crawford decided to step down while getting some new blood on board. Naomi is a Houndswomen, a Trapper, a Hunter Ed Instructor and is currently working in Wildlife Management at multiple levels including the US
Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. She resides in Bellvue, CO, and was reelected to the position. I feel privileged to have both of these women to cover opposite ends of the State on our behalf. She can be contacted at 970-420-4250.
Keep in mind. Please reach out to any of the Board Members if you have questions, concerns and/or input,
Karen Gates was also reelected as Secretary/Treasurer and our strong financial position was confirmed by our CPA Firm which allowed us to make a unanimous Board decision to contribute significantly to the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management for the lobbing efforts that we share in at the Capitol and have done so for the last three years.
Additionally, House District 57 Representative Perry Will was voted as the Trapper & Predator Hunter of the Year Recipient and Mark Vierra, CPW Furbearer/Carnivore Manager was voted Wildlife Professional of the Year Recipient.
Unless things change, we will once again be participating at the National Western Stock Show in January, 2022 and we will also be having our Fur Auction February 9th and 10th, 2022. Check in for the Fur Auction will be Saturday and Sunday February 5th and 6th with our Board and Membership Meetings, Sunday the 6th, 2022. For additional information for the Fur Auction please keep checking the Website or call Greg Ashmore at 719 760-0539 or Otis Lantham at 970-812-7473.
On another note our Annual Banquet will be held, barring any more COVID crap in April, 2022 in Grand Junction and we will always be looking for Sponsors, Vendors, etc. For more information to help or to participate contact Kandy Herrman at 970-379-6024.
Furthermore, Raffle Manager Kacy Herrman/Townsend and Steve Barrington our Website Guru have been working diligently to streamline this years Raffle process in what is anticipated to be a mid-December drawing with broad reaching internet outreach and capabilities. There will still be hard tickets available but with the help of the Colorado Chapter of Safari Club International we are moving away from the old dial up phone or a tin can and a string to modern technology and online sales. Tickets will be $20.00 a piece, 3 for $50.00 or 7 for $100.00. There are 8 guns and 2 other prizes. Keep in mind this is a Fundraiser. We are not just selling to our members and if everybody would work a little through their networks on a grand scale this could be a huge success. For more information after October 5th, contact Kacy at 970-379-4680.
More thanks goes out to Miss Rodeo Colorado Hailey Fredricksen and Lady in Waiting, Ashley Baller for not only hanging out with us for the 3 days in August for the Convention but also accompanying me to the Legislative Barbecue at the State Fair in August and to Ashley for attending the Parks and Wildlife Commission Meeting with me in Meeker on September 1st. These gals are great ambassadors for our cause and we look forward to working with them in the future as the daunt their Fur Coats that we donated to them.
Thanks also to all of the Sponsors, the donors, the demo presenters and the vendors along with all of the attendees that helped make this years Convention a success.
We continue to participate in the Legislative Caucus Meetings every month or so and I personally remain engaged as one of the 16 Wolf Stakeholder Advisers that meet monthly around the State for the next 3 years as well as remaining on the Habitat Stamp Committee, the Wildlife Council, the Colorado Outdoor Partnership, the Furbearer Working Group, the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, the State Wildlife Area Working Group, and the Director for the NTA and Governing Board Member for the FTA.
People need to step up and get involved. We cannot just do it when we think we are being attacked. We are being attacked consistently, at all levels, from all directions.
I would venture to say that most everyone that reads this column, hunts or traps or fishes and if you don’t then we already know where you stand. But if you do any of these activities, being on an Internet Forum or in some private member group online does not help the cause. It is not part of the solution. Winning this battle takes people who care enough not to just bitch about it but actually walk the walk and talk the talk. The battle is not won online. Part of the fight might be online but the battle is won in the trenches. At the Commission. With your Legislator, at the Capitol through collaboration and unification and without that, all of the that, we will not be victorious in our quest for sustainability.
Step up. Engage. If you don’t have the time, which all have, then help by writing letters, getting on a virtual meeting, become a member of something, contribute monetarily. DO SOMETHING.
A lot of others are.
Aim small, miss small.
