Report Nr. 3480 2006 Michigan Furbearer Harvest Survey

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.