MDC proposes expanding furbearer Hunting and Trapping Season

[Walleye Joe]

MDC proposes expanding furb.....


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Conservation Commission gave initial approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at its Dec. 10 open meeting on proposed regulation changes that would extend current furbearer hunting and trapping seasons for abundant furbearer species.

Furbearers are mammal species that have traditionally been trapped or hunted for their fur, such as coyotes, raccoons, and skunks. Many furbearers are also considered small game species, for which there are small game hunting seasons.

According to MDC, many furbearer populations have experienced long-term population increases, allowing for additional harvest opportunity. The Department has received input from a variety of stakeholders to provide additional opportunity through extension and adjustments of season dates for multiple furbearer species.

Furbearers play important ecological roles and trapping and hunting are critical wildlife management tools. MDC strives to provide the opportunity to harvest these species, while considering pelt-primeness during the fur-harvest season, desire for opportunity outside of the traditional fur-harvest season, the potential for conflict with other hunting seasons for other species, and landowner opportunity.

MDC’s Furbearer Program staff reviewed furbearer harvest seasons and worked to develop a regulatory framework that provides additional opportunity for harvest in response to stakeholder requests. Based on this review and stakeholder input, the following recommendations were developed for consideration:

Extending the hunting season and trapping season for bobcat, coyote, raccoon, opossum, striped skunk Nov. 15 to the last day of February.

Extending the trapping season for mink, muskrat, and river otter to Nov. 15 to the last day of February.

Establishing an early hunting and trapping season for raccoon and opossum to run Aug. 1 – Oct. 15.

Extending the trapping season on private land for coyote, raccoon, opossum, and skunk to March 1 – April 14.

The next step in the rulemaking process is for MDC to have a public comment period. MDC invites online review of the full regulation proposal and public comments Jan. 19 – Feb. 17 , 2022 at short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49.

Comments received during this period will be considered and final proposals will go to the Commission for further action at its March 25 meeting. If enacted, the changes will become effective June 30, 2022.

[bigbob]

Hmmmmm!

[segsarge]

So......dogs running coon (allegedly) during archery deer season is going to be OK? Yeah, I know the season is already open during a big part of the November firearms portion. But the fur is closer to being fully prime then. It's their way of opening a season for ADC trapping. And that's fine if you're that kind of trapper.

[bigjohn]

Until fur prices increase, it appears the only way to control numbers.

All those folks that said they don't trap for the money aren't trapping now.

[tjm]

Dec 10, 2021 18:48:57 GMT -6 segsarge said:

So......dogs running coon (allegedly) during archery deer season is going to be OK? .

It always has been. Archery Deer runs from late summer all the way through til spring, heck every other season is during archery.
It seems that most dogs allegedly running coons do it after dark too, so they should be safe from the archers.

Until China and Russia get things sorted out, ADC hunting and trapping is going to be the majority of all furbearer management. Americans only wear petroleum products, no fur or wool because an animal might get offended, so we will never have a domestic fur market again until the oil is all gone.

I'll mention it again too, no one is forced to trap blue coons just because the season is open, wait until they are past prime if you want. We are supposed to be able to think for ourselves and act responsibly, without a nanny.

[segsarge]

bigjohn is right about all those that said they don't trap for the money. They're nowhere to be found now. Trapping coon in August isn't for me. Heck, I'm fishing at that time of year. The best coon is in December, IMO. But, if it's all about management, MDC is going to have their say.
I've been watching the fur market for around fifty years now. Seen it run up and down for all kinds of reasons. A lot of it is purely political on their end as well as ours. Foreign economies have a huge impact on what sells and what doesn't. The domestic market hasn't been worth spit for decades. Lots of (stupid) reasons for that too. The anti-fur groups started it and fashion designers fell right in with them. Add in the out of touch snowflakes and you have the situation we have today.
There are way less trappers in the field taking way less animals. I feel it's strictly due to the market. We can all say the money doesn't matter. But what happens when there's not outlet for your fur at all? A person can only tan so much and the taxidermy market gets flooded fast. The wildlife still needs to be managed, but it's not happening. How long can you afford to continue with nothing in return?
ADC work is an alternative. It's not my favorite thing to do, but it does keep things going. If we're all going to be forced into ADC or nothing because of no market, my trapping will decrease a lot. Not saying I have to make a huge fur check. I realized that doesn't happen often long ago. But the fact that the animal is being used matters to me. That's why it's called a renewable resource. Guess I'm guilty of thinking for myself. I'll always trap, how much is going to depend on several factors though.

