2018-2019 and 2019-2020Furbearer Trapping and Hunting Regulations
Oregon Fish and Wildlife CommissionJune 7, 2018
Derek Broman ODFW Carnivore-Furbearer Coordinator
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Presentation Overview• License and Pelt Price Trends• Species and Season Information• General Regulation Proposals• Program Notes
2K.Kohl
Furtaker License Sales Trends1987-2017
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500#
Lic
ense
s
Year
Furtakers Furbearer Hunters
3
New Furtaker License Trends1997-2017
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000#
Lic
ense
s
Year
Returning Furtakers New Furtakers
4
Furtaker Reporting Trend2007-2017
0
20
40
60
80
100
% R
epor
ting
(On-
Tim
e an
d L
ate)
Year
Furtakers Furbearer Hunter
5
Furtaker Reporting Trend2007-2017 On-Time Reporting
0
20
40
60
80
100
% O
n-Ti
me
Rep
ortin
g
Year
Furtakers Furbearer Hunters Average
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Average Annual
Pelt Prices
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$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
E BobcatOtterW Bobcat
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
MartenMinkRed FoxGray Fox
$0
$10
$20
$30
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
BeaverRaccoonMuskrat
AFWA 2015
Report-Average
Trapping Expenses:
US $1,694 Oregon $1,761
Species and Seasons
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D. Budeau
Unprotected MammalsOpen Entire Year for:Badger, Coyote, Nutria, Opossum,Porcupine, Skunks, Weasels
Most Included in Harvest Report
Protected MammalsNo Open Season for:Fisher, Ringtail, Wolverine,Kit Fox, Sea Otter
Season Recommendations
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K.Kohl
Furbearer Harvest Season Recommendations
• No Proposed Changes to Season Dates for most Furbearer Trapping and Hunting
─ Beaver Nov. 15 – Mar. 15─ Bobcat Dec. 1 – Feb. 28─ Marten Nov. 1 – Jan. 31─ Muskrat Nov. 15 – Mar. 31─ Mink Nov. 15 – Mar. 31─ Raccoon Nov. 15 – Mar. 15─ River Otter Nov. 15 – Mar. 15
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Furbearer Harvest Season RecommendationsProposed Changes to Season Dates for Red Fox and Gray Fox
• Red Fox assumed to be non-native in eastern Oregon counties, therefore no closed season in 9 counties. (Oct 15-Jan15 elsewhere)
• New genetic information suggestsmany are actually native red fox
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No Closed Season
Open Season Oct 15- Jan 14
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Greet al. 2017. Genetic Characteristics of Red Foxes in Northeastern Oregon. Northwestern Naturalist 98:73-81
Furbearer Harvest Season Recommendations
• Currently:─ Red Fox Oct. 15 – Jan. 15 or
Open All Year in Baker, Gilliam, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler Counties
─ Gray Fox Nov. 15 – Feb. 28Statewide
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• Propose:─ Red Fox Oct. 15 – Feb. 28
Statewide
─ Gray Fox Oct. 15 – Feb. 28Statewide
Pursuit Seasons
Bobcat:Sept. 1 – Feb. 28
Red and Gray Fox:Sept. 1 – Feb. 28
Raccoon:Sept. 1 – Mar. 15
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Harvest:Dec. 1 – Feb. 28
Harvest: (Proposed) Oct. 15 – Feb. 28
Harvest:Nov. 15 – Mar. 15
Bobcat Information
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• Bobcat Record Card required to hunt or trap• Lower jaw and harvest information must be submitted to
ODFW to have ownership tag affixed and must occur within 5 business days after the season ends
Furtakers With Bobcat Record Cards
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
# Fu
rtake
rs
Year
Individuals Purchasing Record Cards 1997-2017
Western OR Eastern OR
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Bobcat Harvest Trends Annual Harvest 1997-2016
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0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
4,500
Harv
est
Year
Eastern Bobcat Western Bobcat
Bobcat Pelt Price Trends
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
Ave
rage
Pel
t Pric
e
Year
Average Oregon Bobcat Pelt Price 1997-2017
Eastern OR Western OR Statewide
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Bobcat Pelt Price Trends
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700 Eastern Record Cards Purchased
Ave
rage
Pel
t Pric
e
Year
Relationship between Bobcat Pelt Price and Record Cards1997-2017
Eastern Pelt Price Eastern Cards Purchased
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Bobcat Management Criteria