Dan Gates, President
Hi Everyone! I am so glad Fall has come and we are moving into Winter. I am becoming a fan of the cooler weather! We would like to welcome our new members to our Association Aaron Tuck, Rangley, CO; Ashley Baller, Parker, CO; Ryan Lahti, New Castle, CO; Samantha Longnecker & family, Colorado Springs, CO; Naomi Rairdon, Bellvue, CO; Bill Meyer, Ordway, CO; Alex Crawford, Basalt, CO; Craig Melvin, Montrose, CO; Teran Palmer, Grand Junction, CO; Kenzie Randall, Moab, UT; Zebulon Rae, Silt, CO; Mark Benesh, Silt, CO; Zachery Tunget, Olathe, CO; JD Goodman, Parachute, CO; Jake Suckla, Slick Rock, CO; Alexis Campbell & family, Olathe, CO; Deuce Lancaster, Rangley, CO; Kyle VanHorn, Clifton, CO; Brittany Nichols & family, Delta, CO; Jamie Nichols, Delta, CO; Jesse Gallegos, Montrose, CO; Trevor Walch, Elko, NV and Daniel David, Colorado Springs, CO.
Our convention was a great success this past August. Would like to thank those that attended and attended our Live Auction that was held on Saturday Night August 14th. It was well attended and a huge success. Thank you!!! On Sunday, August 15th Elections were held at the Membership Meeting. Chris Jurney was elected for Vice President. I, (Karen Gates) was reelected to Secretary/Treasurer for another term; Southwest Director, Christy Cressler was elected and Naomi Yates was elected for the Northeast Director position. Please continue to look at the Website and Facebook for any updates and Reports. Kacy Herrman, the Raffle Manager, will be changing up our Raffle this year which will be probably held in December. Drawing Results will be Live on Facebook. Raffle tickets will be sold over the internet this year which will enable us to reach a larger audience! Raffle tickets can still be mailed out upon request. This is a great fundraiser for the Association, please try and participate, it will benefit everyone. I would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important, but it is especially now.
Also, the dates for the 2022 Fur Auction dates are drop off Fur February 5th & 6th and the Sale dates are February 9th and 10th. The Winter Membership Meeting will be February 6th, 2022 in Hugo, CO to coincide with the Fur Auction. Please look over the Proposed Amendment to the By Laws of the CTPHA Article XI – Dissolution of the Association. This will be voted on at the Winter Membership Meeting.
Please make sure if you have an email address I have it. This is the only way we are keeping our membership up to date with the current information and events because of the rising costs of printing and postage and the unreliability of delivery of mail and the inability to communicate immediately. We will only send out hard copies when absolutely necessary. So if you want to be kept in the loop make sure I have your correct EMAIL Address. We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current.
Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719 275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.
Karen Gates
Secretary/Treasurer
Report 2021
With multiple issues going on I tried to attend and participate in as much as possible to stay up to date with things. I attended three hearings at the Capitol on Sportsmen related bills in April and May. I also attended the last 5 virtual Legislative Sportsman’s Caucuses. Two area (Southeast) CPW Sportsman’s Roundtable Meetings, 1 Virtual and 1 in person. Two Regional Wolf Open House Meetings, that is a real joy to see how we are hated on every level. I have been trying to stay involved with discussions pertaining to upcoming Bobcat, Lion, Trapping and Wolf issues and I can honestly say that we better pay real close attention because things are going to get real interesting this next year.
We have a couple of opportunities to maybe do some classes and some outreach with Sportsman’s Warehouse, Scheels and maybe Bass Pro but with COVID creating such a fear that might not happen.
As always anyone in my area that has any questions please feel free to contact me at Ethangates21@gmail.com.
I attended the Western National and Idaho in June that was well represented by a good group of Trappers. There was a good many demonstrations that showed a multitude of techniques mainly surrounding foothold traps.Wolves are at the top of the list and a huge concern. The least attended seminar was the political one where Toby Walrath gave a good speech on participating at commission levels legislative levels and having a unified group because of the challenges that we continually get from the non-hunting community. I also attended the commission meeting in Durango and the barbecue afterwards on Thursday night. This was a well-attended barbecue with six state senators, past Wildlife Commissioners, current Wildlife commissioners and a host of other people that were interested in Wildlife issues in our great state.