[silverfox]

Dec 10, 2021 13:54:07 GMT -6 Walleye Joe said:

MDC proposes expanding furb.....


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Conservation Commission gave initial approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at its Dec. 10 open meeting on proposed regulation changes that would extend current furbearer hunting and trapping seasons for abundant furbearer species.

Furbearers are mammal species that have traditionally been trapped or hunted for their fur, such as coyotes, raccoons, and skunks. Many furbearers are also considered small game species, for which there are small game hunting seasons.

According to MDC, many furbearer populations have experienced long-term population increases, allowing for additional harvest opportunity. The Department has received input from a variety of stakeholders to provide additional opportunity through extension and adjustments of season dates for multiple furbearer species.

Furbearers play important ecological roles and trapping and hunting are critical wildlife management tools. MDC strives to provide the opportunity to harvest these species, while considering pelt-primeness during the fur-harvest season, desire for opportunity outside of the traditional fur-harvest season, the potential for conflict with other hunting seasons for other species, and landowner opportunity.

MDC’s Furbearer Program staff reviewed furbearer harvest seasons and worked to develop a regulatory framework that provides additional opportunity for harvest in response to stakeholder requests. Based on this review and stakeholder input, the following recommendations were developed for consideration:

Extending the hunting season and trapping season for bobcat, coyote, raccoon, opossum, striped skunk Nov. 15 to the last day of February.

Extending the trapping season for mink, muskrat, and river otter to Nov. 15 to the last day of February.

Establishing an early hunting and trapping season for raccoon and opossum to run Aug. 1 – Oct. 15.

Extending the trapping season on private land for coyote, raccoon, opossum, and skunk to March 1 – April 14.

The next step in the rulemaking process is for MDC to have a public comment period. MDC invites online review of the full regulation proposal and public comments Jan. 19 – Feb. 17 , 2022 at short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49.

Comments received during this period will be considered and final proposals will go to the Commission for further action at its March 25 meeting. If enacted, the changes will become effective June 30, 2022.

Whether a conservationist or anti trapper, there is no doubt the egg eaters are running rampant. I have witnessed 51 coons being killed with fly bait around a small sweet corn patch, 18 coons in the back of the pickup tearing up a bag of range cubes, and walking a stretch of the local Jack's Fork River and not seeing a single sign of coon all during the same July of 2020. All ecologists and conservationists (trappers, hunters and educated non hunters) are aware of the importance of removing the surplus or watching it overpopulate and die off from starvation and disease. Deer and some of our furbearers would quickly overpopulate and disappear if not for folks like us. As a hunter, trapper, fur buyer, conservationist, farm boy, and nature enthusiast I understand how complex the issues of low fur markets and general lack of hunters and trappers are affecting our country. We have created a human controlled planet and must control certain species' populations in order to pass on a healthy place to future generations. Keep your ears to the ground.

[krank]

I can go on record saying I never said I didn't care about the money. I have always said there is more to it than just the money.
I plan on rat trapping. Theres a little money and glad to help an old friend (even though he is passed)
Not looking for any coons but I wouldnt throw one away. Make a wall hanger out of it. I would help a friend with a coon problem.
I shoot every coyote I see. Well I try to. I saw a yote Friday and wasnt going to chase after it. I saw it was mangy in the scope so I pulled the trigger on my .243.
I need to set my place for yotes but I need to talk to the new neighbors first. They need to understand my 56 acres is not a playground for their dumb dogs that live on two acres. Coyotes may not have a value right this minute but they will keep in a deep freezer.
I got my brother wanting beaver thinned but he dosnt want me in there right now.
With all that said, I will catch something this year and improve the world.

