The U.P. Trappers Association is well known for turning out great crowds and getting top notch presenters at their events and this 63rd annual Trappers Convention/Outdoor Expo on July 11 and 12, at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba, Mi., is no exception.
The All-Star lineup of presenters includes Don Nyman, Les Johnson, Jeff Hagerty, Laura & Zac Gidney, Jeff Dunlap, Dave Radandt, Mountain Man Paul Antczak, and Jim Churchill. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days (all times EDT). Admission is $10 for both days and kids under twelve are free. Camping on the grounds is available, and food and refreshments will be for sale on the grounds.
Another popular addition for the last several years is the Friday Night Fish Fry and Fundraising Banquet. So much more than a “fish fry”! Great food, fun, gun raffles, card raffles, bucket raffles – beer, soft drinks, and bottled water available for purchase. Meet new friends, reconnect with old friends, swap hunting, fishing, and trapping stories, laugh and enjoy – while raising money for an organization supporting scientific wildlife management. For tickets (Only $25.00 each), contact Julie Gartland (906) 786-1227. Hurry! Tickets are going fast!
Few trappers can say that they have never heard of Jeff Dunlap. Jeff owns a highly respected lure and bait business, and you can find him “out there” – all over – sharing his methods and experiences at many conventions and on Facebook, Instagram, You Tube, Trapping Radio, and many other platforms. Anyone looking to gain more knowledge about the enjoyable pastime of trapping can search “Jeff Dunlap Trapper” and absorb years of trapping knowledge in a short period of time. We are pleased to have Jeff once again presenting in person for us. Jeff will be contrasting Western bobcat trapping with trapping bobcats during Michigan’s unforgiving winter conditions and showing his audience how to be successful at either.
And don’t come to Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula alone. Bring the whole family and some of your friends. Plan to stay up here in “God’s Country” for an extra week or two. At the convention Kids will be building mink boxes from pre-cut, pre-drilled lumber to take home and use on their own traplines. Kids can also enjoy the ever-popular hay scramble to find money and other prizes. And our Kid’s event chairman is planning on having a couple of additional unadvertised events for kids – if a lot of kids show up! Our bean bag and trap throw booths will also be back – kids can win traps and soft drinks.
There will be vendors in two large buildings and there are several outdoor vendors too. They will have something for everyone: guns, knives, trapping equipment from A-Z, crafts, quilts, other outdoor equipment, local edibles, and more.
For questions or “last minute booth space” contact Mary Theoret at 906 241-6155. The few remaining spaces are filling up fast. For detailed Convention information go to www.uptrappers.com