JUNE 2014 FTO Quarterly Fur Takers of Oklahoma, Inc. WELCOME TO THE F.T.O. SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: F.T.O. Establishment Letter From Aaron Ghaemi President Report Donors Officers Fur Auction LOT Tag Instruction INSIDE THIS ISSUE: WELCOME 1 LETTER FROM AARON GHAEMI 2 Welcome to the Fur Takers of Oklahoma, Inc. As a newly formed fur harvesters association in the State of Oklahoma, established & registered with the Sate of Oklahoma in November 2013, this organization strives to educate and properly represent the interest of Oklahoma s Fur Harvesters. After all, fur harvesting is more than a tradition it s sound management for nature s fastest renewing resource. In truly understanding the previous statement, the Fur Takers of Oklahoma welcomes everyone involved in wildlife conservation. We would like to extend a special invitation to seasonal fur harvesters, predator callers and nuisance wildlife control operators alike. Thank you. F.T.O. Mission To EDUCATE the public on fur harvesting. To promote the HUMANE & ETHICAL harvesting of fur-bearers. To PROVIDE information, booths & events for the public and membership to increase their knowledge of trapping and the American heritage and traditions that have been built over 200 years. To ENSURE that FAIR & PROPER harvesting regulations are in place which support wildlife conservation efforts within the State of Oklahoma. To ASSIST the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in their efforts to maintain proper wildlife management. PRESIDENT REPORT 3 COYOTE CHALLENGE 4-5 VENDORS 6 ESTABLISHMENT & ABOUT THE F.T.O. OFFICEER / DIRECTOR CONTACT INFO. 7-8 9 NEW REGULATION CHANGES WILL GO INTO EFFECT NOV 1, 2014 Here s some trapping improvements that go in effect Nov. 1, 2014 for the upcoming season. This is a WIN for Oklahoma trappers. ~ The bag limit on river otters has increased to four, and river otters may now be taken statewide. See page 37. ~ Enclosed trigger traps are permitted on 35 additional WMAs. See Special Area Regulations section. ~ Certification testing and licenses are now required for all nuisance wildlife control operators, effective Nov. 1, 2014.
PAGE 2 LETTER FROM AARON GHAEMI The following letter was emailed to me from Aaron Ghaemi. Aaron was our Fur Bearer Biologist for the ODWC, and he received an award of recognition from the F.T.O. for his outstanding efforts in promoting the trapping heritage at the Spring 2014 Meeting in Okmulgee. Good morning Reginald, It is with deep sadness that I inform you and the FTO of my resignation from the Wildlife Department. An opportunity outside of the agency presented itself and I have accepted the position. My short tenure as the fur biologist was filled with many great memories I will cherish forever. I thoroughly enjoyed working for the sportsmen and women of this great state and I feel extremely proud to have played a part in enhancing the traditions we all share and love. I feel confident that we have started the ball rolling in the right direction and whom ever takes the reigns will pick up right where I am leaving off. Thank Reginald and the FTO for supporting me and the ODWC. When I get a new phone number, I will send it to you so that we can stay in contact. -- Aaron Ghaemi Furbearer Biologist Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation We have not yet received word or confirmation on who will replace Aaron as the Fur Bearer Biologist. But whomever is selected by the wildlife department, we will continue as the F.T.O. ByLaws are written, and give them our organizations full support as well. Thank you.
