8952361 total results

A sample of furtakers was contacted after the 2004 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests. In 2004, about 13,600 furtakers pursued furbearers; an increase of 4% from 2003. About 33% of the license buyers trapped (6,923 trappers), 47% hunted (10,071 hunters) and 16% both trapped and hunted (3,356 furtakers) during 2004. 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 2004 were within historical ranges, except for coyotes. The number of coyotes taken by both hunters and trappers 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 that 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 23% of trappers used snares to catch coyote or fox, and about 6% of trappers attempted to catch beaver using snares in underwater sets.

During the fall of 1981, skulls from 63 coyotes trapped in Michigan's Wildlife District 7 were submitted for age determination and physical measurements. This information was tabulated and the data summarized by sex and age class. The sex ratio of the coyotes collected was 30:31, males to females, with juveniles comprising 70% of the total.

This report presents estimates of trapper catch of some of Michigan's important furbearers for the 1981-82 trapping seasons. Presented for comparison are the results of similar mail surveys conducted after the 1970-71 and 1980-81 seasons. No mail surveys were conducted or estimates available during the nine year interim period because of rapidly increasing numbers of sportsman's license holders who were authorized to trap during that time period. 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), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), coyote (Canis latrans), bobcat (Lynx rufus), beaver (Castor canadensis), and river otter (Lutra canadensis).

Report on a systematic investigation into the various roles predatory mammals play and their values in Michigan.

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.

Comments on the 1950-1951 kill by hunters and trappers of most species (not including pheasants and deer).

At the end of the 1996-97 fur harvester seasons, 977 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 775 questionnaires were returned for a response rate of 79 percent. The number of Fur Harvester licenses sold in 1996-97 increased 22 percent from 1995-96. An estimated 10,947 individuals (81%) hunted or trapped furbearing animals using one of the five license types. Approximately sixty percent of these individuals (6,575) used traps while sixty-four percent (7,061) hunted furbearers. Of those participating in the season, twenty four percent (2,689) both hunted and trapped furbearers. The majority of raccoon, coyote, and bobcat were taken by hunters, while trappers took a greater number of opossum, skunk, weasel, and fox. Trapping is the only legal means of take for mink, muskrat, beaver. otter, fisher, and badger. Based on days of effort, raccoon and muskrat were the primary targets of trappers, while hunters put their greatest effort toward the pursuit of raccoon and coyote. Harvests of coyote and bobcat by both hunters and trappers increased from 1994-95 to 1996-97. Coyote harvest increased four-fold for hunters and doubled for trappers during that period. Bobcat harvest increased by 6 percent for hunters and 10 percent for trappers during the same period. Dramatic changes in harvests from 1994-95 to 1996-97 also occurred for raccoon, opossum, and fox. Raccoon and opossum trapping harvest increased by 30 percent during that period, while red fox trapping harvest decreased by 36 percent. Red fox hunting harvest tripled and gray fox hunting harvest increased by 81 percent during that same period, while opossum hunting harvest decreased by 96 percent.

Report summarizing predatory animal damage complaints in 1949.

A survey of furtakers was conducted following the 2001 hunting and trapping seasons to determine the number of participants, days afield, and furbearer harvests.

Report on a survey done to estimate the number of trappers that used foothold traps and snares to catch fox or coyotes and determine their trapping effort and harvest of fox and coyotes. In addition, trappers were asked to report the types and number of animals besides coyote and fox that were captured in foothold traps and snares.

Report on the situation of coyotes and wolves in Michigan focused on methods, costs and needs for control.

A sample of furtakers was contacted after the 2006 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests. In 2006, about 15,000 furtakers pursued furbearers; an increase of 14% from 2005. About 37% of the license buyers trapped (8,793 trappers), 43% hunted (10,183 hunters), and 16% (3,925) both trapped and hunted. Trapper numbers increased 26% and hunter numbers increased 9% between 2005 and 2006. Changes for days of effort by hunters and trappers between 2005 and 2006 generally followed changes in the number of furtakers. Hunters most commonly sought coyotes, raccoons, and red fox. The species most frequently pursued by trappers were raccoons, muskrats, and coyotes. Although participation and effort increased between 2005 and 2006 for most species, harvest increased only for raccoons and muskrats. Only harvest for otter declined significantly between 2005 and 2006. Harvest levels of all furbearers in 2006 were within historical ranges. Trends in harvest can be 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 92% of trappers that tried to catch coyote or fox used foothold traps. About 29% of coyote and fox trappers used snares in their attempts to catch coyote or fox. Overall, about 25% of active trappers and hunters were members of a furbearer hunting or trapping organization in 2006. If the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) developed a voluntary trapper education course, nearly 50% of furtakers indicated that would be interested in participating.

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

Report summarizing complaints of damage caused by predators in 1947.

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.

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.

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. In addition to this, unusually mild winter weather, attributable to the EI Nino climatological phenomenon, minimized survey opportunities during February and March. Thirteen of the 20 routes assigned were surveyed, and 10 of the 13 routes attempted were completed. The Western UP Management Unit completed all or most of 11 of 12 routes assigned. The Research Section completed two routes in the central UP, and the Eastern UP Management Unit completed 0 of 6 routes assigned. Therefore, the results of this survey in 1998 were derived only from the western two-thirds of the UP. Data acquired indicates that coyote (Canis latrans) and wolf abundance may have increased between years in the areas surveyed. Fisher, fox, hare/rabbit (Lepus americanus and Sylvilagus floridanus), and grouse abundance may have decreased, while marten and bobcat numbers showed little change.

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.