Trapping Threatened Again in New Mexico

Last summer, we covered a story about New Mexico governor Bill Richardson banning trapping in New Mexico’s Gray Wolf Recovery Area.

Then, we noted in November that research was underway to determine the affect of trapping on wolves.  Results of that research don’t seem to have surfaced yet,  but with a new governor and legislature in the state, Richardson’s ruling could potentially be overturned.

But now we hear that “conservation” groups want to ban trapping on ALL public lands in New Mexico.

Conservation groups want wildlife officials to ban all recreational and commercial trapping on public lands in New Mexico.

The request was made this week despite a recent recommendation that game commissioners reconsider a temporary trapping ban in place in southwestern New Mexico where Mexican gray wolves have been reintroduced. The suggestion came from a small business task force appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez.

Read the full story here.

You can also find coverage of the story from the Trapper and Predator Caller blog.

2011 Western States Fur Auction Brings Positive Results

The Montana Trappers Association held the Western States Fur Auction in Columbus, Montana this past weekend with extremely positive results.  The quantity of fur brought in for sale this year was much greater than that of the past two years, and almost everything sold at or near 100%.  Rumor has it that availability of fur in the country is down, leading to high demand.  Obviously, more folks elected to bring their furs to the WSFA this year in anticipation of better fur prices.

All fur was brought in before the deadline of noontime Saturday, and over half a dozen fur buyers made their way along the crowded tables in the fairgrounds building, inspecting and evaluating the quality of the hundreds of lots of fur.  The sale was done via silent auction and buyers’ bids were due by 5pm on Saturday.

After the bids were tabulated, sheets of paper with individual results were placed on several tables for trappers to examine the prices bid for their furs.  Like the others, I made my way through the small crowd to to see how my furs did.  All I can say is that I was VERY pleasantly surprised by the numbers.  Trappers were smiling all around.

Here’s a quick recap:

Coyotes were a hot selling item.  621 coyotes were offered, and 578 sold, at an average of $44.83.  It appears that the early demand for coyotes seen at the NAFA auction has continued.

Bobcats sold at 100% of the 132 offered, at an average of $572.21.  Looks like cat prices are back to the high levels of a couple years ago.

Muskrat averaged $5.28, which isn’t bad for western ‘rats.  Only a couple hundred were offered, and some appeared to be freezer ‘rats.  Mine were fresh and averaged over $6.25.

Raccoon (231 offered) averaged $18.92.

Marten averaged $35.85.  Some folks commented that this was a little lower than they’d received at NAFA.

Beaver averaged $14.41.  This item is still lagging.  Not many were offered, as I suspect people trapped very few beaver for fur this year.  I put a couple of large beaver in the sale that averaged $22.50.

Here are the rest of the averages:

Badger – $25.50

Red Fox – $31.22

Mink – $11.90

Otter – $46.63

Skunk – $7.80

Ermine – $2.31

Porcupine guard hair – $22.82

Beaver castor – $44.23

The Accomplished Muskrat Trapper

The Accomplished Muskrat Trapper was written by A.E. Schmidt in 1922.  Because of its age, the book’s copyright has expired and it is available for reading in the public domain.  Much of the information in this book is dated, but it can still provide some great insight into muskrat trapping in the past, and may include some valuable information for muskrat trappers today.  Plus, who can say no to a freely available book on trapping?

Click here to read “The Accomplished Muskrat Trapper”.

Reynolds on Lynx and the ESA

V. Paul Reynolds, outdoors columnist with Maine’s Lewiston Sun Journal, and editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal, wrote an engaging column about how the U.S. Endangered Species Act can make criminals of average folks.

William McCoy of Pennsylvania was sentenced to jail time for accidentally killing a Canada lynx in northern Maine and then, out of panic, attempting to cover it up.

As Reynolds points out:

Part of the problem is the Endangered Species Act itself. A “hanging judge” could technically have sent McCoy to a federal jail for six months and fined him $25,000. So Kravchuk can argue that her sentencing of trapper McCoy was reasonable and restrained.

He argues that biologically, the lynx population does not warrant protection under the ESA:

What she and the average citizen may not realize is that the lynx in Maine have substantially recovered to the point where federal protection has been unwarranted for some time now. In truth, the lynx remain federally protected by default: two years ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seriously considered delisting the Maine lynx. That never happened, not for biological reasons, but for lack of funding and staff. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist conceded as much during an interview with the Northwoods Sporting Journal.

