Saturday Sept 24, 2011 is the date for our annual Open House at the Trap Shack. We are  welcoming all trappers to come browse our showroom, visit with fellow trappers, swap ideas, see what is new at the shack and have some snacks and refreshments. The hours of the Open House are from 9am to 2 pm. We have added many more lures and baits this year. Our selection of top-quality basswood stretchers is excellent. Well handled furs always bring top dollar as well as a sense of satisfaction. We have a good supply of heavy duty colony traps legal for Wisconsin. The versatile Ulu, a handy fleshing, fileting or chopping knife, is crafted by Ray Heidel and available here. Our selection of books is extensive. Lots of items to look over!

     Give us a call if you have any questions. 608-797-0550  Directions : 2miles West of Arcadia,WI on Hwy 95 to River Road then south 0.3 miles to Sauer Mill Road. Take a left on Sauer Mill Rd and go 0.25 miles.  Fire # is W74. Watch for signs.

     Dress for the weather.

     Remember that the showroom is also open by appointment if you cannot attend.

     Thank you to all that stopped by to see us at the WTA convention last weekend. We appreciate your business and enjoy seeing you. I think everyone had a great time at the convention. Thanks to all who work so hard to put this on every year.

     Hope to see you on the 24th. Enjoy the cooler temps.                                                Tom

      A  Trappers Education class will be held on Sept 2 and 3, 2011 in Trempealeau WI. This is a perfect time to get class in before fall sets in  and the excitement of trapping season is upon us. Please pre-register for this event with Chuck Glowcheski at 608-797-6760. He can fill you in on all the details. Previous class participants always rave about how much they learned and how much they enjoyed the class.

     If you know anyone who might be interested in the class please pass this along to them. Here at the Trap Shack we would like to offer a 10% discount on the first purchase for all Trapper Ed grads from this class. Just call us at 608-797-0550 to set up a time to come through our store.

     Mark Saturday Sept. 24,2011 on your calender-we are having our annual Open House at the Trap Shack. We will run it from 9am to 2pm.  More info to follow as we firm up the plans.

      Enjoy the cool nights !                                                  Tom

     The WTA District 5 winter meeting will be held on Sat Jan.22,2011 at 1 pm at the fur shed at Bud Pierson in rural Trempealeau, WI. This is an opportunity to get together with other trappers to swap stories, hear about the business side of the WTA, plan our summer rendevouz and have a delicious lunch featuring wild game and home-made treats. We have a chinese raffle that we put together-please bring a small item for that if you can. If you care to bring a dish to pass

that would be appreciated. But mainly the most important is if you can just attend.

     Directions: Take hwy 35 into Trempealeau, then take a left(north)  on County K (at Citizens First Bank). Follow K to Wagner Rd(about 2 miles). Take a right on Wagner Rd and follow about 1.5 miles to W22051. This is just past the intersection with Scherr Rd.

     If you have questions please email me at trapshackcompany@centurytel.net or phone 608-797-0550.

     Hope to see you there.                                                                                Tom

      Sunday Sept. 19, 2010 is the date for our Open House at the showroom at Welcome Home Farm. This year it will be running from 10 am to 3 pm.

      Uncle KennySalwey, the Last River Rat , will be here the entire time to visit, swap stories and sign books. His latest book ,Old Time River Rats, came out last fall and is a delightful collection of stories of the early days in Kenny’s life. I like to read in the late evening but I laughed so hard while reading that book that I couldn’t get to sleep afterwards ! Anyways, we have all three of his books on hand if you need any to fill your collection or bring your own to have signed.

     George and Bill Porter will both be here to do demos, visit and answer questions.This family from Wausaukee,WI is so knowledgeable and personable and willing to share their vast knowledge and experience. There are no better weasel trappers that I know of. We have set up the schedule for the demos as follows: weasels at 10:30, coyote at 11:30, coon at 1:00 and fisher at 2:00. There will be plenty of time to ask questions. They also have  a line of lures and baits that they produce that we have at the Shack. Maybe George will bring some of his hand carved birds along also.

      We have  many new items in the showroom this year. We have a good supply of NAFA approved wood stretchers on hand. The new Coon Daggers are in stock-a step up from the Lil’Griz. Lots of trap setters to make setting easier. The Pocket Poppers are no longer being made but we have a good supply on hand yet. I like the wood conipans we started carrying last year. We have them in the 110/120 size this year-looks great for mink! We have a better selection of books this year- I really like Austin Passamonte’s books and we have all of his. Try our Muir Creek coon baits and let us know how they worked for you. If you are interested in putting together your own lures or baits we have many ingredients on hand as well as fish, shellfish, salmon and crawdad oil.

      We will have snacks and beverages for you. Dress for the weather-some things will be outside.Sure hope you can join us. Bring the family and look around the farm if you like.

      Directions- 2 miles west of Arcadia,WI on Hwy 95, then south on River Road 0.3 miles to Sauer Mill Rd. Watch for signs.

      Questions, call us at 608-797-0550 or email us at trapshackcompany@centurytel.net.

      We  are having an Open House at the Trap Shack  on Sunday Sept.19,2010 from 10 am to 3pm. This year we are fortunate to have a number of special guests.

      Uncle Kenny Salwey,the Last River Rat and renowned author, will be on hand for the entire event. He will be available to chat and share stories-always a popular activity among trappers. His third book, Old Time River Rats, came out last fall. Kenny will be happy to autograph your books-bring them along-or all 3 books will be available at the Shack. Plan some time to pull up a chair and “set a spell”!

