ESCANABA — The 65th annual trapper’s convention is set for July 12-13 at the U.P. State Fairgrounds located in Escanaba. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days (all times EDT). Admission is $10 for both days and kids under 12 are free.
This family friendly event grows more popular each year (attendance records prove that). This year’s event will feature some new items that organizers say is sure to please all attendees especially the kids: Free and closely supervised fishing, archery, pellet guns and “Kids Cave” with events like panning for gold, build your own mink boxes hay scrambles and many more.
Outdoor equipment dealers will be on hand offering great deals. Both inside vendors and “tailgaters,” with a wide variety of goods and trapping supplies will be there.
Nine “crowd pleasers” will be doing demos: A Mountain Men star, a world-renowned predator caller and some “big name” trappers. Sure to be a hit on stage will be Zac and Laura Gidney. Laura is the current treasurer for Fur Takers of America, and a Master Trapping instructor for New York State. She is also the Secretary for the Orange County Trappers Association. Zac is a Junior Trapping Instructor for New York as well.
The Gidney’s live in Orange County, New York, about an hour slightly northwest of New York City. In a 10-minute drive, they can also be in New Jersey which allows them to trap both states. They run what most would consider a small, multi-species trapline, with a mix of suburban neighborhoods and farms.
With a few years of trapping experience on their own and added knowledge from trapping schools — in 2021, their 10th season of trapping, they broke 100 canines and 50 beavers for the first time! In 2023, their land-trapping season total on canines was 244 with 117 raccoons, 22 bobcats, and 33 skunks. Some amazing numbers.
Laura and Zac are looking forward to what they can accomplish together in the years to come. They also enjoy sharing their experiences and knowledge with anyone wanting to learn more about trapping, their (fox and coyote) demo will take place at noon on Friday.
Other presenters include Mary Theoret (being a beginning trapper), Jeff Hagerty (mink and muskrats), Jeff Dunlap (beaver and otter), Rick Friedrich (bobcats), Jim Engel/Roy Dahlgren (marten and fisher), Les Johnson from PREDATOR QUEST (coyote calling), Paul Antczak — from History Channel’s MOUNTAIN MEN (wolf), Sarah Gomez, (coyote with traps and cable restraints).
“This event is something I look forward to each year,” said Randy Johnsen (longtime member of U.P. Trappers). “It’s great to see all the people — especially the youngsters having a great experience and getting ready to start their own traplines.”
Food and refreshments will be available as well as camping on the grounds. There will be a Friday night fish fry featuring locally caught bluegills. (Contact Convention Director Roy Dahlgren at 906-399-1960 or trapperroy@outlook.com for dinner reservations and/ or any questions about the show).
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