South Country Trappers Association AGM and Banquet draws a crowd

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

South Country Trappers Association President Jim Simpson
C. Davis photos

The recently formed South Country Trappers Association (SCTA) held their first Annual General Meeting at Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village in Pincher Creek on Saturday, October 13. After the formal AGM cocktails were served, followed by a roast beef dinner provided by the Bloomin' Inn.  Approximately 70 people were in attendance.

After dinner, Biologist Mike Jokinen of the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) gave a talk accompanied by a slideshow. The ACA and the Alberta Trappers Association (ATA) have teamed up to study the current distribution of wolverines in Alberta, using camera traps and incorporating other data including DNA samples gathered by trappers. Jokinen showed a variety of photos collected by the camera traps, showing how the sex of the wolverine and other useful information could be determined. The data will be used in part to recommend which wolverine habitats in Alberta should be protected.

Auctioneer Frank Jenkins with
Allan Lively

Frank Jenkins and Allan Lively of Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange conducted an auction of donated items, some quite high-end, that raised a respectable amount of funds for the SCTA. One individual paid $300.00 for a pair of beaver mittens. "It's only money, folks," was a common refrain hear from auctioneer Jenkins.  "The conservation, and the trappers, and the ranchers all go together, it's kinda nice to see everybody out here tonight all working together in unison," Jenkins interjected into his rapid-fire patter. A 50/50 draw was held in support of youth trapper education.

The SCTA accepts anyone for membership but only licensed trappers can vote.

Jim Simpson, Frank Jenkins, and Allan Lively

SCTA President Jim Simpson of Longview has been trapping his whole life.  "I've been trapping for many, many years, and I've been in the outfitting business.  I was on the executive for the Alberta Outfitter Association for 21 years."

He trapped even as a child.  "I'd go to school just east of Waterton Park, and I'd trap on the way to school," he said.  "I can remember back then the school had a barn and at recess I might be out in the barn, skinning weasels or whatever.  I caught some coyotes in a weasel trap.  My dad said to me, 'How did you kill a coyote?'  I said I had to get a rope on him and choke him to death, so he said you had better pack a 22.  So, at nine or ten years old, I'd pack a 22 to school. At recess time or lunch time it wasn't odd to see us out there in the barn skinning something."


"That was a lot of years ago, I'm 79 years old now.  That's how I got into trapping, I've done it all my life.  I've enjoyed it immensely, and figured out a lot of stuff, and then got in the outfitting business."

"A guy said to me one time  'Oh, for the life of a guide.  Nothing to do but hunt and fish, and get paid for it'.  I really liked hunting and fishing, so that's what I did.  I got into the cutting horse business, that's were I got this buckle, I won Canada in the cutting horse business."

Simpson outlined the beginnings of the SCTA. "A couple of years ago I had a phone call from some guys that wanted to start a trappers association. After a few phone calls to people who said there wasn't any interest in the idea  "I told my wife Kelly 'If you'll help me with this thing, we'll start this association'.  You cant say there's not enough interest until you have a meeting and nobody comes."

Kelly Simpson, Jim's aforementioned wife, acts as Secretary/Treasurer for the SCTA, and is responsible for the success of their events to date, also handling most of their social media needs.

"We had a meeting in High River, and that's where this thing all started," Jim Simpson continued. " I didn't start it for me.  I'm 79 years old.  I've been there and done that.  But I thought it was a necessary situation.  I'm semi retired.  I'm on a ranch that runs about 80 cows.  If we were in England, I'd be a groundskeeper."

This was the organization's third general meeting and their first AGM.

Simpson said there were challenges facing trappers going forward.  "It's kind of under fire.  We feel that if the government had it's way it would stop the trapping in southern Alberta.  We don't want to see that.  We want it to stay, done by quality trappers, and we want to put on schools to teach people in a quality way.  We are going to have to work with government to get people qualified.  We're going to do what we can."

He was visibly pleased with the AGM and banquet turnout, and with the success of the auction.  "This is our first big deal," he said.  "We're happy with the situation."    He said his large network of friends from years in the horse cutting business helped when it came time to organize the SCTA.  "The auctioneer is my sisters son.  I can phone Frank and get him."

What's coming up for the SCTA?  "I think sometime this winter what we want to put together is a potluck game dinner, and we are going to work towards better things for next year," Simpson said.  "You get the right people in, it works."

At the AGM a special resolution was made to join the Alberta Trappers Association which passed unanimously. The SCTA request to do so will be submitted shortly to the ATA for their decision.

Related link: Alberta Conservation Association wolverine project