Report Nr. 3421 2003 Michigan Furbearer Harvest Survey

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.