Report Nr. 3236 1993-94 Michigan Furbearer Harvest

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.