A number of different topics were talked about as well as some concerns and a chance to speak to a lot of different people about the issues we are facing. Dan and CRWM did an amazing job of organizing and orchestrating the gathering.
I also did some work in the Southwest where nuisance Wildlife continues to flourish. The ever-changing people and population Dynamics insures that this industry will be alive and well for the foreseeable future, the only question is what will it look like over time compared to today.
The Problems that we are seeing are all political and has everything to do with control at every level, from the methodology, the Harvest of Wildlife itself, the populations of wildlife, the erosion of the use of wildlife from the harvest of wildlife and the degradation of the north American model of wildlife conservation.
We now face a new challenge with wolves to be put in our state and it has become clear that they are being used as a weapon against legitimate hunting and land use. Now more than ever we need to unite and get organized to keep what we have.
Chris Jurney
Southwest Director
The stock show booth for 2022 has been paid for and the credit card machine is up and running. Miss Rodeo 2022 picked silver fox this year and the coat will be presented at the dinner on Saturday night. The product lists for anything going into the stock show need to be submitted by December 20th, 2021.
Thank you,
Don Clifford
Dan and I working on some exciting updates to our raffle! With the assistance and guidance from SCI we are taking the raffle online. The details are still being worked out but here is the most current information:
-The raffle drawing will be in December
-Raffle Tickets can be purchased online but we will still have paper tickets for distribution and sale
-Ticket prices WILL be increasing. Our ticket prices fall well below any other organizations and it is time to bump ours up so we can bring in more money for our organization
-The drawing will be live-streamed again and depending on COVID conditions at the time, people can still come to the drawing in person
– Our tentative goal for sales to begin in early to mid September. Our new format and expanded contact lists will greatly increase our sales and profit
-As always, contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or would like to help
Submitted by: Kacy Herrman
I hope everyone is doing well in the new year. There is not a lot to report on the fur auction due to the cancellation. The consignment agents and I have talked to some of the buyers and sellers about the cancellation of the 2021 fur auction. Most said they were disappointed but completely understood, and are looking forward to the auction in 2022. The CPW has indicated that they would hold their inventory for next years auction. I have reserved the auction site for February 9th and February 10th, 2022. I hope to see everyone at the auction next year.
Thank You,
Greg Ashmore
Proposed Amendment to the BYLAWS of the
COLORADO TRAPPERS and PREDATOR HUNTERS ASSOCIATION
To be voted on at the 2022 Winter Membership Meeting
ARTICLE XI – Dissolution of the Association
Section 1. Resolution of Dissolution. The Board of Directors shall draft a resolution stating the
reasons for and the proposed date of dissolution.
Section 2. Vote of the Membership.
Notice shall be mailed to all CTPHA members of a special meeting to be held to consider the resolution to dissolve the association. The notice shall be mailed at least fourteen (14) days before the date of the meeting, stating the proposed resolution from the Board and the date, time and place of the meeting. If the meeting is to be held electronically, the notice will also include connection information.
At the special meeting the resolution for dissolution must be approved by at least two-thirds of members present and voting to be adopted.
Section 3. Plan of Dissolution. Following the adoption of the resolution of dissolution by the
membership, the Board of Directors will:
Notify all members, interested parties and contract holders of the date of dissolution.
File Articles of Dissolution with the Colorado Secretary of State.
File Schedule N of IRS Form 990, Liquidation, Termination, Dissolution, or Significant Disposition of Assets.
Settle all debts using funds and/or assets held by the CTPHA.
Transfer all remaining assets and funds equally among the following tax-exempt organizations:
National Trappers Association
Fur Takers of America
Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management
Not much has changed since the last report as the multiple attacks and assaults continue in our State and across the country. Some victories and defeats. The biggest of which is probably New Mexico loosing Trapping on Public Land.
We have had significant victories here through the Legislative Session and at the Commission level and continue to stay in the game and at the fore front with a multi-faceted approach.
Our coordinated efforts while running parallel with the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, and having two lobbyist at the Capital has paid dividends.
While COVID created setbacks, hurdles of fire and a lack of funding, your association is poised for a prosperous year and taking advantage of the momentum that has been generated.