Harvest and Effort• Harvest, Participation, and Effort,
and Catch Per Unit Effort
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Harvest Demographic Structure• Proportion of Females
• Proportion of Kittens and Juveniles
• Proportion of Adult Females
• Average Age of Harvest
Low fluctuation, within long term averages
2015 and 2016 higher than long term averages
Lower proportion in 2015 & 2016 and below long term averages
2015 and 2016 lower than long term averages
Eastern OregonSubstantial decline in harvest, participation, and effort, but Catch Per Unit Effort values have increased slightly and remain within long term averages
Department proposes no changes to Eastern Oregon bobcat bag limit (5)
Bobcat Management Criteria
Harvest and Effort• Harvest, Participation, and Effort,
and Catch Per Unit Effort
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Harvest Demographic Structure• Proportion of Females
• Proportion of Kittens and Juveniles
• Proportion of Adult Females
• Average Age of Harvest
Low fluctuation, within long term averages
Increasing, above long term averages
At or below long term averages
Low in 2015 and 2016
Western OregonLower harvest, participation, and effort, but Catch Per Unit Effort values remain within long term averages
Department proposes no changes to Western Bag Limit (no limit)
Currently, killing traps and their placement restrictions are categorized into three groups:
General Regulation Proposals
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Jaw spread less than 7.5”• Limited by Set Back
Restrictions from trail, trailhead, picnic area, etc. on Public Land
• Nomenclature (220’s and smaller)
Jaw spread 7.5 to <9”• Limited to 50 feet
from water (except when authorized by ODFW) and by Set Back Restrictions on Public Land
• Nomenclature (280’s)
Jaw spread 9” and greater• Limited to Water Set
Only• Nomenclature (330’s
and larger)
"Killing trap" means a device used to kill a mammal as part of a trap system.
General Regulation Proposals
Staff proposes to modify 635-050-0045 to restrict killing traps with a jaw spread of 7.5 inches or more to a water set except when authorized by ODFW
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Oregon Trappers Association request restricting 7.5+” to water set only on public lands
Functionally, this would create two categories of killing traps and their placement and streamline regulations
635-050-0045General Furbearer Regulations (9) It is unlawful for any person to trap for furbearers, predatory animals or unprotected mammals using:
(d) Any killing trap having a jaw spread of [9]7.5 inches or more in any land set except when authorized by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
General Regulation Proposals
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Furtakers are required to surrender lower jaw of harvested bobcat or river otter to have an ownership tag (i.e. CITES Tag) affixed to their pelt by ODFW Staff.
Information on sex and date and county of harvest is also required and usually exists on jaw tags provided by ODFW.
Staff concerned mismatched tags and jaws, reducing data quality.
Staff proposes to modify 635-050-0183 to require information isattached to each jaw to qualify for ownership tags.635-050-0183
Bobcat and River Otter Ownership TagsA furtaker shall be responsible for surrendering to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife the lower jawbone including both canine teeth and information on sex, date of catch and county of harvest attached to[with] each individual Oregon bobcat and river otter jawbone to qualify for ownership tags. A district office may, on a case-by-case basis, waive the lower jawbone requirement, for example if the furtaker provides evidence that failure to provide the jawbone is due to unexpected circumstances beyond his or her control.
Furbearer Program Notes
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• Considering online Trapper Education Course and Exam
• Petition for marten harvest regulation changes on August Commission agenda
• Furtaker assistance with research projects and data collection
• Montane Red Fox DNA Collection
• Starkey Multi-Carnivore Study (OSU, ODFW)
• ODFW Alsea Cougar Study
• SW Oregon Carnivore Diet Study (U of Wisconsin)
• Furbearer Research
• Kit Fox (High Desert Southeast Oregon)
• Sierra Nevada Red Fox (Central Cascades)
• Fisher (Applegate WMU)
Questions
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K.Kohl
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