Pennsylvania outdoor writer Ron Tussel recently authored a great article on trapping in the state.
Trapping has had some bad press in the past, spurred and funded mostly by anti-fur and animal rights groups. Trapping, in fact, is highly regulated and foot-hold traps must not surpass a jaw width of 6.5 inches in Pennsylvania.
Foot-hold traps are designed to restrain an animal. Traps are sized according to the targeted species, so as not to cause undue damage and permit release of unwanted animals. For instance, a trap used to catch coyotes would be larger and stronger than a trap used to catch muskrats.
A trapper often has the option to release an animal of smaller size or non-target species by restraining the animal with a catch pole or similar device and opening the trap. A trapper must know and study each animal they wish to harvest.
Click here to read the full article on Pennsylvania fur trapping.
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