History lessons at Mid-South Trappers
Historians trace the origin of trapping in the U.S. to the French and Indian War (1754-63) as England and France fought over the country’s need for fur-bearing critters, such as raccoons, beavers, otter, fox and muskrat.
Trapping was a way of life for the mountain men of the West.
The annual rendezvous was where trappers gathered to swap tales, show-off their skills and eat, drink and be merry until they returned to the wilderness. It was a time of great expectations.
Times have changed for trappers, but the rendezvous lives on through events like the Mid-South Trappers Rendezvous Saturday at Bailey Park on 400 N. 22nd Avenue in Humboldt.
“A trappers’ rendezvous has a long history,” says Mark Moore of Humboldt, president of the West Tennessee Fur Takers (WTFT). “The rendezvous has a long history. Through this event we want to promote ethical trapping, trapping education and trappers’ rights. “
Not to mention that there still is money to be made as a trapper, not that all of today’s trappers are in it to make money. It’s more about the camaraderie associated with being outdoors.
Still, there is the history part of trapping that brings many into the pursuit.
“Traditionally, the trappers, the traders, the fur buyers and the gunpowder folks would gather at the rendezvous and trappers sold their fur,” Moore says. “The vendors were selling powder. It was a big event.”
So, it was that the West Tennessee Fur Takers decided to throw their own party, complete with trappers, hunters, hunting club members, landowners, timber companies, farmers and the list goes on and on.
The biggest names in trapping in the U.S. will be at the Humboldt event, including Mark June, who Moore said is “probably, at the least in the trapping community, one of the most well-known trappers. He is America’s top predator trapper.”
June will give one of several seminars at the rendezvous, which opens with guest registration at 7 a.m. and trapping demonstrations starting at 8. Closing ceremonies are set for 4 p.m.
Other notable speakers will be Jeff Mangus, whose seminar subject will be “everything turtles.” Jay Wahlig of Bartlett, WTFT treasurer, will do an on-going event seminar on skinning/fur handling for bobcat, coyote, fox, beaver and mink. If you’d like a fur hat, hat maker Bobby Holladay, another WTFT member, will be there, too.
One more thing Moore wants to make known.
“We all have a love for the outdoors,” he said. “It’s just that we get up every morning before work and we’ll run a small (trapping) line and get a mixed bag of animals. What we’re trying to do is give the 21st century trapper, whether it is a hobby or whatever, a market to sell his or her fur.”
Moore said his father didn’t trap. Neither did his grandfather. It was through a friend that got him involved in trapping. His friend loaned him six traps and told him in a phone conversation how to catch a raccoon.
“I made every mistake in the book,” Moore said. “But I loved being outdoors. That was back in the 70s. I trapped an old raccoon for its fur. It cost me 25 cents a shell to kill a squirrel, and I was able to get the same outdoors experience that I had with a $32 raccoon. I knew I liked trapping right away.”
Of course, the fur market has changed, especially the price. But, and you might not know this, the famous Hudson Bay Company, Moore said, is still in business under a new name –North American Fur Auctions, which at one time handled nearly 3.5 million pelts.
For sure, there will be food, fun and vendors at Humboldt, especially food.
“The noon meal is worth the trip,” Moore said with a laugh. “It is an oldfashioned catfish meal. It (the meal, which costs $12) is our (WTFT) major fund-raiser for the year. It’s all you can eat. It’s going to be a get-down feed.”
One last thing, and it’s important is it’s open to the public at no charge.
For additional information go to westtnfurtakers.com.
Got an item or note? E-mail Larry Rea at lroutdoors@att.net or go to his web site at lroutdoors.com; listen to Larry Rea on Outdoors with Larry Rea on Saturday mornings from 6-7:30 on ESPN 790-AM and 1520-AM and 95.3 in Brownsville, Tenn., and 6:30-8 on News/Talk 101.5 in Jackson, Tenn.