1997

Walter L. Arnold

Walter was one of the founders of the Maine Trappers Association. He held the offices of President, Treasurer, Editor and Secretary. After WWI, he started his lure business. He wrote several books on trapping and taught many young trappers.

Walter passed in July 1980.

Carl Tripp

Norman Gray

The founder of the 4W Chapter in Fryeburg. He was the Maine director for the National Trappers Association from 1983 to 1991 when he passed away.

David Haley

Dave spent many many years as a trapper and supporter of the MTA. He kept the 4W Chapter alive for many years. He ran the MTA educational booth at the Fryeburg Fair, and the gun raffle - a fundraiser for the MTA.

Oscar Cronk

Elected president of MTA in 1963, Oscar held that position until 1978. He is credited with keeping together the association in the years of low interest.

Neil Olson

A trapper and fur buyer, Neil has hosted the New England Trappers Weekend at his property in Bethel since the late 1960s. The event is attended by hundreds and sometimes thousands of people. Trapping is promoted and many educational demonstrations are given during the weekend. Neil attends the local Maine auctions as a fur buyer and continues to support the MTA.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Daniel McAllister

Dan served as MTA president for two terms, developed several trapping education tools: Utilizing Maines Fur Resources,The History of Trapping, and a flipchart used in school programs. He developed the Lifetime membership program, the Legislative and Conservation funds. Dan runs the Central Maine Chapter fur auctions and has for many years, he mans the booth at the PCCA sportsmens show, puts on demos, just to name a few of his MTA related activities.

1998

1999

2000

Merritt Kimball

Merritt trapped for about 70 years and bought fur for over 60 of those years. Promoting raw furs, trapping and trappers, Merritt did much to influence the wild fur industry. He always took the time to show young trappers how to handle their furs. He traveled all over the state buying furs, through thick and thin, high prices and low prices. Merritt was appointed to the first MTA board of directors in 1973 and he volunteered many years of his time. He was an MTA lifetime member.

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Wilmot "Wiggie" Robinson

Wiggie was a lifetime memer of the MTA and a Charter member of the Katahdin Chaper. He got in to trapping in the mid 1960's when his son Michael, at the age of 12, asked for help trapping muskrats. They became a team and trapped hundreds of muskrats every year. Wiggie volunteered his time to help trappers and promote trapping. He was also a registered Master Maine Guide, served as executive director of SAM for many years and more recently, was co-host of the radio show 'The Maine Outdoors' where he continued to keep trapping and its issues in the spotlight. (Wiggie passed in June 2007)

2006

2007

Henry Binette

Henry was a well known trapper and fur buyer in Patten. He loved hunting and fishing. He was the president of the MTA Southern Aroostook Chapter, former president of the Patten Snowmobile Club; and a Maine guide. He brought humor and laughter to every event he attended. Whether it was teaching boyscouts about trapping or running the MTA fundraising auction, Henry never failed to entertain everyone and supported trapping all of his life. (Henry passed in June 2007.)

2008

Leo Keiffer - Lifetime Achievement Award

2009

Lee LaBelle - Lifetime Achievement Award

2010