In other words, the jailing of McCoy is, in effect, the product of governmental dithering and a law that has run amuck. Make no mistake, McCoy should have reported his incidental take of a lynx to authorities, and he should have been slapped with a fine. However, putting him behind bars for his mistake, especially in context of the bureaucratically delayed delisting of lynx, makes no sense at all. Judge Kravchuk’s threat to hand out longer prison terms to victimized ESA “miscreants” like McCoy, further marginalizes the credibility of the Endangered Species Act and, in some ways, raises questions about Judge Kravchuk’s capacity to exercise discretion in her rulings.

Read the column in its entirety here.

Montana’s Youth Trapper Camp Now Taking Applications

The Montana Youth Trapper Camp is now taking applications for its summer 2011 program.  The camp, sponsored by the Montana Trappers Association, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Montana 4-H, will take place June 9-11 at Beaver Creek Park, south of Havre.

The Youth Trapper Camp started in 2000, and has been a  huge success ever since.

Here’s some more basic info on the camp from the Montana Trappers Association:

Youth Trapper Camp – Who is YTC and What Does It Do?

First began as a tri-agency endeavor, the three-day camp which is held annually in the beautiful Bear Paw Mountains, south of Havre, Montana, has been incorporated in Montana as a non-profit educational organization.  The Internal Revenue Service has classified YTC as a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization which allows all contributions to be income tax deductible.

The annual camp has been held in the month of June, accommodations are semi-primitive, with attendees providing their own tents, campers, RV’s and personal items.  All meals, snacks, soft drinks and eating utensils are provided.

The camp is geared towards family participation.  Campers will attend classes on trapping methods, ethics, regulations, fur handling, health and safety.  Camp instructors come from the MTA education program, Montana 4-H program and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Funding for YTC comes from camp fees, YTC Membership Gifts, Individual and corporate donations, participation in the ‘Albertson’s Community Partners Program’, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks offers a $20 scholarship to the first 60 youth and YTC, Inc provides for the additional applicants who request help prior to April 15.

Who May Attend YTC

Any youth under the age of 18 years

Any youth 10 years of age and under must be accompanied by an adult

Any youth regardless of their race, religion or nation origin

Youth do not have to be a member of the MTA or enrolled in the 4-H program

Youth with special needs must be accompanied by an adult

Any person over the age of 18 years, may attend as a camper, chaperon or volunteer

Family participation is encouraged

Attendees are selected on a first come – first accepted basis

First year participants will attend 9 classes dealing with trapping basics, conservation, regulations, ethics, furbearer identification, safety and health

Returning participants will receive more intense hands-on training

Purpose and Goals of YTC

Teach the proper care, management, preservation and utilization of furbearers and other North American wildlife

Develop, promote and support educational programs for the wise use, management and conservation of furbearers

Inform and educate the public to more completely understand the problems of the wise use of furbearers

Stimulate public interest in furbearers

Promote environmental education, including the wise use and conservation of furbearers

Operate an annual camp which will fulfill the goals of YTC, Inc and benefit the general public

More on the history of YTC can be found here.

Trappers Misunderstood

James Foster of New Brunswick, Canada’s Times & Transcript newspaper wrote an excellent article on trapping after taking the Province’s sponsored trapping course for the first time himself.  Like James said, taking a trapping course can be a real eye opener to folks who otherwise aren’t familiar with the sport.

The course was more than informative – it was downright fascinating, offering keen insight into this age-old tradition that nowadays is carried on almost solely for the love of their craft. For sure, nobody’s trapping for the money or because it’s easy.

And by taking the time to learn about trapping, Foster came away with an enlightenment that I wish more people had.

Fur trapping has got to be the most misunderstood of all outdoor pursuits. Trapping is about as sustainable and renewable as it gets. Nothing is wasted in the taking of furbearing animals, and furbearers provide us with more than just clothing. The finest artists’ brushes come from furbearers. The best fishing flies, too. The cosmetics industry relies a lot on the fur industry, as do crafts people. The list goes on and on.

If I took away nothing else from the course, it’s that trapping requires a whole lot of knowledge, a ton of common sense and a sense of duty to our furbearing wildlife that goes far beyond that of the ordinary everyday citizen.

