IFH BOARD MEMBERS

Bernie Nelson, President

My name is Bernie Nelson. I am 61 years old, I was born, raised and lived in Pend Orielle County WA until 2016 when I moved from Usk, WA to Oldtown, Idaho.

The things I did throughout my adult life are, logged for 20 years, coached high school baseball for 12 years, worked for Pend Orielle County
Road Department for 20 years, and retired from there in 2018.

Now I log part time, build traps, and hunt and trap every season. I have been trapping since I was 10 years old. I am a trapping instructor in
Idaho and Washington.

I am a life member of Intermountain Fur Harvesters, Washington Trappers Association, Idaho Trappers Association, and a member of the National Trappers Association and The Foundation for Wildlife Management. I am currently the President and a board member of Intermountain Fur Harvesters.

We as trappers know the importance to educate young and old to the art of trapping. I believe as sportsmen we all need to support each other, and by doing this we will all enjoy trapping, hunting, and fishing for years to come.

Bernie Nelson

David Carpenter, Vice President

My name is David Carpenter, I am 51 years old Born and raised in North Idaho. I have a wife of 30 years and have 4 grown children. My early career was spent in the woods as a mechanic for a logging company working long hours welding and keeping the equipment going. My days now are full with equipment and road maintenance at Lakes Highway District. Every chance I get I head to the woods for scouting, trapping, or hunting.

I have hunted and/or trapped most of my life. At age 10 I lived a couple of houses down from a fur buyer (Lars Eidnes). I was so fascinated and spent many days watching him skin and flesh. By the time I was 13 I had a job in his fur shed skinning and salting hides, working by the piece, skinning deer and elk legs, cleaning skulls, separating porky hair and quills, and cleaning and drying deer toes. I would wear out old timer knives and he would buy me new ones. I spent many hours as a kid reading Fur, Fish, and Game and Trapper and Predator Caller. I would read them cover to cover, over and over. Trapping connects you to wildlife in a way no other type of sport does. Learning the ways, habits, and nature of these animals is so intriguing to me and I love the challenge of figuring this out and setting traps. My first trapline was close to home and I would walk to set up and check the line, I was of course too young to drive. My cousin Jay was a big influence. He and I ran a trapline together and caught my first bobcat at 16. I love every aspect of trapping, from setting and checking lines to skinning and fleshing and fur harvesting.

Throughout my life, I have been able to share my knowledge and love for trapping with many. Mostly my son Dawson who has spent many hours with me in the woods as well as the shop with preparation and harvest. I am proud to say he is an exceptional woodsman and has the same love and respect for the sport as I do.

David Carpenter

Michelle Mills Nelson, Secretary / Treasurer

I am Michelle Mills Nelson, I have been involved in trapping since 2015.
I have traveled many miles on the trapline with my husband Bernie Nelson.
I have learned the art of skinning, fleshing & stretching Skunks, Racoons, Beaver, and Bobcats.
I am a Life Member of the IFH, the ITA, and a member of the F4WM.

Michelle mills

Layne Matthews, Board Member

I started trapping in the seventh grade while living in White Pine, Montana. I went after bobcats, skunks, beavers, and a few coyotes. With life calling and family moving as an adult, I worked for Riley Creek Lumber as a contract logger.  With this came acquiring a small ranch with a small herd of purebred cows.  Being in North Idaho, I was an avid hunter in my spare time.  I am now retired, along with my wife of 40 years (retired English teacher).  We still have a herd of cows, only smaller in number.  I started trapping wolves in 2013 as I saw the damage they were inflicting on our wildlife.  Obviously, they need to be controlled. I now have three hounds and spend about 175 days a year chasing after them, cows, wolves, mountain lions, or bears.

Layne Matthews

Scott Marshall, Board Member

Hi, my name is Scott Marshall, I’m 64 years old, and have lived in North Idaho with my wife, Kelly, for the past 30 years. I am a professional Engineering Geologist, worked in the forestry and logging business as a road and bridge specialist, and in the construction industry in Geotechnical Consulting, my whole life.

