Report Nr. 3472 2005 Michigan Furbearer Harvest Survey

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.