They are 2 completely different types of organizations.
Oregon Trappers Association is a state trapping group to promote and protect trapping. Every state has one or more state associations. In many cases, the state association sponsors a fur sale.
OTC - Oregon Territorial Council on Furs, Inc. - is a for profit business whose sole purpose is to hold fur sales. It has stock holders and a board of directors. It’s profits are used to support trapping associations that are fighting the antis. Which some times is the Oregon Trappers Association.
OTC was incorporated in 1973 - 50 years ago - with the intention of selling enough stock to be able to purchase a building or land to erect a building that would function as a trappers fur sale center. It would be available to all trappers in the US. Sort of the way Fur Harvesters Auction started - as the Ontario Trappers Association fur sale.
Unfortunately, not enough stock was sold to proceed with the original plans, so OTC began a state fur sale business. Any one can sell at an OTC sale - no membership required. A 6% selling commission is charged.
Over the 50 years, OTC has built up a reserve that allows them to hold fur sales ven in lean times and down markets and yet support state associations that need help.
Hope that explains the situation. If any one has further questions, I would be happy to answer hem here or via PM.
That sounds like a great organization to support.
Too bad they couldnt get enough trappers/trapping councils to invest the money to get a building of their own-trapper owned and run like FHA.
