It was November 18th and the first big snowstorm of the year was finally on its way. The wind was blowing hard from the southwest and a bank of clouds began to shroud the mountains. Since I’ve moved to Montana, it’s taken some time to adjust to a couple of things. One is the weather, which is more unpredictable than you can imagine. The other is the hunting season. With … [Read more...]
Back To Trapping
It’s been a long, productive hunting season in Montana thus far, but I finally decided to put the hunting rifle away and shift my focus to trapping. I’d been thinking of trapping for quite some time this fall, but while shooting, butchering and processing 7 deer, 2 antelope and an elk, there wasn’t much time to do anything else! The meat freezers are full, and it’s time to … [Read more...]
New Opportunities for Pennsylvania Trappers
This trapping season, Pennsylvania trappers will see increased opportunities to pursue bobcats and fishers, both species that have been expanding their numbers in the state. This year all trappers will be able to purchase a permit from the Pennsylvania Game Commission to harvest a bobcat, whereas they previously had to win the permit in a drawing. “Following careful review of … [Read more...]
Wolves Move Into Utah
As wolf populations continue to expand in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, wolves are beginning to move into many areas they were never expected to roam again. In anticipation of this, the state of Utah put together a wolf management plan several years ago to help guide decisions in the event that wolves moved into the state. Lots of people thought the folks in Utah were crazy, … [Read more...]
Minnesota Coyote Trapper Catches Wolf
A southeastern Minnesota trapper recently found a surprise while checking his coyote traps. A gray wolf, somewhat rare to that part of the state, was waiting for him in one of the traps. After contacting officials with the Minnesota DNR, the wolf was released unharmed. Read the story here. The fact that the wolf was released unharmed, while not a surprise, is what can be … [Read more...]
More on the Maine Lynx Lawsuit Resolution
Here's the press release from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: First Circuit United States Court of Appeals Upholds Maine’s Trapping Regulations The First Circuit United States Court of Appeals this week affirmed a lower federal court’s ruling that denied a request from two organizations seeking to permanently enjoin Maine’s trapping regulations. … [Read more...]
Maine Lynx Lawsuit Resolved
Here at TrappingToday, we've been following the Maine lynx lawsuit for quite some time. You can find background on the issue by visiting the lynx issues category page here. It finally appears that we have some closure to the issue and trappers, while having given up a lot in the process, have exited the process victorious over the animal rights activists. Here's an update … [Read more...]
Mountain Lions Moving East?
The Trapper and Predator Caller blog has an interesting recent post about mountain lion sightings increasing in areas where the species was thought not to exist. More and more sightings are adding to the evidence that the big cats may be expanding their range. I think it's cool that they may be moving back East where they once were common, but hope government regulations and … [Read more...]