The NHTA’s 2021 Year in Review
Goodbye 2021, and hello 2022!
The NH Trappers Association remained active and engaged throughout the 2021 calendar year, despite continued strain from a global pandemic strangling public events and gatherings. We wanted to compile a brief list of our activities throughout the year to reflect upon our accomplishments, as well as looking forward to our advocacy and education efforts into 2022.
Education at the forefront:
The NHTA continues to make proper education a priority; and 2021 was no different, as we continued our partnership with the NH Fish & Game Department ensuring that prospect trappers have the best resources available before venturing afield. Since 2018, volunteer trapper education instructors have donated over 500 hours of personal time. For every hour donated, the NH Fish & Game Department receives reimbursement at a three hour rate of time; for a total of 1500 hours.
The demand for Trapper Education certification classes remains very high, and we continue working with the Department to ensure this important program continues to thrive.
In addition to state-appointed classes, the NHTA has also taken it upon ourselves to offer “Advanced” Trapper Classes in which certified students and members can dive deeper into the “nuts & bolts” of sustainable regulated trapping practices. These advanced classes continue to grow as we establish demand for such.
Conservation & Wildlife Biology Partners
The NHTA maintains a very active role in our local conservation efforts. This year, the NHTA embarked on several conservation endeavors pertaining to the environment and species in which we engage with our craft. We maintain good relationships with both private and state-appointed biologists to ensure the health and sustainability of furbearers such as fox, fisher, raccoons, beaver, and others. We’ve held a long-standing relationship with professionals at the University of New Hampshire, where our members submit (and collect from the field) tissue samples from trapped animals to study the impacts of disease outbreaks, and harmful chemicals from human presence on the landscape. This relationship continued in 2021 with the submission of many samples.
We also continued to work closely with USDA-Aphis regarding their research on Rabies Virus work. NHTA members submitted countless tissue samples to this Federal Agency and we plan to continue this important partnership into 2022.
New for 2021 was a private project being conducted at Middlebury College in Vermont. The NHTA submitted beaver tissue samples for ongoing research being conducted there.
Also new for 2021, the NHTA broke away from furbearers to assist with the collection of Milkweed Pods for conservation efforts surrounding Karner blue butterflies. When the call for help was dispatched by those involved, the NHTA felt compelled to assist, as our expansive time spent in the outdoors allowed for successful collection with minimal effort.
The NHTA also continued our amazing partnerships with like-minded local and national conservation organizations; including the National Trappers Association, Fur Takers of America, The NH Wildlife Federation, and many others.
We look forward to all the amazing conservation outreach projects that await us in 2022.
Public Outreach
The NHTA continued our partnership with Barry Camp - providing scholarships for youth who wish to attend this amazing outdoor learning experience. The NHTA also repairs and maintains a cabin on the Barry Camp property for camper lodging. NHTA members and directors volunteer their spare time to keep this cabin in good shape.
The NHTA also continues to offer scholarship programs for those interested in pursuing an education in wildlife conservation & biology.
We also continued our yearly tradition of supporting the Miss NH Scholarship program. Each year, the NHTA donates a new fur coat (made from sustainable furs harvested here in NH) to the winner of the program. This year was no different, and we were proud to present this year’s winner, Ashley Marsh, with such a coat. Sadly, this will be the final year of a fur coat donation to this amazing program; however, we continue to look for many ways to sustainably utilize the local fur pelts ethically harvested by our members, and have plans to continue this amazing tradition in some capacity going forward. We wish the Miss NH Scholarship Program all the best for their amazing program in the future!
We also continue to grow our numbers within the ranks of the NHTA. If you’re not currently an active member of the NH Trappers Association, we encourage you to join our organization and take an active role in the sustainable use of beautiful natural resources bestowed upon us. The New Year is a great time to start your journey and become more active! Join Today by clicking here!