Doom and gloom is a reality but allowing it to guide the ship is not a recipe for success, or at least status quo.
Countless volunteer hours have provided a mechanism and a conduit for relevancy and sustainability but it can not be taken for granted.
We are still planning on having our convention at the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Rifle, CO on August 13th, 14th and 15th, 2021. Set up will be allowed on the 12th and 13th with a half day of activities on the 13th. Saturday the 14th will be a full day of demonstrations and vendors. Sunday the 15th we will have the Board Meeting at 9:00 a.m. with the Membership Meeting following at 10:00 a.m. Elections will be held in person this year. We really need the Support from the hunting, trapping, fishing and sportsmen communities to help pull this off after 15 months of canceled events including this year’s Stock Show and Fur Auction. Please take the time and come over for a day or a couple and attend. For more information you can contact Joe Herrman, Vice-President at 970 309 0865.
Our Raffle this year will be carried throughout the Summer with an eventual drawing date of late September in an attempt to further capitalize on a longer selling season. For more information or to acquire tickets contact Raffle Manager, Kacy Townsend at 970 379 4680.
Monthly virtual/in person Parks and Wildlife Commission Meetings will take place in June, July, September and November. Monthly virtual Sportsmens Caucus Meetings will continue on the 3rd Thursday of every month. These are in conjunction with the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation and yours truly providing the Emcee role. There are also monthly meetings pertaining to everything under the sun that if you are not paying attention to, you need to get your head out of the sand. If you have not heard about the PAUSE Act/Initiative 16, you need to do some research. The repercussions of this Ballot Initiative for 2022 would alter everything that we stand for in the State of Colorado. If you have not paid attention to Commission business regarding Wolves, Mountain Lions, Furbearers, Trapping, License Allocations, Land Use Issues, Trails Development, Non-Consumptive Users, Animal Rights Activists, Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity, and a hundred other topics of the day, you better damn well get your heads out of the sand and pay attention. This stuff is real. This stuff is detrimental to your way of life.
We have drawn multiple lines in the sand and we continue to hold the line but unless more people get engaged on a grander scale the line can be broken. Action is needed. Support is needed. Money is needed. And you are needed. Don’t stand idle and watch the runaway train go by. Jump on board and help to slow it ,and eventually derail it.
AIM SMALL, MISS SMALL
Dan Gates, President
Finally, we are starting to see restrictions lifted and we can get back to our normal activities! A long time coming for sure. We would like to welcome our new members to our Association Rodney Scarpella, Broomfield, CO.
Our Convention this year to be held August 13th – 15th, 2021 at the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Rifle, CO. We will have our Board Meeting on Sunday, August 15th, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. with the Membership Meeting following at 10:00 a.m. At that time, we will hold Elections in person and the positions up for re-election are Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Northeast Director and Southwest Director positions. Also, we will be voting on By-Law Amendments to include Electronic Meetings and Voting Procedures. Please look over the Notice of Proposed CTPHA By-Law Amendments. Keep checking the website for updated information. Kacy Herrman, the Raffle Manager will be sending out Raffle Tickets again this year. This is a great fundraiser for the Association please try and sell as many as you can. Please make sure you continue to check the Website and Face Book for any changes and/or updates. I would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important, but it is especially now.
Please make sure if you have an email address I have it. This is the only way we are keeping our membership up to date with the current information and events because of the rising costs of printing and postage and the unreliability of delivery of mail and the inability to communicate immediately. We will only send out hard copies when absolutely necessary. So if you want to be kept in the loop make sure I have your correct EMAIL Address. We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current.
Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719 275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.
Karen Gates
Secretary/Treasurer
Not much has changed since the last report as the multiple attacks and assaults continue in our State and across the country. Some victories and defeats. The biggest of which is probably New Mexico loosing Trapping on Public Land.
We have had significant victories here through the Legislative Session and at the Commission level and continue to stay in the game and at the fore front with a multi-faceted approach.
Our coordinated efforts while running parallel with the Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, and having two lobbyist at the Capital has paid dividends.
While COVID created setbacks, hurdles of fire and a lack of funding, your association is poised for a prosperous year and taking advantage of the momentum that has been generated.
