Guys, what year did you finally get to attend a national convention?
My first was in 2003 in Bloomington. Illinois.
Although I wasn’t a greenhorn, I still had yet to attend a national,,, I was absolutely blown away!!
I had read about them for years… it was like a kid getting to visit the North Pole!!
Took my wife and kids with me,,, and the kids still remember it.
My son’s favorite memory was getting to meet and talk to trapper art .
Meeting tom Krause. Paul dobbins, Hal Sullivan were a few great memories for me

First national convention. 1969. FTA. Some place in Iowa. Went there on our honeymoon. I didn’t know diddle about trapping! LOL. Look at where I am now!!

I think it was an NTA in 1995ish in Rochester Minnesota. Came home with a dozen Sleepy Creek 1.5's, a big livetrap, and a lot of plans and dreams.

Moosetrot

I think it was a fur takers in ,77 at lake Itasca Mn. A lot of the old names there. The lilastrands { sp},..that's a tough one, did well
with the bear trap setting,.there was a kid lost during the convention and most of the focus was insearch of which.
All in it was a great convention, this was on the preceptious of a growing market.

On another note, George wrote a book in attibute to his exploites throughout his career.Can't remember title for sure, but I think titeled " land of the wolf",well worth getting a copy of which available if possible.

I've never been to a national or even state convention. Weekends are almost always busy for me.

This year's is relatively close, Richmond is around 80 some miles.

"67th Annual NTA Convention
July 23-25, 2026
Wayne County Fairgrounds
861 Salisbury Road
Richmond, Indiana 47374
Hosted by the Indiana State Trappers Association"

Keith

2005. Goshen Indiana. Met my husband there.

2002 NTA, Mansfield, OH

1984, NTA 25th anniversary convention in Cookeville, TN. Star's back then were Jim Helfrich, Charlie Dobbins, Willis Kent, etc, etc, etc.

Dont know the year, but it was in Rutland Vt.

I don’t recall the year but it was in Nebraska that year. Got to meet Charlie Dobbins after his demo. Still have his land trapping book he signed for me. It is my predator trapping bible.
Jim

1985 in Duluth fresh out of high school,it was quite a day....Been to 3 two in MN and one in the UP MI.

1978 Clearfield, PA

This was mine too. I caught my first carp out of the harbor there at the campground.

2010ish, in Wisconsin. Was my first ever trapper's convention. I was blown away.

I had my 7 month old cur with me, he was worn out by the end of the day.

1982 - FTA in Union City, Tennessee

Same for me as well

Dont remember the exact year. Maybe 74 0r 75. NTA convention in Marshall, MI. I rode with Ivan White and his son Jim.

1985 in Duluth. On vacation with wife and son. Still use a knife i purchased there on beaver. Had protesters at the
entrance.

NTA 1994 Fond Du loc Wisconsin. It was the Summer of my senior year of high school. Me and a friend tent camped at the convention. Someone broke into our tent and stole our underwear from our bags. It was the only thing taken. Weird. Also met Tom Miranda when he was just starting out with his ESPN hunting show. We went to the dance and I danced with a woman and her man wanted to fight.

I’ve been to several more NTAs over the years and none were as exciting as my first.