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Furbearer trapping course scheduled in Coeur
d'Alene
for January 16-17 |
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December 11, 2014 |
Much of Idaho's history from the early 1800s is
linked to trapping. For those who are interested
in pursuing modern-day trapping in Idaho, Fish
and Game is offering an introductory course in
trapper education.
Many of the first Europeans to settle in
northern Idaho came to the area to trap
furbearing animals. Fur was traded for supplies
and used to make coats, hats, gloves and other
articles of clothing.
Hats made of beaver felt were the height of
practical fashion in colonial America and
western Europe in the late 1700's and early
1800's. The demand and lack of regulations
resulted in overharvest of beavers in the
eastern United States and eastern Canada.
Trappers came westward into what is now Idaho.
Beaver trappers and fur traders played a
significant role in Idaho history.
In 1809, the first European structure in Idaho
was built near Lake Pend Oreille for the
Northwest Fur Company. By 1811, four fur
companies were in business in Idaho including
the widely-known Hudson Bay Company.
Between 1818 and 1827, 85,000 beavers were
trapped in the Snake River drainage alone. By
1899, unregulated harvest reduced beaver
population levels to the point that hunting and
trapping of beavers was closed for the first
half of the 20th century. Thanks to beaver
reintroductions, transplants and protection
provided by Idaho Conservation Officers, all
funded by purchase of hunting and trapping
licenses and equipment, beavers were again
flourishing and the trapping season was reopened
in 1957.
Furbearer populations are now closely monitored.
Open and closed seasons are established for
trapping and hunting to provide a sustainable
and renewable surplus that allows for an annual
harvest of most species.
The list of species currently classified by
Idaho as ‘furbearers' includes marten, fisher,
mink, otter, beaver, muskrat, bobcat, lynx, fox
and badger. Fisher and lynx are protected and
cannot be trapped or hunted. Bobcat and fox may
be trapped and hunted. Otters may only be
trapped until regional quotas are met. Wolves
are not classified as furbearers. They are
considered big-game animals, but may be trapped
and hunted.
Trappers in Idaho must be licensed and are
highly regulated. All traps must bear the name
or trapper identification number of the person
using the trap, and all traps must be checked
every 72 hours.
To be a responsible trapper, it must be
remembered that although a trap in a specific
size may be legal and appropriate in backcountry
areas, it could very well be inappropriate to
use in areas where other people recreate. In
1996, The Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies conducted extensive research into
trapping. The organization established Best
Management Practices (BMP's) for trapping of
each species of furbearers. The purpose was to
minimize conflicts among various recreationists
where trapping occurs. These BMP's are readily
available online. Studying the BMP's will help
you understand where certain traps can be
responsibly used.
Most trapping seasons in Idaho opened November
1. However, the bobcat trapping and hunting
seasons open December 14. All trappers are
encouraged to respect other outdoor
recreationists by recognizing areas that are
frequently used for hiking and dog walking, and
taking appropriate measures to ensure that
conflicts between recreationists, pets and traps
are avoided.
With the increased worldwide demand for furs in
recent years and the resulting increased market
value, the incentive for new trappers to take up
the activity has increased. Idaho Fish and Game
created a voluntary trapper education program to
help educate the new trappers. The goal is to
promote safe, effective, and ethical trapping,
to minimize incidents of non-target catches, and
to minimize impacts of trapping activity on
other recreationists.
A two-session introductory trapper education
class has been scheduled in Coeur d'Alene for
Friday, January 16 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.,
and January 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Attendance at both sessions is required to
complete the class. Participants must be at
least nine years of age to take the course.
Space is limited and registration is required.
Registration can be completed on the IDFG
website,
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov |
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