Sensible Discussion on Missouri Furbearer Season Lengths

[ozarkmountainman]

I think the two discussions (shorter in front, longer at the back) have been independent of each other.

Steve says it all. And he's farther north- I don't think I've EVER trapped a bobcat that had prime FUR. Leather yes, but if you've never seen a March bobcat you'll know what I mean. Totally different animal than I've ever trapped or shot.

Dale

[trapshooter25]

Just leave it starting november 15 and if you dont want to trap during those five days you dont have to.

[trapshooter25]

I trap far up north and the creeks and ponds freeze over pretty quick leaving my water coon sets inoperable.

[pops]

Aug 9, 2014 15:23:20 GMT -6 trapshooter25 said:

Just leave it starting november 15 and if you dont want to trap during those five days you dont have to.

Not sayin it has to change, unless it would help us get the closing date on the end of Feb.  I just said the 20th would work for me since most of my spots are on private property and are hunted by the owners during the main deer season,  so they don't want their hunt disturbed by my trapping. Safer that way too. When I'm in the deer woods I wanna know when and where everyone is supposed to be so you wont be shootin at each other.

[vikesbull]

Aug 9, 2014 14:52:21 GMT -6 pops said:

Lets see, loose 5 days at the beginning of the season by starting on the 20th, GAIN 28 days at the end of the season.
Hmmm where I went to school that equals 23 more days to trap than we got now, so how is that shortening the season?

Push for extending the 28 and not giving up 5 on front.

If you don't want to trap the 15th (like me) then don't. But don't take it away from the people that do. There is no scientific reason to give up 5 days up front that I know of. In north Mo the 2x and bigger coon are ready by the 2nd week of Nov.

[krank]

Whats up with saying Joe and I want to shorten the season? I want February (or more) If I had to pick it would be at the end and not the beginning. If they opened the 15th then I wouldnt object but I wouldnt be out there either. I dont think the MDOC would go for both so I vote later. Actually, it is to the advantage of wildlife to keep the season open longer. Less predators to kill upland game.

[ozarkmountainman]

Makes sense? Did you actually say that? Wowwee.

Dale

[Walleye Joe]

I'll retract my statement about opening on the 20th. But I guess, like Krank, I have no objection to others wanting to start on the 15th either. Hell, make it Nov. 1st like Quail, crow, pheasants, etc. It would be easier to know when everything started. I didn't start last season until the 29th even though I was ready on the 15th. I'm not going to take those 3 to 5 dollar blue coons. I see no point in it! Unless you're just in it for the numbers.....

[krank]

No...I speak pretty plain. Go back and look. Fur season historically opens at midnight on Thursday before thanksgiving. Last year was messed up because Nov had 5 weekends.It opened early on the 15th. Looking at the regs this year they got it opening on the 15. Be happy. You gained ground.

[tjm]

Taking or giving away a day on either end is shortening the season, and there is never a guarantee that you can get it back or that it will be added to the other end. My thoughts are extend the time frame to the max and let trappers act like adults, chosing when and what.
If I were trapping ground that was managed by hunters who wanted certain days or weeks free from traps, I don't think it would be difficult for me to accomodate that regardless of the season dates. It's like not setting traps because of a job or an out of state trip; just leave the traps in the shed that week.
Any who trap too early or too late for a particular target should learn that it is money lost and correct their future behaviour.
fwiw, last year I started trapping on Dec. 28 , did butcher three coons killed hunting in first week of season and all were as prime as they get. Thanksgiving dinner.

[krank]

Thats cool. Dont care when it opens just wish it ran past Jan 31st. Every year, I am way back in the timber at a deer camp with no electricity or running water. I spend all season there. On opening night for fur (nov15 or 20 or 19th), here come the coon hunters through the holler. We sit by the fire and listen to the dogs. Off in the distance you see bits of lights. The hunters ride mules. If they tree near camp then I walk down there and watch. They know me and know I own the land. They ride on and cover alot of miles. After that night they dont come through again so I set a couple of traps on the way to my treestand. Just piddling and never catch much.
When I get back from deer camp then I load traps and hit it hot and heavy till season closes. I hate it when we get deep snows for weeks on end as I am just shut down. I know there are ways to trap in deep snow but I have to work full time so dont have time for that. I got a few sets I can have but otherwise it is just lost time. If its 10 below zero I dont think the statewide catch is as great as if it was 30 degrees. For that reason they out to lighten up and give us Feb.
I dont believe a longer season would endanger any populations just help out trappers. As far as fur buyers wanting it over, those days are gone as the NAFA and FHA auctions are way out in April-May.

[robertw]

We can not start later than the 15th on the north. Most years we have 10 days to two weeks and we are frpze up hard!

Some years we are froze out by Thanksgiving!

[robertw]

Our coon are ready by the 15th.

6 miles north of here across the Iowa line season opens the 1st Saturday in November. Over the years alot of well known Missouri trappers have trapped coons prior to our opening date of the 15th.

[robertw]

Starting any later than the 15th removes any chance of managing the wildlife resource in this end of the state.

Another major issue, THE MARKET for our coon meat is BEFORE Thanksgiving. This is the PEAK demand for coon meat and when it brings a premium.

[vikesbull]

The north Missouri guys have it good with Iowa opening before. That is where I hit it hard during firearm deer season. North Mo coon could easily start the 10th, the Iowa coon just over border are just fine by then.

[robertw]

Any attempt by the association to back up the opening date pf trapping season would cause a serious mutiny from ALL trappers in the top two tiers of counties across this state.

[krank]

Am I wrong in that Fur season always opened up in the middle of deer season which is the week before Thanksgiving?

[tjm]

So, for all you that trap muskrats; do you catch mink? And for the beaver men ever catch otter?

It was mentioned that otter can be somewhat advoided by trigger placement on 330s; does any one use footholds for beaver?

Will asking for a change bring better season dates or just different dates or possibly restricted dates?

If we ask for just a longer bobcat season will there be an incidental catch issue?

Someone mentioned that we should keep the discussion factual, I'm afraid I don't know many facts. Just opinion and emotions based my personal observations.
Has there been studies on numbers of incidental catch in different scenarios?
Could a dollar value be set on incidental waste?

[tjm]

krank, I don't remember fur season being tied to Thanksgiving or deer season, seems we always had a set date unlike deer season. Think it's Nov.15 for some years.
I think I can remember coon hunting before deer season a few times.

[krank]

Years ago, I picked a road killed coon up a week before season. Later in the year, I sold it green to Parmelee in Urich. He looked at me with one eye and said "Jumping the season are you ?" . Scared me to death like he was pyshic. Just blue....