The Saskatchewan Trappers Association hosted a two-day fun rendezvous that featured numerous events showcasing different traps, techniques and fur bearing animals found in the area.
The rendezvous was hosted at Lady Lake Regional Park on July 28 and 29.
The mission of the association is the conservation and management of Saskatchewan’s wild furbearers and their habitat while preserving, promoting and maintaining trapping heritage, organizers said. Its vision is a Saskatchewan that recognizes and embraces the trapping fraternity as stewards of the land and keepers of a valuable and sustainable fur resource.
"The weekend was a lot of fun and a great learning experience for everyone in attendance," said Floyd Hendrickson of Margo, education co-ordinator for the association.
The rendezvous kicked off on Friday morning with numerous presentations of trapping techniques and traps utilized for different animals. Bill Zak of Hudson Bay, who is a director of Region 9, gave a presentation on lynx and conibear traps.
Scott Blades of Swift Current, who is the director of Region 13, gave a presentation on coyote trapping and snaring, while Ryan Demchynski of Leross gave a presentation on power ram snares.
Cpl. Jamie Chartrand of Prince Albert gave a demonstration featuring how a canine unit works with the local conservation units and the importance that a dog plays in law enforcement.
The canoe race had six entries in a race around an inlet island and back to shore.
Don Gordon, a trapper from Nipawin, gave a demonstration on setting bear snares.
A supper, followed by campfire stories, concluded the event on Friday.
On Saturday a pancake breakfast kicked off the day, followed by a demonstration on setting cubby traps by Mike Keen of Tisdale, who is the president of the Saskatchewan Trappers Association.
The ultimate trappers events and races had competitors kicking off the race with the wood plank race, followed by log sawing, splitting wood to make a fire and boiling water. The race continued with a beaver muskrat carry which featured a bag of sand to be carried up a hill followed by sliding down the slide and shooting at a target before crossing the finish line.
A roast pork supper and the conclusion of the silent auction concluded the weekend.
The Saskatchewan Environment Public Education Mobile Trailer was present all weekend with conservation officers Johnny Petryshyn and Dave Knihniski answering questions and providing education on animal and plant species.
A water slip-and-slide entertained children and the B and B Snack Shack provided concessions.
The trade show featured a fur harvester auction, KD Ventures Trap Supply, Dam Beaver Trapping Supplies and a North American Fur Auction.