Doom and gloom is a reality but allowing it to guide the ship is not a recipe for success, or at least status quo.
Countless volunteer hours have provided a mechanism and a conduit for relevancy and sustainability but it can not be taken for granted.
We are still planning on having our convention at the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Rifle, CO on August 13th, 14th and 15th, 2021. Set up will be allowed on the 12th and 13th with a half day of activities on the 13th. Saturday the 14th will be a full day of demonstrations and vendors. Sunday the 15th will be Membership, Board Meetings and Elections. We really need the Support from the hunting, trapping, fishing and sportsmen communities to help pull this off after 15 months of canceled events including this year’s Stock Show and Fur Auction. Please take the time and come over for a day or a couple and attend the Banquet and Support what we stand for. For more information you can contact Joe Herrman, Vice-President at 970 309 0865 or Banquet Coordinator Kandy Herrman at 970 379 6024.
Our Raffle this year will be carried throughout the Summer with an eventual drawing date of late September to early October in an attempt to further capitalize on a longer selling season. For more information or to acquire tickets contact Raffle Manager Kacy Townsend at 970 379 4680.
Monthly virtual/in person Parks and Wildlife Commission Meetings will take place in June, July, September and November. Monthly virtual Sportsmens Caucus Meetings will continue on the 3rd Thursday of every month. These are in conjunction with the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation and yours truly providing the Emcee role. There are also monthly meetings pertaining to everything under the sun that if you are not paying attention to, you need to get your head out of the sand. If you have not heard about the PAUSE Act/Initiative 16, you need to do some research. The repercussions of this Ballot Initiative for 2022 would alter everything that we stand for in the State of Colorado. If you have not paid attention to Commission business regarding Wolves, Mountain Lions, Furbearers, Trapping, License Allocations, Land Use Issues, Trails Development, Non-Consumptive Users, Animal Rights Activists, Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity, and a hundred other topics of the day, you better damn well get your heads out of the sand and pay attention. This stuff is real. This stuff is detrimental to your way of life.
We have drawn multiple lines in the sand and we continue to hold the line but unless more people get engaged on a grander scale the line can be broken. Action is needed. Support is needed. Money is needed. And you are needed. Don’t stand idle and watch the runaway train go by. Jump on board and help to slow it,and eventually derail it.
AIM SMALL, MISS SMALL
Dan Gates, President
Finally, we are starting to see restrictions lifted and we can get back to our normal activities! A long time coming for sure. We would like to welcome our new members to our Association Ryan Oravetz, Littleton, CO; Walter Perkins, Ft. Collins, CO; Jonas Bowers, Lee Center, NY and Joshua Stephenson, Aztec, NM; Doug Smith, Cortez, CO and Jeff Johnson, Littleton, CO.
Our Convention this year to be held August 13th – 15th, 2021 at the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Rifle, CO. We will have Elections held in person this year and the positions up are Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Northeast Director and Southwest Director positions. Also, we will be voting on ByLaw Amendments to include Electronic Meetings and Voting Procedures. Please look over the Notice of Proposed CTPHA ByLaw Amendments. Keep checking the website for updated information. Kacy Herrman, the Raffle Manager will be sending out Raffle Tickets. This is a great fundraiser for the Association please try and sell as many as you can. Please make sure you continue to check the Website and Face Book for any changes and/or updates. I would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important, but it is especially now.
Please make sure if you have an email address I have it. This is the only way we are keeping our membership up to date with the current information and events because of the rising costs of printing and postage and the unreliability of delivery of mail and the inability to communicate immediately. We will only send out hard copies when absolutely necessary. So if you want to be kept in the loop make sure I have your correct EMAIL Address. We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current.
Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719 275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.
Karen Gates
Secretary/Treasurer
The Stock Show is a go, same place as always. We won’t know much more until this summer. I’m still looking for 1 or more people to review scholarship applications.
Don Clifford
I hope everyone is doing well in the new year. There is not a lot to report on the fur auction due to the cancellation. The consignment agents and I have talked to some of the buyers and sellers about the cancellation of the 2021 fur auction. Most said they were disappointed but completely understood, and are looking forward to the auction in 2022. The CPW has indicated that they would hold their inventory for next years auction. I have reserved the auction site for February 9th and February 10th, 2022. I hope to see everyone at the auction next year.
