8922417 total results

This report presents estimates of trapper catch and estimates of pelt values of some of Michigan's important furbearers for the 1983-84 trapping seasons. Presented is the number of animals trapped. average pelt price, and estimated total harvest values.

At the end of the 1993-94 furharvester seasons 755 license buyers were mailed a questionnaire asking for the results of their hunting and trapping efforts. Those who failed to respond to the original mailing were sent up to three reminders. A total of 516 questionnaires were returned for an adjusted response rate of 72 percent. The number of Fur Harvester licenses sold was below 10,000 for the first time since the license was issued in 1986. An estimated 7,680 individuals (78%) hunted or trapped furbearing animals using one of the three license types. Approximately three fifths of these individuals (4,686) used traps while 5,163 hunted furbearers. The majority of raccoon, coyote, and bobcat were taken by hunters, while trappers took a greater number of opossum, skunk, weasel, and fox. The only legal means of take for muskrat, beaver, otter, fisher, and badger is trapping. Harvests of all species except otter were lower than 1988-89 estimates.

The Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan supports numerous furbearer species, and the Department of Natural Resources is charged with managing the "Endangered" but rapidly recovering gray wolf (Canis lupus), the reintroduced fisher (Martes pennanti) and marten (M. americana), the Federally regulated bobcat (Lynx rufus) and river otter (Lutra canadensis), and a number of other furbearers of varying status. Harvest information and physical data have been collected as part of the registration process for fisher, bobcat, river otter, badger, and incidental marten captures. Furbearer Winter Track Count Surveys have been attempted in the UP since 1996, and formal summaries of the results of the surveys conducted in 1998-2000 were reported. A winter track count approach was selected, because many of the species of greatest concern are active on the surface of the snow during winter, and suitable snow tracking conditions in the UP normally extend from late January until early April. Routes were surveyed 1-3 days after a marker snow, and data from 11 furbearers and 5 other species of interest were collected. Marten tracks were found along 48% of the segments surveyed in 2001. The coyote (Canis latrans) was the most widely distributed furbearer, leaving tracks along 78% of the segments surveyed. The Lagomorphs (snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus and cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus floridanus) were the most widely distributed species group, being detected along 75% of the segments surveyed.

Results of a survey of furbearers in the Upper Peninsula, conducted in 1999. The Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan supports numerous furbearer species, and the Department of Natural Resources is charged with managing the "Endangered" but rapidly recovering gray wolf (Canis lupus), the reintroduced fisher (Martes pennanti) and marten (M. americana), the Federally regulated bobcat (Lynx rufus) and river otter (Lutra canadensis), and a number of other furbearers of varying status. Reliable and efficient methods to census these furbearers currently do not exist.

Report of a survey of a sample of furtakers contacted after the 2010 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests.

At the end of the 1988-89 fur harvester season 1,980 license buyers were mailed a questionnaire asking for the results of their hunting and trapping efforts. In 1988-89, the numbers of both hunters and trappers were down from the previous season. The number of individual trappers (6,700) declined 41 percent compared to last year, while the number of hunters (7,650) pursuing furbearers dropped 30 percent. This was the first time since the issuance of furharvester licenses (1986) that hunters outnumbered trappers. Three years of trapping/hunting responses from past fur harvest questionnaires indicate that the majority of raccoon, coyote. and bobcat are taken by hunters, while trappers consistently take a greater number of mink, opossum, skunk, weasel, and fox. The only legal means of take for muskrat, beaver and otter is trapping. In general, fewer trappers took fewer numbers of furbearers during the 1988-89 seasons compared to the previous year: only increased numbers of beaver, weasels, and coyotes were trapped. Decreased harvest was also reported by hunters. The only significant increase in harvest was recorded for gray fox: although hunter rates of weasels and bobcat were up slightly.

Outline of talk given at the Izaak Walton League generally summarizing the game situation of various wildlife.

This report presents estimates of trapper catch of some of Michigan's important furbearers for the 1980-81 trapping seasons. The estimates are generated from responses to mail survey questionnaires. Presented for comparison are the results of similar mail surveys conducted after the 1969-70 and 1970-71 seasons. The species included in this report are the muskrat (Ondatra zibethica) , mink (Mustela vison), raccoon (Procyon lotor), opossum (Didelphis marsupialis), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), weasels (Mustela sp.), red fox (Vulpes fulva), and coyote (Canis latrans). Estimates for beaver (Castor canadensis), river otter (Lutra canadensis), and bobcat (Lynx rufus), are available from mandatory registration counts.

Report on a study of coyote food habits by following trails in the snow.

A random sample of archers was contacted prior to the 2003 archery deer hunting season and asked to record numbers and types of furbearers observed while deer hunting during the early archery season (October 1-November 14). The most frequently observed furbearers were raccoon and coyote. Indices for the muskrat populations were highest in the southern Lower Peninsula (SLP), and indices for wolves, fisher, and moose were highest in the western Upper Peninsula (WUP). Confidence limits associated with statewide indices usually were >30% of the estimate for most species. Consequently, comparisons made using these indices must be viewed cautiously. Increasing the sample size from 400 to 3,000 would be expected to reduce the confidence limits of the indices to about 20% of the statewide index for the common species.

