Photo courtesy of Jeff Dunlap Jeff and Sarah Dunlap with some spotted Western Bobcats

ESCANABA — 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, planned for July 11 and 12 at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba, is no exception.

The all-star lineup of presenters includes Don Nyman, Les Johnson, Jeff Hagerty, Laura and Zac Gidney, Jeff Dunlap, Dave Radandt, Mountain Man Paul Antczak, and Jim Churchill. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EDT) both days. 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.

A popular feature of the event for the last several years is the Friday Night Fish Fry and Fundraising Banquet. The event is much more than a fish fry, featuring gun raffles, card raffles, bucket raffles. Beer, soft drinks, and bottled water will be available for purchase. Organizers hope attendees will 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 for the fish fry are $25 each and can be purchased by calling Julie Gartland at 906-786-1227.

When it comes to trapping experts, presented Jeff Dunlap is a well-known name. He owns a highly respected lure and bait business, and you can find him 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,” said organizers.

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. Our bean bag and trap throw booths will also be back – kids can win traps and soft drinks.

The kid’s event chairman is planning on having a couple of additional unadvertised events for kids – if a lot of kids show up.

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 foods, and more.

For questions or for last-minute booth space, contact Mary Theoret at 906-241-6155. The few remaining spaces are filling up fast.

For more convention information go to www.uptrappers.com