Though they have declined significantly over the years, fur farms still make up a huge part of the fur industry. Most of the farms raise mink or foxes. Only two bobcat fur farms are known to exist in the world, and one of them is soon to be in Montana. Here's the story: Bobcat fur farm moves to Fergus County Larry Schultz inspects one of the pens in the … [Read more...]
The Flag Tape Muskrat Set
The other day I was watching a Youtube video on muskrat trapping and saw a set I'd never seen before. The young trapper in the video made a baited set with a 110 conibear, but it wasn't bait he used on the trigger - it was a piece of flagging tape. The tape works as a visual attractor and its bright color resembles some sort of food under the water. I found it hard to … [Read more...]
Judge Upholds Idaho’s Wolf Trapping Program
In a recent district court case, judge Edward Lodge rejected an environmentalist challenge to the state of Idaho's wolf management program that includes trapping two packs of wolves in the Frank Church Wilderness. Basically, the state wanted to trap two wolf packs that were impacting the elk herd. Defenders of Wildlife sued, and the judge ruled in favor of the state. It's an … [Read more...]
Improving Marten Habitat With Nest Boxes
The recovery success story of the wood duck in North America hinged on agencies and volunteers putting up countless nesting boxes to fill a crucial habitat need that was keeping duck densities lower than they could have otherwise been. It worked amazingly well for ducks. Could something similar work for the American marten - a popular furbearer whose numbers have declined in … [Read more...]
Alberta Trappers Assist Wolverine Research
Up in Alberta, local trappers are helping with an ambitious research project aimed at learning more about wolverines and their habitat. The Alberta Trappers Association approached researchers with the hopes of learning more about the elusive furbearers that play an important role on the bush trapline. Here's an excerpt. Jokinen has been involved with the wolverine project … [Read more...]
Wolf Hunting, Trapping to Begin in Wisconsin
In addition to Idaho, Montana and Minnesota, trappers will likely be able to pursue wolves in Wisconsin this fall. Recent wolf delisting by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has turned over wolf management to the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Wisconsin season would include managed hunting and trapping, with a goal to reduce the wolf population to a more publicly … [Read more...]
Montana, Minnesota to Open Wolf Trapping Seasons
Recent developments within the Minnesota legislature and the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will allow the public to trap for wolves in the two states for the first time in decades. Wolf management was transferred from the federal government to the state of Minnesota in January when the population was removed from the Endangered Species List. The state is now … [Read more...]
North Dakota Trapper Targets Muskrats
Muskrat trapping is a lot of fun. And it's becoming more rewarding with increasing pelt prices over the past couple of years. But for most trappers, the experience trumps the financial considerations of trapping. Nat Bornsen is a North Dakota trapper who targets muskrats. Click here to read Nat's story. … [Read more...]