BETHEL — The New England Trappers Weekend will celebrate its 40th year on Aug. 19-21 at the home of organizer Neil Olson at 760 East Bethel Road.
Olson said he started the event in 1977 after he realized there was a lack of quality trapping events in the area. Over the past 39 years, he has used the event as an opportunity to invite experts and beginners alike to learn new trapping methods.
He has frequently described the weekend as “the Woodstock of trapper events.”
Admission is $5 for adults and camping is $5 per night.
Dealers can begin setting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18.
The event will last from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, and 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 21.
Olson said that he had to make several safety changes to the Trappers Weekend over the past two years, including setting a curfew for children to be back at their campsites after dark.
No bicycles will be permitted this year, Olson said.
“We have had too many close calls that almost resulted in an accident,” he said. “Also, we’re asking campers to keep their campfires and adult beverages under control.”
Olson said that fishing for children will be available throughout the weekend, and that the first 20 children who catch a fish will receive a Zebco reel, courtesy of Cabela’s, who is co-sponsoring the event.
Over Friday and Saturday, there will be a variety of demonstrations and presentations available, including talks on gland removal, fox and coyote trapping and a demonstration on skinning beavers.
Since many of the people attending spend the weekend camping on Olson’s land, he said that he holds a contest for the best campsite, where awards are given to the cleanest, most primitive, most American and most original campsites.
Another contest held over the weekend is the beard contest, where the longest, most unique and cleanest beards will be judged.
For more information, call Olson at 875-5765.
To see a full list of events taking place over the weekend, visit www.bethelmaine.com/trappers-weekend.
mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net
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