Article published November 06, 2009
Trapping for furbearers starts soon
If you ever had the bank of a marsh dike, or one on a farm pond, collapse from the burrowings of muskrats or ever have had to confront a hissing, misbehaving raccoon in broad daylight in the backyard, you will understand the necessity of what happens on Tuesday.
That is the opening of the annual trapping and hunting seasons for furbearers in Ohio, including the aforementioned muskrats and raccoons, both of which can reach pest levels of overpopulation in the absence of the "predator effect" of hunting and trapping.
Ohio is among the nation's leading producers of raw furs. Currently, the state has 52 licensed fur dealers and more than 17,000 licensed fur takers in the state. Know, too, that life has been sweet for the state's furbearer species.
"Food sources and habitat conditions for furbearers have been good this year across Ohio," said Suzie Prange, wildlife biologist with the Division of Wildlife. "Fur takers can expect a good season."
For the fifth year, 43 counties will be open for river otter trapping from Dec. 26 to Feb. 28. River otters were reintroduced into four Ohio watersheds between 1986 and 1993 and have increased their range in the state. They were removed from the state endangered species list in 2002. Full details of open counties, checking and permit requirements can be found in the digest, Ohio River Otter Trapping Regulations.
In most regions of Ohio, hunting and trapping seasons for fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk and weasel open Tuesday and close Jan. 31. The trapping season for mink and muskrat is open Tuesday through Feb. 28. Exceptions are Erie, Ottawa and Sandusky counties, and in Lucas County east of the Maumee River, where raccoon, opossum, skunk, weasel, mink and muskrat trapping seasons will remain open through March 15.Ohio's beaver-trapping season runs Dec. 26 to Feb. 28, statewide.
There are no daily bag limits or restrictions on hours when furbearers may be hunted or trapped, with the exception of river otters, where bag limits are dependent on the county where the trapping occurs. Special hunting regulations for coyotes apply during the one-week statewide deer-gun season Nov. 30 through Dec. 6, and the deer-gun weekend of Dec. 19 and 20.
A fur-taker permit is required in addition to a valid Ohio hunting license to hunt or trap fur-bearing animals, except for coyotes, which may be hunted or trapped year round without a fur-taker permit. A special permit is required to trap beaver and otters on state public hunting areas.
Otters that are accidentally captured, either in excess of bag limits or in closed counties, must be released unharmed. Otters that cannot be released must be turned over to the division of wildlife.
Beaver trappers in particular, are advised to watch for otter sign and modify set placements where necessary. The Ohio State Trappers Association and the division of wildlife have published a guide on how to recognize otter sign and use various otter avoidance techniques while trapping for beaver in areas closed to otter trapping. A copy of the publication and reports about observing otters in Ohio can be ordered by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.
Additional hunting information is contained in the digest, 2009-2010 Ohio Hunting Regulations, available where Ohio hunting licenses are sold, online at wildohio.com, or by calling toll-free 1-800-WILDLIFE.
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Muzzleloader hunters took 474 deer during the early muzzleloader deer hunt, the Ohio Division of Wildlife said.
The bag tallied 271 deer at Salt Fork State Wildlife Area, 159 deer at Wildcat Hollow State Wildlife Area, and 44 deer at Shawnee State Forest. During last year's early muzzleloader hunt, hunters took a total of 568 deer for the season; 315 deer at Salt Fork, 162 at Wildcat Hollow, and 91 at Shawnee.
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ON THE WEEKEND: Tomorrow and Sunday, Maumee Valley Gun Collectors, Woodland Exhibition Center, Woodland Mall, 1234 North Main St. [State Rt. 25], Bowling Green, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Sunday, auto tour, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 14000 West State Rt. 2, Oak Harbor, call the refuge 419-898-0014.
Contact Steve Pollick at:
spollick@theblade.com
or 419-724-6068.
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