Foster provided a lot more great information on trapping and trappers in his column, which you can read by clicking here.

If more non-trappers would approach trapping with an open mind, they would come away with a much greater understanding of what it really means to trap.

What’s New on the Anti-Fur Front

As trappers, we should take the occasional time out to catch up on what’s happening in the fur industry.  Sure, the majority of trappers may not be in it for the money, but the reality is that without a market to sell our fur, it would be very difficult to keep trapping.  This is evidenced by the fact that lower fur prices lead to decreased trapping pressure on certain species.  And as we’re well aware, this often leads to overpopulation and damage problems from these species.

Fur prices are important to trappers.  They are important to me and other trappers I talk to.  They are also important to the people who visit TrappingToday.com.  The site has been getting a lot of traffic lately, and the majority of the people who get here from search engines like Google are seeking info on fur prices.  It just goes to show that people want to know what’s going on with the fur market.

While I wouldn’t go so far as to give animal rights activists too much credit for influencing fur prices (at least not yet), they sure can make waves in the fur industry.  Let’s take a quick look at some current events that may or may not impact the market for fur.

Truth in Fur Labeling Act

This bill, passed by the U.S. Legislature in 2010, will go into effect March 2011.  It closes a so-called loophole that did not require fur clothing items sold in small quantities or at low prices to be labeled.  For instance, a coat with a coyote-trimmed hood previously did not have to be labeled as containing coyote fur, but now it does.  This law seems like an attempt by the anti’s to reduce fur sales to people by making sure they know what they are buying contains real animal fur.  Personally, I think it will backfire on them.  I think lots of folks would actually prefer to wear real fur, and won’t be deterred from buying a coat once they know it contains fur.  Plus, it will provide an educational opportunity for folks who don’t know the importance that real fur plays in the garment trim trade.

Israeli Fur Ban

Sometime in early 2011, officials in Israel will vote on a proposal to ban all forms of fur and the fur trade in the entire country.  This seems like a goofy stance for a free country like Israel to have, but one must assume that the majority of people in the country have been disconnected from the use of fur for a long time.  The bill has been supported by celebrity activists like Pamela Anderson and Paul McCartney, who are using their fame to push the anti-fur agenda.  The Canadian fur industry has urged Israel to reconsider.  I have a hunch that the bill will pass.  Israel doesn’t play a big role in the world fur market, so if passed, it shouldn’t have a direct impact on demand.  The more important concern I see is the potential for a ripple effect that would encourage similar bans in other countries.

Stores That Have Stopped Selling Fur

Limited Brands, Wet Seal, Jones Apparel Group, Forever 21 and Papaya are all stores that have discontinued the sale of garments that contain fur.  Luckily for the fur industry, these are not really big retail players.  Supporters of trapping, the fur industry, and sound wildlife management can make a difference by boycotting these stores and purchasing items from stores that support the fur industry.  Writing letters of support to companies that sell real fur garments can help as well.  Many retailers have stopped selling real fur simply due to pressure from the Humane Society of the United States and PETA.  They are afraid of bad publicity.  If they knew they had support from a large number of Americans, they’d be more likely to stand up to these groups.

West Hollywood Fur Ban

This one seems like kind of a joke.  Activists and officials in ultra-liberal West Hollywood want to make it the first city in the U.S. to completely ban the fur trade.  The ban probably wouldn’t mean much – not many people sell or wear fur in the area.  If passed, it would only further solidify the city’s distance from reality.  Some folks are already starting to question the constitutionality of such a law.

Petition to Ban Fur in the EU

The change.org petition to ban fur in the European Union certainly isn’t the first one, and I can say with confidence that this will go nowhere.  While fur trapping isn’t as high-profile in Europe as it is in North America, the area dominates the ranched fur industry with its many fur farms.

Targeted Celebrities that Wear Fur

Animal rights groups continue to bash celebrities in the U.S. who choose to wear fur.  Unfortunately for them, however, the popularity of fur seems to be really growing.  Supporters of fur can thank bold celebrities that aren’t afraid to wear fur.  These include Jennifer Lopez, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aretha Franklin, Jessica Simpson, Goldie Hawn and daughter Kate Hudson, and yes, many in the not my favorite hip/hop-rap industry like Kanye West.