[segsarge]

Lots of mange in my area also. Seriously thinking of taking the 22-250 and a call later this week to try hunting some yotes. Heard them every night at deer camp. Wanted to trap that area for predators but work at the store is getting in the way again. I shoot every coyote I see also, but the bigger problem is the free roaming dogs. My property is ruined due to them (along with my poaching neighbors). They aren't running coon and a big percent of the time they are also running during the day. Not chasing rabbits since there's nobody around hunting with them. A problem MDC refuses to address.

[krank]

Years ago at the other house, I had trouble with road hunters. Local authorities said they could not do anything about it (lazy/ignorant). One day I got an idea, I called the 1-800-operation gamethief. The operator dispatched the Highway Patrol and everybody went to jail in ten minutes. Pretty cool.
Sarge-You could call that 1-800 on your neighbors but use a pay phone.

[bigbob]

Where are any pay phones anymore? Can't remember the last time I've seen one!

[krank]

I know. Just saying dont use your own phone

[bigbob]

Borrow one from a guy you don't like!

[segsarge]

Predator calling trip got sidelined by weather. High winds and downpour for a couple of days now. Weather clowns say at least another day of it. The free roaming dogs are a problem with no good solution. The ones I see in the NF are wearing collars, so they have to belong to someone. Cloe, the Great Prynes dog that tried to sit in my lap during deer season wasn't really a problem. Just a big friendly dog that happened to be wandering around. The others I see and hear are definitely running deer. And they're there most all the time (at least when I'm there). Even though I've not seen anyone killing deer over them, it's still a problem. The dog owners are at fault for letting them run. It's hard for me to dispatch a dog for just doing what comes natural to them. LE won't get involved. So much for the wildlife belonging to the state or everyone.
It's kind of a different mindset in this area. Lots of folks let their animals roam wild. They feed them when they come home, but might not see them for days at a time. If they fail to return, it's not a big deal they just get another one.

[krank]

Do like Big John and douse them with skunk essence.

[bigbob]

Dec 16, 2021 10:21:40 GMT -6 segsarge said:

Predator calling trip got sidelined by weather. High winds and downpour for a couple of days now. Weather clowns say at least another day of it. The free roaming dogs are a problem with no good solution. The ones I see in the NF are wearing collars, so they have to belong to someone. Cloe, the Great Prynes dog that tried to sit in my lap during deer season wasn't really a problem. Just a big friendly dog that happened to be wandering around. The others I see and hear are definitely running deer. And they're there most all the time (at least when I'm there). Even though I've not seen anyone killing deer over them, it's still a problem. The dog owners are at fault for letting them run. It's hard for me to dispatch a dog for just doing what comes natural to them. LE won't get involved. So much for the wildlife belonging to the state or everyone.
It's kind of a different mindset in this area. Lots of folks let their animals roam wild. They feed them when they come home, but might not see them for days at a time. If they fail to return, it's not a big deal they just get another one.

Or someone will just dump off a replacement for you!
It's against the law to shoot Deer that's being chased by a dog, and it's against the law to shoot dogs, so whachyagonnado?

[bigjohn]

Feral and free running dogs do a lot of damage to wildlife. They run deer until exhausted, push turkey off nest, and kill fawns. IMO every dog should have a collar or take a chance of being shot. f your dog isn't worth a collar.....well then.

[segsarge]

Yeah, it's a no win situation. Can't dose these dogs with skunk, they won't let you catch them.

[bigjohn]

Just this evening I drove down to a piece of property I've taken otters from the pond. I saw 2 dogs at the far end of the pond working a dozer pile. I could see they were excited trying to dig something out of it. I hollered at them and they took off full steam. I drove around to the next road where a house I thought was unoccupied and intercepted the two. I've never seen these dogs around before so I'll keep an eye out for them in the future. If caught ,they'll receive a dose of skunk essence.

[krank]

Back in the 70's, the locals down South told me the game warden would shoot dogs that ran deer and take the collar to the owner. I know they would not do that now but was it true back then?
Remember the court case of OLd Drum that happened here and was a nationwide news topic?

Best bet is inform the owner first and go from there. If the owner is irresponsible then I can be irresponsible too.