8942997 total results

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.

Results of survey completed to determine the number of harvest tag holders who set traps for marten and fisher, the number of animals caught, types of traps used, and number of days spent trapping in 2011.

Extensive logging in the 1800's and subsequent fires plus heavy trapping through the 1920's led to the extirpation of the fisher (Martes pennanti) from its former range in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.). Fisher were reintroduced in the 1960's on the U.P.'s Ottawa National Forest. Fisher have become sufficiently abundant in Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Marquette. and Ontonagon counties to allow the Department of Natural Resources to permit a limited harvest. This was the third consecutive year with a legal trapping season for this species and resulted in a harvest of 67 fisher. In addition, six fisher were killed by vehicles, and eleven were accidentally trapped. Younger age classes were more susceptible to trapping with 41 of the 50 (82%) animals aged being 1.5 years old or younger. The collected animals exhibited a sex ratio of 194:100 (33:17) males to females.

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.

Results of the 2005 survey completed to determine the number of marten permit holders who set traps for marten, the number of marten caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days trapped.

Extensive logging in the 1800's, subsequent fires, and heavy trapping through the 1920's led to the extirpation of the fisher (Martes pennanti) from its former range in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.). Fisher were first reintroduced in the 1960's on the U.P.'s Ottawa National Forest. By 1989, they had become sufficiently abundant in all or parts of Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Marquette and Ontonagon counties to allow a limited harvest by trapping. In 1994, additional areas in Alger, Delta, Dickinson, Houghton, Keweenaw, Marquette and Menominee counties were opened to fisher trapping. Trappers were limited to 1 fisher from Unit B as part of their bag limit. Regulations remained the same in 1995. In 1996, the remainder of the Upper Peninsula, with the exception of Drummond Island, was added. The regulations remained unchanged in 1997 and 1998. Since the first trapping season, trappers have been required to submit to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) the skulls of fisher for examination and pelts for sealing. in 1999, there was a registered harvest of 291 fisher. One hundred and twenty males (55.0%) and 99 females (45.0%) were examined. Of the legally trapped fisher submitted for examination, 74.5% (164 of 220) were 1.5 years old or younger. By comparison, last year's fisher harvest consisted of 68.1% (226 of 332) yearlings and juveniles.

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.

Results of survey completed to determine the number of harvest tag holders who set traps for marten and fisher, the number of animals caught, types of traps used, and number of days spent trapping in 2013.

Results of survey to determine the number of harvest tag holders who set traps for marten and fisher, the number of animals caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days spent trapping in 2012.

Results of the research and survey carried out on fishers that were killed by motor vehicles or accidentally trapped during winter and spring 1984, 1985, and 1986.

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.

Results of the 2004 survey completed to determine the number of marten permit holders who set traps for martens and fishers, the number of martens and fishers caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days trapped.

Results of survey completed to determine the number of harvest tag holders who set traps for marten and fisher, the number of animals caught, types of traps used, and number of days spent trapping in 2009.

Results of the research and survey carried out on fishers that were killed by motor vehicles or accidentally trapped during the fall of 1985, spring, fall, and winter of 1986, and winter of 1987.

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.

A sample of furtakers was contacted after the 2003 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield, and furbearer harvests. In 2003, about 13,000 furtakers pursued furbearers, an increase of 7% from 2002. 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 2003 were within historical ranges, except for harvest of muskrats and raccoons. The number of muskrats taken by trappers was the lowest recorded since 1957, and the number of raccoons taken by hunters was the lowest 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 24% of trappers attempted to catch coyote or fox using snares, and 8% of trappers tried to catch beaver using snares set underwater. About 4% of bobcat hunters hired a guide to assist them while hunting bobcats. Nearly 59% of bobcat hunters used calls while hunting bobcats, and 45% of bobcat hunters used dogs.

Extensive logging in the 1800's, subsequent fires, and heavy trapping through the 1920's led to the extirpation of the fisher (Martes pennanti) from its former range in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.). Fisher were first reintroduced in the 1960's on the U.P.'s Ottawa National Forest. By 1989, they had become sufficiently abundant in all or parts of Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Marquette and Ontonagon counties to allow a limited harvest by trapping. In 1994, additional areas in Alger, Delta, Dickinson, Houghton, Keweenaw, Marquette and Menominee counties were opened to fisher trapping. Trappers were limited to 1 fisher from Unit B as part of their bag limit. Regulations remained the same in 1995. In 1996, the remainder of the Upper Peninsula, with the exception of Drummond Island, was added. The regulations remained unchanged in 1997 and 1998. Since the first trapping season, trappers have been required to submit to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) the skulls of fisher for examination and pelts for sealing. This year, 332 of the 455 (73.0%) legally trapped and registered fisher were examined at the Rose Lake Wildlife Disease Laboratory. 1n 1998, there were 195 males (58.7%) and 137 females (41.3%) examined. Of the legally trapped fisher submitted for examination, 68.1% (226 of 332) were 1.5 years old or younger. By comparison, last year's fisher harvest consisted of 69.7% (301 of 432) yearlings and juveniles.