A sample of furtakers was contacted after the 2005 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests. In 2005, about 13,200 furtakers pursued furbearers; a decrease of 3% from 2004. About 33% of the license buyers trapped (6,959 trappers), 44% hunted (9,333 hunters) and 14% both trapped and hunted (3,058 furtakers) during 2005. The species most frequently pursued by trappers were raccoons, coyotes, and muskrats. Hunters most commonly sought coyotes, raccoons, and red fox. Harvest levels of most furbearers in 2005 were within historical ranges, except for coyotes. The number of coyotes taken by hunters was the highest recorded since 1980. Trends in harvest are affected by both changes in furtaker and furbearer numbers; thus, harvest per furtaker was also examined for trends. The mean number of raccoon and opossum taken per furtaker has increased since the 1980s. The mean harvest of coyotes per hunter has increased since the mid-1980s, while the mean harvest of red fox by both hunters and trappers has declined during this same period. These trends suggest raccoon, opossum, and coyote may have been increasing in abundance during the last 20 years, while red fox numbers may have been declining. An estimated 770 trappers caught 4,468 beaver through the ice during the 2005 season. Furthermore, about 894 trappers caught 2,746 beaver during April 2006. An estimated 91% of trappers that tried to catch coyote or fox used foothold traps. About 29% of coyote and fox trappers used snares in their attempt to catch coyote or fox.

Report of a survey of a sample furtakers contacted after the 2012 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests.

The Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan supports numerous furbearer species, and the Department of Natural Resources is charged with managing the "Endangered" but rapidly recovering gray wolf (Canis lupus), the reintroduced fisher (Martes pennanti) and marten (M. americana), the Federally regulated bobcat (Lynx rufus) and river otter (Lutra canadensis), and a number of other furbearers of varying status. Harvest information and physical data have been collected as part of the registration process for fisher, bobcat, river otter, badger, and incidental marten captures. Furbearer Winter Track Count Surveys have been attempted in the UP since 1996, and formal summaries of the results of the surveys conducted in 1998-2001 were reported. A winter track count approach was selected, because many of the species of greatest concern are active on the surface of the snow during winter, and suitable snow tracking conditions in the UP normally extend from late January until early April. In 2001, survey routes were redefined as a single stretch of road or trail with minimum right-of-way improvement, approximately 8 km in length. Most of the former route "segments" were designated as "routes", individual routes were surveyed as time and snow conditions permitted, and routes became the sampling unit from which data were analyzed. Ninety-three routes were surveyed in 2002 and routes were surveyed 1-3 days after a marker snow. Data from 9 of 11 furbearers and 4 of 5 other species of interest were collected along the 744.8 km of roads and trails surveyed. Marten tracks were found on 41% of the routes surveyed in 2002. Coyote (Canis latrans) was the most widely distributed furbearer, leaving tracks along 74% of the routes surveyed. Lagomorphs (snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus and cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus floridanus) were more widely distributed, being detected along 81% of the routes surveyed.

A survey of furtakers was conducted following the 1997-2000 hunting and trapping seasons to determine the number of participants, days afield, and furbearer harvests.

Guide to trapping coyotes.

The Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan supports numerous furbearer species, and the Department of Natural Resources is charged with managing the "Endangered" but rapidly recovering gray wolf (Canis lupus), the reintroduced fisher (Martes pennanti) and marten (M. americana), the Federally regulated bobcat (Lynx rufus) and river otter (Lutra canadensis), and a number of other furbearers of varying status. Harvest information and physical data have been collected as part of the registration process for fisher, bobcat, river otter, badger, and incidental marten captures. Furbearer Winter Track Count Surveys have been attempted in the UP since 1996, and formal summaries of the results of the survey conducted in 1998 and 1999 were reported. A winter track count approach was selected, because many of the species of greatest concern are active on the surface of the snow during winter, and suitable snow tracking conditions in the UP normally extend from late January until early April. Routes were surveyed 1-3 days after a marker snow, and data from 11 furbearers and 5 other species of interest were collected. Marten tracks were found along 48% of the segments surveyed in 2000. The coyote (Canis latrans) was the most widely distributed furbearer, leaving tracks along 78% of the segments surveyed. The Lagomorphs (snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus and cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus floridanus) were the most widely distributed species group, being detected along 79% of the segments surveyed.

Report on territories of coyote and wolf in the Upper Peninsula.

Furtakers were surveyed following the 2002 hunting and trapping seasons to determine the number of participants, days afield, and furbearer harvests. In 2002, about 12,000 furtakers pursued furbearers, approximately the same as in 2001. The species most frequently pursued by trappers were raccoons, muskrats, coyotes, and opossum. Hunters most commonly sought coyotes and raccoons. Harvest levels of most furbearers in 2002 were within historical ranges except for coyote. A record high number of coyotes was taken by trappers in 2002. Trends in harvest are affected by both changes in furtaker and furbearer numbers; thus, harvest per furtaker was also examined for trends. The mean number of raccoon and opossum taken per furtaker has increased since the 1980s. The mean harvest of coyotes per hunter has increased since the mid-1980s, while the mean harvest of red fox by both hunters and trappers has declined during this same period. These trends suggest that raccoon, opossum, and coyote may have been increasing in abundance during the last 20 years, while red fox numbers may have been declining.

Report of survey of a sample of furtakers contacted after the 2009 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests.

Report of survey of a sample of furtakers contacted after the 2008 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests.

Report of a survey of furtakers contacted after the 2011 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort) and furbearer harvests.