Trapping Fever and Preseason Preparation

Well, it’s getting to be about that time. We got our first cold snap of the year the other night, and you can feel the days starting to get shorter and shorter all the time. That only means one thing: trapping season’s just around the corner!

Truth be told, I’ve had the trapping fever since sometime in May. I recently moved to Montana, and have been excited about the new trapping opportunities since the time I applied for the job that brought me here. In fact, I talk about it so much, I think I’m starting to convince co-workers and new friends that I’m a little crazy! A friend of mine has been mailing boxes of my traps out from back home, and each arrival feels kind of like Christmas morning.

With most of the traps in, now comes the preparation for the season. This means adjusting and modifying the traps to make them suitable for the type of trapping I plan to do. Then I’ll boil and wax the traps to get rid of foreign odors and prevent rust.

I’ll make orders from the trapping supply catalogs I’ve been poring over for months. But I’ll need to save some of my money for the big state trappers rendezvous coming up, where the list of supplies will be rounded out, along with many others that I may or may not need.

Final plans on trapping territory have to be made, including making landowner contacts, studying maps, and scouting areas. After securing territory, additional scouting must be done to locate critters. This will probably be the most important component to my success this year, since all the territory here is new to me.

Bait has to be prepared, packaged and stored. Tools have to be in place, and a plan of operations must be made. This includes thinking about when to trap where, which species to target, and how many traps to set in a particular location.

Planning and preparation. It’s one of the most time consuming, but also one of the most enjoyable aspects of trapping.

Like most other trappers out there, I can’t wait for the start of the season. Bring on the cold weather, and bring on the fur!

Wolverine Quota Reduced, But Trapping Opportunity Remains in Montana

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission recently voted to continue to allow wolverine trapping in the state, but has reduced the quota from ten animals to an allowable harvest of five wolverines statewide. The quota reduction was based on biological data and recommendations from agency biologists that suggested the harvest should be cut back.

While trappers would have liked to see a quota similar to previous years, most seem to understand FWP’s concerns and want to see a healthy population of wolverines maintained into the future.

“If it’s a choice of this plan or none, obviously we trappers will support this plan,” said trapper Don Bothwell of Kalispell, who represents the Montana Furbearer Conservation Alliance.

While environmental activists argue that killing wolverines isn’t worth the price of the pelts, many don’t seem to understand the value of having the opportunity to harvest such a rare and unique creature.

Trapper Tom Barnes of Dillon said that during a span of four years he has caught two wolverines while trying to trap another type of weasel, the pine marten. Barnes said he reveled in the privilege of trapping wolverines and had both prepared for permanent display. The few hundred dollars a pelt might have fetched was not a consideration, he said.

While many trappers argue that the reduced quota is overly conservative, some groups are protesting the fact that the state allows any harvest of wolverines, and are preparing to take legal action.

Defenders of Wildlife is among nine groups that gave notice of intent to sue the federal government if wolverines do not have Endangered Species Act protection by mid-September.

Let’s hope that sound science wins out in this debate. We should appreciate the fact that the state of Montana and its department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks is working hard to protect species like the wolverine while providing a unique opportunity for limited harvest.

And as a Montana trapper, I can only hope that the opportunity to capture a wolverine remains on the horizon as I take to the forest in the coming years.