     George and Bill Porter have very graciously offered to spend the day with us also. For those of you that attended the 2010 NTA Convention in Marshfield you may remember that George did the weasel demo and Bill did a coyote demo. This father -son team is extremely knowledgeable and have a very good way of explaining their innovative ways of doing things. They trap in northern WI so they are experienced in the fur-bearers we are familiar with.They will be doing  demos on weasels,coyote, fisher and dryland coon. I know of no better weasel trappers and they go into great detail. Bring the kids along-what a simple way to get them started in trapping and spend some time trapping when the snow sets in.  This is a great chance to pick up some new ideas from people that love to share their expertise. The Porters also formulate their own lures which are thick and uncut. They will be telling you how to use them. We do carry their lures at the Shack so you can order from them or pick them up from us. The time of each demo has not been set yet so check back on the blog or give us a call closer to the date.

      We hope you can join us. Activities will be both inside and outside so please dress for the weather. Our phone # is 608-797-0550-leave a message if I’m not right there. Directions-take HWY 95 west of Arcadia for 2 miles then south on River Road for 0.3 mile to Sauer Mill Rd. Our address is W74 Sauer Mill Rd.  Arcadia,WI 54612.  Watch for our signs. If you are looking for special items let us know in advance and we can have your order ready when you get here.

       Looking forward to the season                                                                          Tom

     Our free Open Farm will be on Sat. Aug21,2010 from 1-4 pm. Come see our farm and how we blend agriculture and nature. See our beef cattle, sheep, chickens, goats and other pets. Enjoy the perrenial garden and our little prairie. Stroll about our farm and walk on our nature trail. See the folks from Midwest Bio-ag and their forage demonstration plot. Visit with Junior Pieper and see some of  the Blue River Corn. Talk to Dr. Paul Detloff and Dr. Sarah Slaby and learn about their products. Browse through the Trap Shack showroom and see what is new in the world of trapping. While there, pick up one of Kenny Salwey’s books. Stop up at the shed and have some snacks.

     Sue and Tom Roskos, along with their sons Greg and Hawken, welcome you.We hope to see you!!

     DIRECTIONS: Go west of Arcadia,WI on HWY 95 for 2 miles, then left on River Road for 0.3 miles. Just past cemetery take  a left on Sauer Mill Rd. Watch for signs. Any questions call us at 608-323-3306 or 608-797-0550.

     The NTA Convention in Marshfield,WI. was a huge success! I heard talk that this was the largest or next to the largest ever . The fairgrounds were fillled with trappers,campers, vendors and tailgaters. The mood was enthusistic and optomistic.

     The WTA did a marvelous job of hosting the event.We appeciated all the help we got getting into our campsite and to our booth. A special huge THANK-YOU to all the district 5 volunteers for all their assistance! All the volunteers were putting in long hours in the sun and heat but all we saw were smiles and helpfullness.

     Thanks to all who stopped  by our booth to chat or purchase. We appreciate the business. It is good to be immersed in the company of so many like-minded folks, both hearing and telling stories.

      One of the new products we had at the show was the Coon Dagger. This is a racoon specific trap designed on the order of the Little Griz except it has the advantage of having a trigger that can be set off by pushing or pulling. We have them at the showroom and they will show up on the website shortly. They are priced at $20.00 each or $200.00 per dozen.

     Our next Open House will be Sunday Sept.19,2010 from 10 am to 3 pm. Author Kenny Salwey, the Last River Rat will be here to visit and sign books. More details later.

       Enjoy the rest of the summer.                                                                                                                        Tom

     The National Trapper’s Assn. is  holding their Annual Convention in Marshfield,WI on August 5-8,2010. The event will be located at the Central Wisconsin State fairgrounds, the same location that the WTA Fall Convention is usually held.The Trap Shack will have a booth set up in the hockey arena. We are in a different location than usual because we needed more space for our products. Please look us up and stop by to visit.  The national convention is a very exciting time with endless opportunities to visit with other trappers,check out new products and learn new techniques.

      The fur price prospects are good for the fall. We have many new products this year. We will have a supply of the new Coon Daggers, the coon specific trap that has a push or pull trigger. These are priced competitively with the Lil Grizz. We also will have a good supply of the Jungwirth Coon Catchers at some great prices.

     Another date to put on your calender-Sunday Sept. 19,2010- we are having an Open House at our showroom by Arcadia, WI.Author (Uncle) Kenny Salwey will be there to visit and sign books. The hours will be 10 am to 3 pm.  Watch for more information coming up.

     See you in Marhfield. Get in the spirit!                                                                             Tom

Wanna see some photos of Gerald and Sharon Salwey’s 50th Anniversary @ Welcome Home Farm? Head to website of bcgoldenstudios.zenfolio.com and it’s the shoot with Tom and Sue setting on our swing.

Thanks!

It’s pure delight to step outside early in the morning mist. It really is living Heaven on Earth. Sheep munch dutifully on lush green meadows. It’s been a moist July and we have ample pastures this season. The baby barn Swallows line up on the wires to greet me in their songs. The chickens explode with enthusiasm as I fling their coop door open and let it flop. The goats and Jasper the Sheep are relishing the tart cherries that are hanging teasingly from the trees in their pastures. Flocks of children and kids @ heart have been touring and visiting us and the farm.  

We’re hosting a Fall Open Farm and Trap Shack Open House on Sun. Sept. 19th, 2010. Hours will be from 10 AM until 3 PM. Uncle Kenny Salwey will be there from 10 ’til 3.  He’s a cherished family member, author and story teller. Come browse the Showroom for trapping and coon hunting supplies and chat with us and  Kenny. Tour the gardens and see the animals and Welcome Home!

Flow like water, shine like the rising sun and play like an otter!

Sue Roskos