Fur Trapper Survey 2009-2010 (Wisconsin)

This survey details trapping in Wisconsin in the 2009-2010 trapping season based on a survey of resident trapping and conservation license holders who were also trappers. The survey found that 53% of license holders actively trapped in the 2009-10 season, an average of 30 days each.

Summary Highlights:

• “Trappers used a total of 265,767 sets on 429,992 nights during the 2009-10 trapping season.”
• 53% of license holders responding actively trapped in the 2009-10 season.
• The survey findings suggest that “that 7,987 licensed trappers actively trapped and 4,342 trappers also hunted furbearers during the 2009-10 season.”
• “Roughly 2% of licensed furbearer trappers pursued bobcat, while 56% pursued raccoons”
• “The estimated number of red fox, gray fox, coyote, and raccoon harvested by trappers while hunting were 1,459, 179, 9,857 and, 16,697 respectively.”
• “Body grip traps (37.8%) were more frequently used than any other type of trap, foot hold 34.6%, cages 13.9%, enclosed trigger 5.6%, cable restraints 5.4%, and snares 2.8%.”
• “Trappers averaged 20.8 foot hold traps per trapper, followed by body grip, enclosed trigger, cable restraint, snares, and cages at 14.7, 12.3, 10.9, 10.7, and 3.7 respectively.”
• “Wisconsin licensed trappers accounted for 3,556,413 trap nights in legal pursuit of furbearers during the 2009-10 regulated seasons.”