PAGE 3 PRESIDENTS REPORT President Report: Hello everyone from Bristow. As we strive to do some fishing, stay cool and avoid the heat we are unable to do any of them due to how busy we ve become. I would like to take this time to wish Mr. Aaron Ghaemi the best of wishes and Gods speed in his new career he will be missed. The Spring Convention for 2014, was the F.T.O.s first annual, and it was a big success at an unprecedented 50% membership participation. Our Fall Meeting will be at the Okmulgee County Fairgrounds on October 18, 2014. This will be followed by the 2015 Fur Auction at the same location which will be held on March 7, 2015. We are going to try something new this year for the trappers. You will find enclosed in this quarterly report the Rules and Entry Form for hopefully what will become the first annual F.T.O. Coyote Challenge. We have received a lot of good response about this contest, with a 50 / 50 pot split between the winning team and the F.T.O. If you are in need of the Official Rules or Entry Form they can be found on the website at http://oklahomatrapper.com I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few people for their efforts at the Spring meeting we recently had. (If you were unable to attend, we hope you can make the Fall meeting you missed a good one.) I would like to thank my Wife Mrs. Jennifer Murray and our Treasurer / NTA Director Mrs. Janice Johnson for their efforts in the kitchen. The meal was excellent ladies, well received and highly complemented. Thank you. I would like to thank Mr. Jeb Hollingshead & boys who comprise the Okie Cable & Trap Supply Company of Crowder, OK. Their ideas, opinions, input and efforts are greatly appreciated, as well as their attendance your voices are what we want to hear, so thank you. The following were presented with their Lifetime Membership Plaques: Mr. Billy (B.J.) Johnson Vice Pres., Mr. Joe Stanbro Director, Mr. Sam McGill Director. These following were presented with F.T.O. appreciation awards for their past and continued efforts in promoting the heritage of trapping in Oklahoma: Mr. Leon Melton, Mr. Billy (B.J.) Johnson, Mrs. Janice Johnson, Mr. Aaron Ghaemi. These folks make up EXACTLY what a trapper is, does and should be and are MORE than worthy for the rest of us to emulate, myself included and I am honored to call each of them Friend.
PAGE 4 1ST ANNUAL FUR TAKERS OF OKLAHOMA, INC. COYOTE TRAPPING CHALLENGE CONTEST TIME PERIOD: DEC 1, 2014 FEB 28, 2015 Criteria and Rules of Contest: 1. Must be two person teams, legally licensed to trap & sell within the state of Oklahoma. Entry fee $100 per team. 2. Must be an F.T.O. member to participate. 3. Teams must be registered and entry fee paid BEFORE December 1, 2014 4. Legally trapped coyotes ONLY. 5. Dispatch method maximum of a.22 caliber to the head. Rib shot or Neck shot and road kill coyotes are not allowed. 6. Mange stricken, blood clotted, rotten, roadkill or Whole Unskinned or On Carcass coyotes are not allowed. 7. Coyotes MUST BE SOLD either Green or Stretched at the F.T.O. March 7, 2015 Fur Auction in Okmulgee to be counted valid. Out of state sales and private buyer sales totals and number will not be included in total numbers of this contest. P.O. sales on coyotes will not be counted. 8. Winning team takes 50/50 split with the F.T.O. to be awarded at the Spring Meeting in 2015. 9. In the event of team ties in the numbers of coyotes sold teams will split evenly 50% of the entry fee pot or totals between themselves. 10. F.T.O. Board of Directors has final ruling and decisions in regards to contestations and disputes. 11. The F.T.O., the Executive Council and Board Members, accept no responsibility or liability to any participant who harvest coyote illegally, or sustain damages or injury while participating in this contest. 12. Team Numbers will be assigned at the time the entry form and fee are received. These numbers will also be your seller number for the Fur Auction on March 7, 2015 at the Okmulgee County fairgrounds. 13. Official F.T.O. entry Forms can be downloaded from the F.T.O. website on the Events Page. Make checks payable to the Fur Takers of Oklahoma, Inc. Checks will be held for clearance before being accepted as an entry fee. 14. No refunds will be issued, unless the decision to do so is made by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors. 15. By signing the official entry form, the participant agrees to all of these rules.