I’ve been an avid hunter since I was young, and I still never miss an Elk season. Kelly and I, along with our chocolate lab Belle, enjoy hiking, often to a high lake for some fishing, scouting critters for hunting or trapping, or maybe just exploring. I am a member of the Intermountain Fur Harvesters, the Foundation for Wildlife Management, and the Idaho Trappers Association. I have been trapping for about 13 years. I have been fortunate to harvest wolves by hunting and trapping, and I caught one of the first wolves here in Idaho in 2012. I was so proud. I really enjoy Bobcat and Marten trapping from the snow machine. The forests are such a different place mid-winter with a bunch of snow.

I am a strong advocate for the conservation groups because that’s what trappers and hunters are at heart. . . “Conservationists.” I hope to contribute to the IFH Association with dedication, hard work, and commitment. Going forward, education of trappers and the public about trapping will be important to sustaining the trapping heritage. Close participation and communication with all sportsmen groups will be our strength.

Scott Marshall

Paul Hast, Board Member

I’m Paul Hast. I ended up in Idaho in June of 1982 when I was 20, and wound up stayin’. Cowboyed and packed along various stretches of the Salmon and Snake Rivers, Red River (Elk City), N. Fork of the Clearwater, and Mont, Ore, and S. Idaho as well. Spent the summer packin’ in the River of No Return for the USFS during the big fires of ’88. I spent time operating equipment, then 22 years in law enforcement. I still operate equipment part time in retirement.
Although I spent a lot of those 22 years indoors, I’ve always been an outdoorsman. I’m new to trappin’, though, and joined IFH to learn and be around real trappers, hopin’ most of their knowledge might rub off on me a little. I’ve been trappin’ for about 4 yrs and have a lot to learn. But I also think we have a duty to help other newcomers and young folks just getting started as well. Trappin ain’t as easy as some of these folks make it look.
I’m a life member of IFH, and a member of several other outdoor and firearms related organizations including Idaho Trappers, Upper Snake Trapping Assoc., F4WM, and National Trapper Assoc. Although I’ve hunted deer and elk in the past, I guess you could say I’m a student of predators now, with a major in wolf huntin’/trappin’ and a minor in coyotes & bobcats.
I believe life is a journey from one problem to the next. We, as wildlife managers, have a duty to make sure we leave ample wildlife enjoyment for the next few generations and to fight for the opportunity to continue this North American experiment that has been so successful.
Hope to see you all at an IFH mtg or some such trappin event.

Paul Hast

Wayne Johnson, Board Member

My roots in the outdoors run deep. In 1911, my grandfather moved to Burke, Idaho to work in the silver mines, before heading to the Midwest to help build military barracks during World War I. About fifteen years ago, I traveled to North Idaho to trace his footsteps and research our family history. That trip changed my life—it became clear this was where I wanted to spend the rest of my days, surrounded by the rugged landscapes and deep blue lakes.

I was raised in the Midwest with a fishing rod in one hand and a 12 gauge in the other. I can still vividly remember my first green sunfish, my first cottontail rabbit, and the red fox that introduced me to the art of trapping. Over fifty years later, that passion for the outdoors has never wavered. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to serve on the boards of several hunting, fishing, and trapping organizations, and as chairman of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Waterfowl Advisory Committee.

As any lifelong sportsman will tell you, the final and most rewarding stage is passing it on. Watching my children catch their first fish or take their first animal remains among my most memorable moments. The time we spend in the woods or on the water isn’t just about the harvest—it’s about creating meaningful, one-on-one memories with those we love. Our adventures have taken us from the coast of Florida to the wilds of Alaska, but the lessons remain the same.

Joining the Intermountain Fur Harvesters was a pivotal decision. The sense of community, shared knowledge, and commitment to preserving our outdoor heritage is inspiring. It’s a far cry from the 1970s and ’80s when secrets were closely guarded. Today, we understand that the future of our sport depends on mentorship, education, and cooperation. I’m honored to be part of an organization that embodies those values

Wayne Johnson

Ted Cork, Board Member

My name is Ted Cork.  I am a native Idahoan and have been trapping since the mid-1980s.  I am 69 years old, married, and Dad to 3 grown kids. I’m a life member of Intermountain Fur Harvesters, a member of the Idaho Trappers’ Association, a member of F4WM, and a member of the National Trappers’ Association. I’m enjoying retirement by trapping, fishing, and hunting, as well as being a Board Member of Intermountain Fur Harvesters.

Ted Cork