Beaver Trapping Questionnaire 2009-2010 By Brian Dhuey and John Olson Abstract An estimated 2,344 people trapped for beaver during the 2009-10 beaver trapping season. They harvested an estimated 31,049 beaver. Most beaver were caught in body-grip traps (62%), with foothold traps accounting for 28%, and snares 6%. The number of trappers who trap beaver, and the number of beaver trapped decreased from 2008-09 levels. Methods A special beaver trapping questionnaire was included with the annual furtrapper questionnaire which was sent to a sample of 6,000 people who purchased a resident trapping license or a conservation patron license. The sample was selected from the 2009-10 resident trapping ( 3,000) and the conservation patron ( 3,000) license holders who indicated they were trappers (Fig. 1). Questionnaires were mailed in early May following the closure of trapping in Zones A and B on April 30 th. Trappers were asked if they trapped for beavers during the 2009-10 season, where they trapped, the number of days they trapped, the type and number of traps they used, and the number of beavers they caught. They were also asked the percentage of their pelts they sold in and out of Wisconsin. A second mailing was made to non-respondents. These data were entered into the DNR UNIX computer and summarized using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS). Results All duplicate responses were removed from the survey pool. Replies were obtained from 2,229 (37.2%) of the 6,000 trappers receiving questionnaires. Seventeen percent of respondents indicated they trapped for beaver in the 2009-10 season. This was higher than the trapper effort in 2008-09 season when 15% of trappers trapped for beaver. Trapper effort by beaver management zone is shown in Table 1. An estimate of beaver trappers was derived by multiplying the percent of respondents who said they trapped beaver by the total license sales for each of the two trapping license types. These data provided an estimate of 2,344 beaver trappers during the 2008-09 season. The number of beaver trappers who participated in the 2009-10 season was less than the 2,680 that trapped in 2008-09. In the northern 1/3 rd of the state, Beaver Management Zones (BMZ) A and B, the beaver season ran from 7 November 2009 through 30 April 2010. The southern 2/3rds of the state, BMZ C season ran from 7 November 2009 through 31 March 2010 (Figure 2). While BMZ D, the southern 2/3rds of the Mississippi River season ran from the last day of the duck season through 15 March 2010. This was the fifth year in a row that the two northern zones opened two weeks later, and the two southern zones were not open in April. Most (51%) beaver trappers trapped in BMZ C, followed by BMZ A (29%), BMZ B (16%), and BMZ D (4%). Trappers harvested an estimated 31,049 beaver in 2009-10. On the average, beaver trappers trapped 17 days for beaver, had 11 sets out each day, and caught 13 beaver each. This is slightly different than in 2008-09 levels when trappers averaged
19 days, 10 sets, and 14 beaver. Trappers used body-grip traps in 65% of their sets, foothold traps in 28%, and snares in 7%. As a result, 62% of the beaver were caught in body-grip traps, 28% in foothold traps, and 7% in snares. There were decreases in the number of trappers pursuing beaver, trapper effort, and catch per unit effort compared to the 2008-09 season. Beaver trappers felt that beaver populations were decreasing in BMZ s A and B and stable in BMZ s C and D (Table 2). Beaver surveys in Zones A and B, conducted with the aid of helicopters every three years, suggests a steady decline in beaver populations in northern Wisconsin since 1992 (see Beaver Population Analysis). Beaver trappers also felt that the otter population is increasing in the northern and southern parts of the state, and stable in the central part (Table 3). The beaver harvest in 2009-10(31,049) was 17% less than the 2008-09 total of 37,425. The price paid for beaver pelts rose to $14.51 in 2009-10 from the $12.94 paid in 2008-09 season. Weather conditions for the 2009-10 season were normal for the months of December, January, and February. Snow falls were normal early in the season, but were slightly below normal as the season progressed. This may have been conducive for under ice trapping as remote areas may have been easier to acess. Less snow fall and snow depth is different that the past two seasons where snow was frequent and deep and temperatures were below average. Beaver Trappers were asked how they would prefer to shorten the beaver season if beaver populations continue to decline in BMZ and B. More trappers preferred to stop the season earlier in the spring, 38.3% (Table 4). Trappers also said that trout stream management in BMZ s A and B did not directly impact (79.9%) their beaver trapping effort (Table 5).
Table 1. Number of respondents, mean number of days trapped, sets, and catch in the regular beaver season in 2009-10 by beaver management zone. Beaver Zone # of Responses Mean # of Days Trapped Mean # of Sets Mean # Trapped in Regular Season A 110 18.9 14.4 21.1 B 64 18.2 16.0 15.6 C 193 16.4 7.6 8.0 D 16 11.3 11.8 12.6 Statewide 383 17.2 11.1 13.2 Table 2. Beaver Trapper s observations of beaver populations in the zone they trapped, compared to the previous year. Beaver Zone Stable Increasing Decreasing Zone A 44.5% 5.9% 49.6% Zone B 38.0% 5.6% 56.3% Zone C 49.5% 22.2% 28.4% Zone D 42.9% 33.3% 23.8% Table 3. Beaver Trapper s observations of otter populations in the zone they trapped, compared to the previous year. Otter Zone Stable Increasing Decreasing Northern 40.9% 47.2% 12.0% Central 49.5% 37.1% 13.3% Southern 42.7% 47.9% 9.4% Table 4. Beaver Trapper s response to declining beaver populations in BMZ A and B. Response Frequency Percent Start later in the fall 119 23.5% Stop earlier in the spring 194 38.3% Both 105 20.8% Neither 88 17.4% No Response = 1,724 Table 5. Beaver Trapper s response to trout stream management activities directly impacting beaver trapping efforts? Response Frequency Percent Yes 92 20.1% No 365 79.9% No Response = 1,773
Figure 1. 2009-10 Beaver Trapping Questionnaire.
Douglas Bayfield Iron Ashland Washburn Sawyer Vilas Burnett A Price Oneida Forest Florence Polk Barron Rusk Chippewa Taylor Lincoln B Langlade Oconto Marinette Marathon Menominee St. Croix Pierce Dunn Eau Claire Clark Shawano Door Pepin Buffalo D Trem peal eau La Crosse Vernon Crawford Monroe Jackson Richland Wood Juneau Portage Adams C Sauk Waushara Marqu ette Columbia Waupaca Green Lake Dodge Outagamie Winnebago Fond Du Lac Kewa unee Brown Calumet Manitowoc Washing ton Sheboygan Oz auk ee Iowa Dane Jefferson Waukesha Mil wauk ee Grant Lafayette Green Rock Walworth Racine Kenosha Figure 2. 2009-10 Wisconsin beaver trapping zones.