Thank You,
Greg Ashmore
Very little happening in my area. Our lack of exposure due to COVID, ie., no MRC Pageant, no Colorado Farm Show, no Greeley Stampede has undoubtedly had an effect on new member recruitment.
I did, however receive an email, on 11/11/20, from a 16yr. old named Nate Rogers from Loveland, CO, wondering if I could put him in touch with a trapper willing to show him the ropes. I contacted Don Clifford, inquired if he or Ryan were active with any complaints locally and emailed Scott Cisco to see if any or all of them were able and willing to help out . It turned out Scott was the closest and was willing to help Nate.
That’s the extent of excitement in the NE District. Thank you. Amazingly, still above dirt.
Gary Crawford
NE Director
What a year. Everything is so different with COVID. It has been very quite in my area. I have attended a few phone conference calls regarding Sportsman and Hunting issues. I cannot stress the importance of getting engaged and participating. Not only with our organization but other organizations that are trying to keep their head above water. Pick something that you are interested in and Join! If you don’t engage the only person you have to blame is yourself. This is a very important time to give your Support. While it’s not my specialty, I have had to talk to different legislators and administrators about the importance of Wildlife Management and with our business being Wildlife Control, people like this need to put a face with an activity or profession and often then they have reached out to us about issues that they are tasked with or asked about. If you have any questions please just let me know or any Board Member can help you. Thank you.
Fur harvest on the west slope appears to be a little off from last year with the open winter we are having. Coyotes with mange are still pretty widespread across the west, which will be of benefit to the small game populations if the birds don’t take their toll on them. Mice and voles are extremely abundant so there is no shortage of available food for predators.
Coyote prices are coming down for multiple reasons but there still appears to be good demand for fur even with reduced prices.
We are now well into 2021 and it appears that we will be tested and challenged on all levels and freedoms of our lives. The author of chaos has been turned loose and we are experiencing the erosion of our basic God given rights into total control and manipulation at every avenue.
Animal worship is elevating to the point where our governor has initiated a meat free holiday on March 20 to “Help Coloradans ditch animal products”.
Be rest assured more attacks on trapping and hunting are coming as they are currently using the wolf as a weapon against our existence and way of life and elevate more animals to the golden calf status. It appears that tolerance only applies to the wicked ways and people who have differing views and lifestyles than ours. Where do the standards come from?
This is a call to be united in mind and action to maintain our way of life to those who would change it. Be prepared, fight the good fight and be willing to give to the cause and the big picture.
Chris Jurney
Southwest Director
Welcome everyone. During our recent Board Meeting, a decision was made to continue support to the National Trappers Association, Sportsmen Alliance, Fur Takers of America and Colorado Congressional Sportsman Caucus with our biggest support to Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, which is our lobbying arm that gives us representation at the Capitol.
The Association is sustainable. Depending on if we have the Fur Auction, Stock Show and/or Convention our membership continues to fluctuate between 250 – 300 members.
During our Board Meeting Ron Goodrich our CPA, discussed our Investments. Ron Goodrich, myself and our Investment Firm are working on moving monies from Short Term Investments to Long Term Investments in order to maintain the Defense Fund and the solvency of the Association.
As always please make sure you checkout our Website at coloradotrappers.com for the most up to date information and events. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Thank you.
The Last year has been a tough one for most of us, for most of our CTPHA activities Banquet, Fur auction, Stock show all being canceled. Hopefully the COVID-19 restrictions will loosen up and we can get back to some form of normal and have our events. I have been in communication via phone and email with Mark Vieira CPW’s carnivore and furbearer program manager trying to help him with some pine marten population and harvest data.
As usual I am assisting my family with the Banquet, convention, Heritage days, raffle and what ever else I can do to help.
This is your organization please help out in any way you can, buy some raffle tickets or sell some, collect some donations for the convention, raffle or banquet. Write some letters, volunteer to help with one of the events.
Do something because if you don’t you only have yourself to blame.
Kevin Herrman
Northwest director
Not a whole lot has been going on over the winter, I have been working on the 2021 convention.
