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ESCANABA -- Over 40 vendors from across the country have made the trek to the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba for the U.P. Trappers Convention.  The convention has been going on for 40 years, and while hunting methods have evolved, many of the trappers are still holding on to tradition.

Red fox, coyotes, and bobcats are just some of the animals you'll find at this year's convention.  But it takes technique to catch them...a technique, like predator calling.

Skip Van Buren demonstrated how he makes distress and challenge calls to attract coyotes.

But what does hunting mean to him?

“Our meals are mostly wild game and from the garden,” explains Van Buren.  “We pride ourselves on that.  And hunting does mean a lot to me, and it means a lot to the young people coming in, so our tradition can carry on."    

And that's exactly what brought Luke Feldhausen and his dad here.

“Well, because it's just new and we've never done it before,” said Feldhausen, “and there’re so many things to look around at.  And so many things that we can buy."    

But there were more than pelts, cages, and antique traps at the convention.  There was also jewelry for the women, hunting DVDs, and hand-woven pack baskets for sale.

Organizers are hoping to break last year's record of 2,000 people.

The convention doors will be open Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.