PAGE 5 1 st Annual Fur Takers of Oklahoma, Inc. Coyote Trapping Challenge Official Entry Form $100 per team. Partner 1 Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Email: Trapper License Number: Signature: Date: Partner 2 Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Email: Trapper License Number: Signature: Date: Mail entry form and payment to: FTO, 36175 Pinehill Road, Bristow, OK 74010
PAGE 6 FTO SUPPORTERS & VENDORS The following Folks / Companies show their support to you by attending the meetings & auctions that the Fur Takers of Oklahoma, Inc. hosts. Please show them your support, and keep your money inside Oklahoma when possible. Thank you. Okie Cable & Trap Supply - Jeb Hollingshead, Owner - Crowder, OK Office: 918-429-4648 Website: http://oktrapsupply.com http://www.livetrap.com/ http://comstockcustomcage.com/
PAGE 7 UPCOMING EVENTS FOR 2014 September 26-28, 2014 - Wildlife Expo at the Lazy E Ranch in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The F.T.O. will not have a booth at this event. October 10-12, 2014 - NTA Southeast Regional Convention is in contract to be held at Arkadelphia, AR at the Clark County Fairgrounds. The F.T.O. will not have a booth at this event, but members will most likely be in attendance. October 18, 2014 - The F.T.O. Fall Meeting will be held at the Okmulgee County fairgrounds. Vendors will be in attendance. There is a possibility of hosting a Hunters Education Class all day on October 17, 2014 at the same location, to be followed by a directors meeting starting at 5 or 6 PM. December 1, 2014 - February 28, 2015 is the Trapping Season Good luck to all, and we hope to see you at the Fur Auction on March 7, 2015 at the Okmulgee County Fairgrounds in Okmulgee, OK. December 1, 2014 February 28, 2015 F.T.O. Coyote Challenge. For more detailed information, or event schedules, please take a look at the website, FB page or F.T.O. Discussion Forum. http://oklahomatrapper.com Thank you.
PAGE 8 F.T.O.: ESTABLISHMENT & ABOUT US The Fur Takers of Oklahoma was incorporated and filed as a legal Non-profit Organization in the state of Oklahoma on October 13, 2013 as a result of the fur harvesters within the State of Oklahoma demanding better representation, treatment and communications from their representing association than they received in the past. They also demanded better, fair and equal representation when business is to be conducted with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Active members of the annual harvest within the State of Oklahoma, recognize fur harvesting as the soundest method of providing a true balance and conservation effort in properly managing the states quickest and most self-replenishing renewable resource fur. With the advances of modern techniques and technology today s fur harvesters are a very long way from the harvesters of old in both tradition and technique, and would definitely be the envy of old harvesters, like Jim Bridger, who paved the way for the fur harvesting tradition. The Fur Takers of Oklahoma Incorporated strives to educate both members and the general public, in the modern ways, methods and techniques used to harvest fur bearing animals in the most easy and convenient manner, which allows for minimal stresses or suffering to a target species for harvesting. We thank you for your interest in fur harvesting, and we look forward to seeing you at our events.
PAGE 9 OFFICERS & DIRECTORS - CONTACT INFORMATION info@oklahomatrapper.com Reginald Murray, Pres Billy Johnson, Vice Pres Jennifer Murray, Sec Janice Johnson, Treas / NTA Dir 918-694-8190 918-398-3813 918-367-9060 918-367-3810 Justin Masterson, Director Sam McGill, Director Joe Stanbro, Director J.D. Casey, Director 918-630-1172 918-830-1842 918-693-3803 918-224-1136 We currently have 4 Director positions open at this time. If you wish to be a Director, please contact one of the listed members above for more information. You must meet the Bylaw criteria for eligibility to occupy an elected position. Thank you. As F.T.O. members, who meet the criteria of our established Bylaws, are willing to accept interim positions as either Directors or Officers we will get them posted on the website. The Officer & Board of Director positions are subject to change with a vote at the Spring meeting in 2016. As we receive more information from your officers and directors, we will get there contact information and photographs posted for on the website at http://oklahomatrapper.com for members to reference. Thank you.