We are working on this hoping the COVID-19 restrictions allow us to have the convention, we are still making calls trying to get vendors and sponsors for the event. Due to social distancing, we are not having our annual banquet in April this year, instead we are going to be holding it in conjunction with the convention.
Also, we have been working with CPW on this year’s Heritage Days, held at the end of April in palisade. If this event still happens, we will be setting up a booth for the kids with furs and skulls.
If anyone has any ideas or would like to help with the convention or heritage days please feel free to contact me.
I look forward to seeing everyone this year.
Joe Herrman
Vice President
(970)309-0865
joeherrman@outlook.com
We will not have the Banquet in April due to ongoing COVID restrictions. It would not be feasible with all of the social distancing mandates.
We are planning to have the banquet in conjunction with the Convention on August 14th.
Updates will be posted on our website and Facebook as they become available.
I am always available to answer questions or listen to suggestions by phone or email.
Kandy Herrman
970-379-6024
kherrman@advantagebuildersco.com
While alot has not changed for the good since the last report there is definitely alot that has changed. No matter what state you live in some group is trying to change the way you live. If you are interested in conservation, hunting, trapping, fishing. If you own a gun. If you believe in natural resource utilization whether it would be natural gas or oil or logging or agricultural land management some group or government depicts you as a antiquated neanderthal.
If you haven’t paid attention to what is going on you might be quite surprised at how fast things have escalated to a level of assaults and attacks from many many many different angles.
Here in Colorado, Wolves are the topic of the day but we are also dealing with Mountain Lion and Bobcat Legislation. Anti-Trapping Petitions. Gun Bills. Land Use Bills. Fleecing of dedicated Conservation and Recreation Accounts all in the name of COVID and we are still not fully back to work or school and even banned from appearing at the Capitol while lawmakers sit and conjure up new ideas on things they have no idea about.
All of these reports seem to be more and more about Politics but when your organizations cannot meet, cannot have your auctions, or your banquets or your fundraisers or your conventions or your outreach education seminars and there are no sport shows and no social gatherings it makes it hard not to be talking about Politics.
Our April Banquet has been moved to be in conjunction with our convention in Rifle, Colorado in mid-August If we are allowed to actually have a convention and have gatherings of more than 50 people.
The Trapping Ban Petition which would essentially stop all trapping might be heard at the March CPW Commission Meeting and it is imperative for the Hunting and Angling and Outdoorsman Community to once again rally the troops and cut the head off of this snake. You can find the Petition which was initiated once again by the Humane Society of the United States on the CPW Website.
We intend on having another fund raising Raffle and as soon as we get everything lined up and tickets printed we will be selling them and would appreciate any and all participation. That was our biggest fundraiser in 2020.
When you purchase your licenses for the 2021-2022 seasons just a reminder that you will not be able to Harvest FurBearing Animals on a Small Game License as has been done for some time. You will have to purchase a separate FurBearer License (which is what we did years ago) or a $10.00 Furbearer permit in conjunction with the Small Game License. This might seem cumbersome to some but data collection is the primary means and reasoning in order to provide more solid information in attempt to justify our participation, harvest and management contributions.
I can’t stress enough that survival in any State will only happen if we unite, fight and keep the Wolves at bay and for God’s sake do NOT post internet photos that can be taken out of context and utilized against us because the picture does not tell the full story, but is worth a 1000 anti’s words.
Stand tall, aim small, miss small.
Dan Gates
President
Well, I hope everyone is staying healthy and doing well. It doesn’t look like much has changed from last year yet, so we can only hope that we start to see things open up this summer. We would like to welcome our new members to our Association George Jouflas, Wolcott, CO; Kirk McCarty, Elizabeth, CO and Brandon Bazor, Longmont, CO.
At this time we still do not know if we will be able to have a Convention in mid-August so please make sure you keep checking the Website for the most up to date information. As always there continues to be a lot of events/meetings canceled or postponed. We can only hope the COVID restrictions will continue to be lifted so we can start to see some normalcy in our lives. I would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important, but it is especially now.
We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current.
Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719 275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.
