By Chad Koenen

Publisher

A New York Mills teenager was recently honored as one of two recipients for the Youth Trapper of the Year at the Minnesota Trappers State Convention. 

Layton Meyer, who is a seventh grader at NY Mills High School, was nominated for the award by Eric Maijala. In his nomination letter, Maijala highlighted Meyers’ passion for trapping everything from fox, coyote and raccoon.

“He will take advantage of every opportunity to tell his trapping stories with anyone.  This young man has been trapping gophers and using all the money earned from that and putting towards more trapping equipment,” the nomination letter said. “This young man is skinning all his catches and takes great pride in not putting one hole in the pelt (Especially around the eyes). He talks about trapping at school with his friends and teachers and has since brought in his first tanned pelt. He has visited with local Conservation Officers to help him learn and takes great pride in doing everything the right way.”

Layton’s dad BJ said he knew about the award, but it was a complete surprise to his son, who began trapping four years ago.

“He caught his first fox when he was nine and he has been going ever since,” he said. 

BJ credited the Minnesota Trappers Association for helping to stoke the fire of trapping that has burned inside his son for the past four years.

“They do a really great job of getting kids involved,” he said of the organization. “We went to the one in Wadena four years ago and that is what got him going.”

Layton was presented an award at the state convention on Friday, Aug. 1 in Little Falls, Minn.