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

      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

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

A turtle trapping demo was put on by Bud Pierson and Jim Helgeson.  Tom Olson did a beaver and muskrat demo. Fish poles were provided for the kids to catch fish in the pond. Caleb Ellis kept us informed of his catch-bluegills and crappies.

The wonderdul people of District 5 provided a lunch of BBQ’s, chips, home-made pickles and bars.

The afternoon business meeting was conducted by Jim Gordon and Jr. Prudlick.

What a delightful way to share our farm, the Trap Shack Company and stories with old and new friends. The visitors arrived early and stayed late and strolled the farm and shopped the Shack.

Thanks for all the people who traveled an hour or two to attend class and those who live down the road a short ways.

Sue, Tom and Hawken

 The double doors were slammed shut to block out the bar noise, clinking glasses and the wafts of smoke that formed a cloudy haze. It was entertaining to be in the presence of the crew assembled for the meeting. I had never been present @ a meeting before. We said the pledge of alllegiance with our patriotic enthusiasm. Trapping hats were politely removed and then we arose and I smiled as I heard a manly voice mention the flag was around the corner-in the next room. A helpful trapper brought the flag out and we felt the spirit of patriotism arise in all of us. A transfer of leadership took place after the election. Jim Gordon is now the new District 5 director.  Thoughts were shared and the request for volunteers went out. Many generous people raised their hand and offered their talents. The group is interested in passing on their knowledge especially to kids. A special thanks to the people that made me feel extra welcome and invited me to attend more of the events.

The Whitetails Deer Classic for Buffalo and Trempealeau County, was held @ Valu Implement in Arcadia over March 20th.  The attendance was high all day. Tom was part of the  mid-afternoon crew of volunteers that ran the trapping booth @ the Whitetails Classic. Once again the fur pelts were a big draw for observers to get up close and personal with handling processed fur. Tom came home and parked the  Red Chevy Cavalier in front of the Trap Shack Showroom. Hawken and I were cultivating furrows with the rake, playing basketball and had a dirt hole dug to hold 3 wooly bear caterpillars and 2 worms. Tom pops the Cavalier trunk and asks me to carry  a stuffed otter in the Showroom. It’s Gene Prudlick’s otter looking real with whisps of green artificial grass @ it’s paws.

The next evening I’m wandering outside with tall winter boots, blue long johns and a light blue coat. I’m out to lock up the hens and pull the door shut to the Trap Shack. I double check I didn’t lock the chickens up with a critter in the coop. I then pull the door shut in the darkness of the Shack. I step away two paces. Then I backtrack and fumble with the light switch and aim to make sure we don’t have a live critter locked in the Showroom. Last year my brother  and his wife had a coon find it’s way in their garage and it did thousands of dollars of damage. Nope, I better double check that there’s nothing lurking in the Shack. I flip the light on and gasp-then I’m giggling and just look @ my goofy attire and how momentarily petrified I was of an erect otter all stuffed peering up @ the Showroom heater.

I’m a woman, I love change and we went right home after the meeting!

Sue Roskos

      The winter meeting was well attended. Chuck and Company put on another memorable wild game feed-these masterful chefs put on a culinary masterpiece every year. Turtle , fish and beaver were the featured meats with home-made french fries and onion rings adding to the line-up of side dishes. Thank you to the cooks and to all who brought delicious dishes to pass.

      We were fortunate to have Chris Bezio drive across the state to up-date us on the National Trappers Assn National Convention which is being hosted by the WTA this year. This huge gathering of trappers and their families,dealers and vendors will be held in Marshfield, WI on August 5-8, 2010. Chris is the NTA liason for WTA so he is in charge of getting this event organized. District 5 signed on to handle the auction. Volunteers for this or any part of the convention would be appreciateted.  The Trap Shack Company has inside booth space reserved for this event, and we look forward to meeting new people from all over the country.

      We just discovered a new business in Arcadia, WI and I am so excited! Shirley’s Sewing Room has opened at 320 West Main Street and I was able to get new zippers installed on my favorite Cabela”s heavy pull-over and vest. Shirley is able to do repairs and alterations on all types of clothes, including the heavy-duty hunting and farm clothes. She also is available to do custom sewing. Her phone # is 608-323-9332 and her office hours tend toward the evenings and week-ends. We wish her well in her business and are delighted to have someone so close to be able to resurrect those favorite clothes.

       Enjoy the lenghthening days and moonlit nites.                                                                                                                     Tom

      I enjoy swapping stories with Jimmy. One of the techniques we discussed this winter was bottom edge trapping for muskrat and mink using bodygrips ranging in size from 110 to 220. These traps are set in streams alongside hard defined structure, such as a cut bank, a large rock or a log or stump. The animals of the water swim on the bottom to conserve energy and will hold tight to the structure. This is easy cold water trapping as a minimum of equipment is needed and sets are made in the swiftest and deepest water where ice is less apt to form. Also, traps are never frozen in even if there is surface ice. Jimmy had some good ideas for this endeavor. He uses the carrying case from a collapsible lawn chair to carry stakes. Also, traps can be floated up the waterway in a high-sided plastic sled that is outfitted with a grapple on the rope to anchor it to the bank while working.

        Thanks to Jimmy and all the people who share their stories and ideas.

                                                                                                                                            Enjoy the outdoors                            Tom

Charlie, Tom and Mike went to check traps on our propertyon the other side of Hwy 95. They returned and Charlie had shot crow and found a muskrat in a trap. Hawken and the guys shared tastey treats in the original Shack. The beautiful pot bellied stove holds  wood to warm the building and rejoices with an orange glow when stoked. I stepped inside the Shack and it was chilly. Charlie was asking if his hotdog was cooked enough. I stifled laughter and pondered how much wood we have had for years stacked outside of the Shack. Why is Tom trying to toast marshmallows with 1 tiny log barely smoldering? I nudged Tom and mentioned could use another log or two in the stove. Then he said that it had really burnt down a lot since he started it this early AM.  He threw another log on and they were able to melt the marshmallows,make toast and not wash their hands. Mike said, “Can even eat in The Shack-it’s great!!”

The afternoon was spent walking the frozen backwaters for the guys. Charlie shot 2  fox squirrels and was smitten with that endeavor. A lovely way to spend a Winter Day. Sweet serenity sifted through souls like Grandma Verna let flour sift through her hands.

Mike prepared the treasured squirrel in a casserole, and his family devoured the dish prepared with extra love and secret ingrediants. His blonde curly haired daughter Ellie was along trapping with Mike and Charlie in La Crosse. They have layed claim to harvesting their first muskrat together as a family. What a gift to pass an endearing love  of nature along to eager children.

  Dave Leske has been generously offering places for Mike’s Family to trap. Mike did mention that he dressed out the crow @ Charlie’s request and hasn’t yet prepared the treat.

Feel the Family Spirit in Peace and Love,

Sue Roskos