Karen Gates
Secretary/Treasurer
At the time of this writing the Holidays and New Year have come and gone. The Georgia Senate Election has not been decided. There has not been a Presidential Inauguration Covid is still rampid. Vaccines are being some what distributed. Black Lives Matter might matter to some and not to others because all lives matter. Wolves will be introduced into Colorado by 2023. The Colorado Fur Auction was CANCELED. Another Anti Trapping Citizen’s Petition by the Humane Society of the United States has been submitted to the Colorado Parks Wildlife Commission. The States Legislature started late by a month. New Wildlife Commission appointments are on the horizon. The Animal Rights Activists are trudging forward in the State, Regionally and Nationally. The Second Amendment is under assault. Public Lands are under attack either by the People supposedly recreating while trying to escape Covid or by State and Federal Governments. Oil and Gas is a bad word.
Solar, Wind, Vegan, Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, Preservation, Gender Status, are supposedly all the good things that are yet to come and we should all be thankful for our First and Second Government Stimulus Checks.
Fur is bad. Ask an activist.
While we try to collaborate and align our allies and defend the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation the anti’s continually attack the very notion of it’s success and the criticism and attacks continue to show the bias and ignorance of our enemies. Not only do they not want us to have what we have, they do not want to have it either. The want it to go away. To stop. To cease. They will go to any level to make sure that their goal is accomplished. It doesn’t matter whether you trap or hunt with a bow. Whether you fish or hunt with a rifle. They want you, like them, to eat plants. They want your leather shoes, your wallets, your belts, your purses, your jackets, your car seats, your leather couch, your baseball gloves, your pig skin footballs, your steaks, eggs, milk, honey, bacon, fur coat, taxidermy, your rodeos, your zoo’s and whatever the hell else you can possible think of.
It is not about Trapping. It is not about Hunting. It’s about an entire agenda and they will not quit until they are forced to.
How do we change that? We FIGHT. Fight dirty if we have to. Get involved. Get engaged. Don’t let the enemy in your politics, in your legislature, on your boards or your committee’s. Take it up a notch.
Please contact one of your Board Members if you have questions regarding the association or check the Website.
Because of cancellations and Covid restrictions we will be hosting a Zoom Board Meeting probably sometime in March so keep an eye open for notifications of this and other association business.
Stand tall, aim small, miss small.
Dan Gates
President
Hope everyone is off to a good start for 2021. We can only hope it will be better than 2020. We would like to welcome our new members to our Association Cynthia Summer, Gunnison, CO and Chase Dollar, Del Norte, CO.
The Fur Auction has been Canceled and we will be sending out a Notice to all Members about a Zoom Meeting probably sometime in March. Keep a look out for the notification. As always there continues to be a lot of events/meetings canceled or postponed. Please make sure you continue to check the Website and Face Book for any changes and/or updates. We can only hope the COVID restrictions will continue to be lifted so we can start to see some normalcy in our lives. I would like to remind everyone, please continue signing up New Memberships. This has always been important, but it is especially now.
We now have PayPal up and running on the Coloradotrapper.com website. You can renew your Membership or Join our association. We also have merchandise that is available for purchase. This tool has been very effective and efficient so far. Please make sure you continue to checkout the website for updated information. This will be the most current.
Please let me know if you have an address, email or phone number change, that way I can make sure I have the correct information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at 719 275-4077 or office@coltpha.com.
Karen Gates
Secretary/Treasurer
To amend ARTICLE VI – Membership Meetings, by adding Section 3. Electronic Meetings., allowing electronic meetings to be held when necessary.
Renumber current Section 3. Voting., to Section 4.
To amend ARTICLE VI – Membership Meetings, Section 4. Voting., by re-lettering current Subsection B to C. and inserting a new Subsection B., making voting by mail an option when an electronic meeting is held.
Proposed amendments are in bold lettering.
ARTICLE VI – Membership Meetings
Section 3. Electronic Meetings. In the event that a Membership Meeting (Regular or
Special) cannot be held as an official gathering in a specified location, the
meeting may be held by electronic means as long as there is opportunity for
simultaneous oral communication among all members. The call of the meeting
will include adequate instructions as to how to connect to and participate in the
meeting.
Section 4. Voting.
