Meissner
REMUS – Beavers and coyotes seem to be the top targets for trappers this time of year.
“People are trapping beavers right now,” trapper Joe Pugliese of Remus, said. “People are trapping coyotes now. A lot of people are night trapping coyotes right now. There’s a lot of beavers and a lot of coyotes.
“It seems like more people right now are going out, not so much trapping them but doing the night hunting on the coyotes. There’s still people trapping. Prices are a little up on coyotes. That helps.”
However, the rest of the season “looks pretty bleak,” Pugliese said. “Springtime, you have your beaver. That’s the big push. A lot of people are going after beavers.
“Everything else is closed up. The diehards are beaver trapping. This warm up helps. The warm weather has kind of opened up a few rivers and creeks. There’s some trapping and coyotes. But the fluctuation in temperatures is making it difficult. Hunting coyotes at night, the popularity is up.”
Carl Meissner, a trapper from Barryton, agrees.
“Water trapping for Beaver and muskrat is still ongoing on rivers and where there is current or ice that can be walked on,” Meissner said. “Raccoon will be traveling in the evenings when the temps are above 32 degrees. Now is the time to trap coyotes to get the highest quality fur of the season but they will start to thin out as breeding season comes in February.
“The coyote and bobcat populations are some of the highest in the state so predation of family pets and livestock are at greater risk. Please refer to the DNR Fur Harvesters guide to determine what is legal on private and public land and what seasons are open for Zones 2 and 3.”
