STATE OF MAINE
DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES & WILDLIFE
STATE HOUSE STATION 41
AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333
September 11, 2008
Dear Trapper:
Once again, the Department will be distributing the Trapper Information Booklet over the Internet, rather than mailing copies to every trapper. The Trapper information Booklet, also known as the Beaver Mailing, contains information on beaver seasons, beaver trapping closures, regulatory changes, and other trapping related matters. The Internet is a cost-effective tool for delivering information to trappers, and allows MDIFW to use its resources more efficiently to conserve wildlife. We are asking trappers that have access to the Internet, either at their local library or at home, to obtain their copy of the Trapper Information Booklet from the Department's webpage at http://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting_trapping/trapping/index.htm.
The link to the trapper information booklet appears at the top of the “Trapping in Maine” page. If you do not have access to the Internet, or would otherwise have trouble obtaining a copy on-line, please telephone the Wildlife Division at 287-5252 to request a printed copy of the Trapper Information Booklet; a copy will be mailed to you.
There are several changes to Maine's trapping regulations this year. Starting this trapping season, any lynx caught in a trap must be reported. The rule change reads, “Any lynx caught incidentally, whether dead or alive, during any trapping season must be reported to a game warden or biologist of the Department as soon as possible and prior to removing the animal from the trap, unless a Department official cannot be reached in time to prevent injury to the lynx. Any lynx released under this provision before reporting to the Department must also be reported to the Department within 24 hours from the time it was discovered.” It is very important that trappers follow this new regulation and report ALL incidental captures of lynx. Refusing to report incidental captures is not only illegal but also plays into the hand of those individuals that would like to end recreational trapping. Tips on avoiding lynx incidental captures are on the same web page as the Trapper Information Booklet and can be viewed by clicking on “How to Avoid Incidental Take of Lynx”.
The other major changes in Maine's trapping regulations include new season dates for marten and fisher and a new bag limit on fisher. Last spring, trappers requested the reinstatement of the former opening and closing dates for the fisher and marten trapping seasons, and the institution of a bag limit on fisher. The Department honored this request, and consequently, the opening date of the marten and fisher trapping season was changed to coincide with the opening date of the general trapping season (Nov. 2 for 2008). To limit the fisher harvest, a bag limit of 10 fisher, per trapper, per season was put into regulation. The Department will issue 10 temporary tags to each licensed trapper for fisher. The rules for using these temporary tags are similar to the rules that have been in place for many years for tagging marten, and are explained on p. 46 (#39) of the Hunting and Trapping 2008-09 Laws & Rules booklet.
The 2008-09 beaver seasons will run from November 2 through April 30 in WMDs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6; from November 2 through April 15 in WMDs 8, 9, 10, 11, 18, 19, and 28; from December 1 through March 31 for WMDs 7, 13, 14, and 17; December 1 through February 28 for WMDs 12, 15, 16, 23, 25, 26, 27, and 29; and December 15 through February 28 for WMDs 20, 21, 22, and 24. The general trapping season begins November 2 and ends December 31. The early muskrat season starts Sunday, October 26 and lasts until 2 Saturday, November 1. During this period muskrats can only be trapped in WMDs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11. The special fox and coyote trapping season runs from Sunday, October 19 through Saturday, November 1 and is open statewide. Remember, all skins must be tagged within 10 days of the end of the season for that species and all bobcats taken by hunting must be tagged within 72 hours. If you have difficulty getting fur tagged, call the nearest regional office between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday to make arrangements. Remember that only Department personnel, not tagging stations, can tag otter and bobcat. As most of you are aware, the Department is currently facing another lawsuit concerning the incidental trapping of lynx. This lawsuit is once again focusing the public's attention on the effects of incidental trapping on lynx. I am asking trappers to please follow Department recommendations on how to reduce the incidental catch of lynx. To protect Maine's trapping tradition, and shield the Department and trappers from additional lawsuits, the Department formally applied to the US Fish and Wildlife Service for an Incidental Take Permit this summer. This application outlines the Department's obligations to minimize and mitigate for the incidental trapping of lynx. We expect to hear from the Service, this next year, on whether our application is acceptable.
If you have questions regarding any of these regulations or the furbearer program in general, please feel free to contact your regional wildlife biologist, or John DePue our new furbearer biologist. Telephone numbers for regional offices, other Departmental offices, and Advisory Council members are on page 2 of the 2008 regulations booklet. I wish you a good trapping year.
Sincerely,
Roland D. Martin
Commissioner