So there’s a recap on what’s been going on lately in the anti fur industry.  As trappers, we should keep an eye on current events that may have an impact on our trade, no matter how indirect they may be.  If you get the chance, take a minute to show your support for the fur industry that makes our way of living possible, and helps support regulated wildlife management throughout the developed world.

Winter 2011 Fur Market Report

The January fur sales at Fur Harvesters Auctions and North American Fur Auctions are completed and have provided valuable information going forward in this year’s fur market.

FHA held the first major auction of the year on January 7.  Prices were encouraging for most items, but the majority did not sell at 100%.

The hottest items at the FHA sale appeared to be bobcat (lynx cat), which sold at only 42%, but on averages of over $500, and coyote, selling at 50-86% and prices of $31-39.

Raccoons averaged $13-17.  Mink were $12 and otter $42.  Red fox was highly variable ($13-28).

The major disappointments of this sale were beaver and muskrat.  Beaver sold at 49-77% and prices of $10-20 on average.  Many of these are northern beaver pelts that sold for more than double these prices several years ago.  Beaver prices have been lagging and don’t look good going forward.

Muskrat prices were influenced by the lack of buyers from the Chinese market, which typically drives this item.  Muskrat sold at levels of 66-100% and averages of $5.90-7.49.  While these prices are much higher than just a couple of years ago, they represent a decline from the last auction, and indicate hesitant buyers.

Just two days after the FHA sale, North American Fur Auctions held its second annual internet auction.  This auction was started as an alternative to an on-site January sale that didn’t receive lots of demand.

As a result of the lower muskrat prices at the FHA sale, offers for muskrats at NAFA were relatively weak.  Given this, NAFA decided to withdraw the entire offering of over 104,000 muskrats and try selling them at the February auction.  NAFA is confident that this strategy will pay off in higher muskrat prices in the coming weeks.

Beaver sold better at NAFA, averaging around $21-27.  Most sold.

Raccoon sold at $14-21, at about 75% clearance.

Coyote seemed to be the real winner at this auction, selling 100% at averages of $22-51.  The western/heavy coyote pelts were the biggest surprise, averaging $51.21.  Canadian demand is driving this market.

The first two auctions of the year may have raised more questions than answers.  Will muskrat prices continue on their recent highs?  Will the improved coyote market continue?  Will beaver prices ever make a comeback?

You can click on the links below for detailed price reports:

FHA January 2011 Fur Sale

NAFA January 2011 Fur Sale

Stay tuned for the February auctions for more details on the 2011 fur market.

Bobcat Comeback in New Hampshire

Bobcats are making a comeback in New Hampshire.  After their pronounced decline into the 1980′s, the state placed protections on the once-common species that had then become rare.  Two decades of protection apparently helped the cat population, which seems to have made a great comeback.

In recent years, reports of bobcat sightings from all over the state seem to indicate that populations are on the rise.  The University of New Hampshire, in cooperation with the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department, is working on a research study to quantify the bobcat population in the state.

Many trappers, landowners and wildlife management supporters would like to see a controlled trapping season in the state that would regulate bobcat numbers while allowing the species to thrive.  This is done in most other states that have healthy bobcat populations.  Some environmentalists, already fearing a bobcat hunting or trapping season, have pulled people together to sign a petition to oppose such a season, which, as of now, has not been proposed.  I only have one question…….where is the petition to support NH researchers and wildlife managers to make decisions based on data?  I’d gladly sign.

Here are a couple of recent stories on the bobcat study:

Bobcats are Returning to the State

NH Officials Seek Public’s Help on Bobcat Study

Another N.C. County Pushes to Legalize Fox and Coyote Trapping

Fox and coyote trapping could soon become legal in Surry County, North Carolina.  County commissioners have approved a request to the state legislature to allow the activity.

Similar actions have taken place in Almance and Forsyth counties.  North Carolina has statewide trapping regulations, but counties have the ability to open or extend previously closed seasons by working with the state legislature.

Many local residents see the need for trapping to control predatory coyotes and foxes.  Trappers are welcoming the new season, which would allow them to help landowners control predator problems where they have thus far been restricted from doing so.

Read the local story here.

*Update: Rockingham County is looking at making similar changes to their trapping regulations.

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