Shoemaker, Shorty (Jerald Roy), 2005 - 2010

Sub-Series — Box: 3, Folder: 4

Staff Only

Click to view transcript at WS Digital Collections (https://nwrc.contentdm.oclc.org/)

Scope and Contents

Shorty Shoemake was interviewed by Nancy Freeman on August 23, 2005 in Stanley, North Dakota.

Subseries contains correspondence, research and interview notes, interview transcripts, biography, release form, interview questions, photographs, and audio files of the interview.

Dates

2005 - 2010

Creator

Shoemaker, Shorty (Jerald Roy) (1939-2019) (Interviewee, Person)

Biographical / Historical

Shorty Shoemaker was born on Sept. 18, 1939 in Carthage, S.D. He enlisted in the Army National Guard (Rank: E-5: Sergeant) in 1957 and served as a squad leader until 1965. Shoemaker worked his own farm and ranch of primarily cows and pigs from 1959-1968 in Carthage. He joined Wildlife Services, formerly known as Animal Damage Control under the Fish and Wildlife Service, in 1968 as a gunner and worked in Red Cloud, NE. He then moved to North Dakota where he worked in Lakota (1970-1972), Emerado (1972-1975), and then finally Stanley (1975-2002) until his retirement in 2002. He also served as a fishing guide from 1985 until 2005. An avid outdoorsman, and skilled woodworker, Shoemaker and his wife Dawn married in 1965 and together raised two children. Shoemaker passed away in 2019.

Extent

From the Collection: 2.1 linear feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Abstract

Jerald (Shorty) R. Shoemaker reminisces about his past work for Wildlife Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). He talks about his experiences as a wildlife specialist and government trapper in animal damage and predator control (primarily coyotes) and the different methods used including poisons and toxicants such as M-44, strychnine, and compound 1080, aerial gunning, game calling, traps, lures, hazing, snares, livestock protection collars, and livestock protection dogs. Shoemaker received an award in the late nineties for his work concerning safety procedures in the use of M-44s. He discusses his extensive aerial gunning experiences, interactions with the public, ranchers and various Wildlife Services and related personnel, and the future of wildlife management, trapping and predator control.