Get ready, Montana trappers! The land trapping season for protected furbearers begins on December 1. Here’s a press release from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks:
Land furbearer trapping seasons open December 1 across much of Montana for bobcat, marten, fisher, and wolverine. Trappers after bobcat and wolverine must purchase their license by Tuesday, November 30.
For bobcat, each Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks region has a specific quota as well as a per-trapper limit. The total quota for Montana is 2,175 bobcats.
Trappers must personally report their bobcat harvest to FWP within 24 hours, and must present the pelt for tagging within 10 days after harvest.
Bobcats may also be hunted with or without the use of dogs; the same reporting and tagging requirements apply. The season extends until quotas are reached or through February 15 in Regions 1, 2, and 3, and through March 1 in Regions 4, 5, 6, and 7.
For marten, trappers must personally present marten pelts to a FWP representative for tagging within 10 days of the close of the season. The marten trapping season extends until February 15 in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
For fisher and wolverine, very restricted trapping seasons exist. The total fisher quota is seven, and only open in Regions 1 and 2. The wolverine quota is five, and open only in three of four wolverine management units.
Both species have female sub quotas. Special restrictions exist for trappers pursuing land furbearers in Regions 1 and 2 to avoid incidental capture of lynx.
Regulated trapping in Montana is managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks through scientifically based regulations that sustain furbearer populations. FWP and the FWP Commission continually review and refine those regulations to ensure the use of best management practices for trapping activities.
Licensed trappers also provide FWP with important information that assists with wildlife management programs across the state.
Trapping has been underway since Nov. 1 for water species including muskrat, mink, beaver, and otter. Now that pelts are prime, trappers are also pursuing predator and nongame species such as coyote and red fox.
NEW INFORMATION SHEET AVAILABLE ON WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT & REGULATED TRAPPING
Regulated trapping in Montana is managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks through scientifically based regulations that sustain furbearer populations. FWP and the FWP Commission continually review and refine those regulations to ensure the use of best management practices for trapping activities. Licensed trappers also provide FWP with important information that assists with wildlife management programs across the state.
A new information sheet, Wildlife Management and Regulated Trapping in Montana, addresses trapping’s time-honored tradition in Montana, laws and regulations, the role of trappers in providing information on furbearers, wildlife management and sustainability, trapping ethics, trapper education, avoiding non-target catches, and human and pet safety.
The pamphlet is available at all FWP offices beginning Friday, November 26.
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