Unit 1 [PDF] - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

however, for trappers and hunters to police their own ranks and to help
enforcement officers by reporting violations. People who take furbearers
illegally are stealing from all citizens of the state.
Conservation and Trap Line Management
Furbearer regulations are established for the entire state, or for large regions
of Wisconsin depending on the species. Conditions vary within such large
areas, therefore, it is up to trappers to practice conservation on their own trap
line, and capture only a portion of the surplus. This sounds simple, but actually
is quite complicated because in many areas a number of trappers and hunters
are competing for the same resource. Fortunately, trapping and hunting tend
to be self limiting for many species. The time and effort required to take these
animals exceeds the benefit long before they are reduced to critically low
levels. For other species which are not so resilient, regulations have to be more
restrictive.
On private lands where trappers have exclusive or near exclusive trapping
privileges, individual trap line management is much more feasible. In these
areas the trapper can manage not only the harvest, but in many cases the habitat
as well. By doing so, the trapper can be assured of having a relatively high
sustained harvest year after year.
Regulated trapping provides many benefits for society. For example, they
help keep wildlife populations in balance with the environment or at acceptable
levels, reduce property damage, support broader conservation programs and
obtain many products for human use. While all of these are good reasons for
people to support regulated trapping, the future of these practices also depends
on their perceptions of trappers and their actions afield. Always think about the
Code of Trapping Ethics covered in Chapter 3.
Furbearer trapping is highly regulated and laws are enforced by trained
conservation officers. Laws that pertain to furbearer trapping help to:
1. Protect species from becoming threatened or endangered.
2. Improve animal welfare.
3. Prevent nontarget catches.
4. Limit furbearer trapping to the time of the year when furs are
marketable and young no longer depend on adult animals.
5. Monitor harvest levels by using mandatory registration for some
species, and harvest questionnaires for others.
6. Support habitat conservation and wildlife studies through license sales
and other fees.
7. Protect landowners’ rights and interests by requiring written
permission before setting capture devices.
Chapter 5 - Furbearer Management
FWS Photo
Biologist tracking wildlife.
Nicke Shumaker
Millions of Americans hunt and
trap.
Wisconsin Trapper Education Manual 54