ALL PA FURTAKERS HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR BOBCAT, FISHER
After 10 bobcat seasons with a specified number of permits, the Board of Game Commissioners gave final approval to shorten the length of the overall bobcat season to three weeks (Dec. 18-Jan. 8 for hunting, and Dec. 18-Jan. 9 for trapping), and allow all licensed furtakers the opportunity to purchase one permit to harvest a bobcat in Wildlife Management Units 2A, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4D and 4E. This action formally eliminates the need for the agency to hold a public drawing for bobcat permits.
The Board also approved the creation of a six-day fisher trapping season (Dec. 18-23) and will allow all licensed trappers the opportunity to obtain a fisher permit and try to trap one fisher in WMUs 2C 2D, 2E and 2F.
“Following careful review of recent seasons and, in consideration of hunter and trapper input received, beginning with the 2010-11 season, we are using season length to regulate bobcat taking in specified WMUs,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “All indications suggest that bobcat populations have increased significantly during the previous years.
“In order to continue to assess interest, participation, effort and harvest, we believe it prudent to retain a permitting process. However, we believe that we can offer an unlimited number of permits to allow each licensed furtaker the opportunity to harvest one bobcat in the specified WMUs.”
Additionally, the Board approved the creation of a limited, one-week fisher season, which was part of the Game Commission’s initial plans when it reintroduced fishers back in the 1990s.
“Through this limited season, we will be able to gather additional biological samples for demographic and genetic analyses,” Roe said. “Mandatory reporting, along with fisher permits, is needed to better assess participation, effort and harvest for this new season.”
Resident and nonresident furtaker license-holders, as well as combination license holders, are eligible to participate in both the bobcat and fisher seasons. Bobcat and fisher permits will be available through the agency’s license sale system for $6.70 each ($5 for the Game Commission, which is the same as the previous application fee; $1 for the issuing agent; and 70 cents for the license sale system operator).
In other trapping-related action, the Board also gave final approval to open the cable restraint season on Dec. 26, rather than Jan. 1; and to increase the number of body-gripping traps that may be used to harvest beavers in Wildlife Management Unit 1B in northwestern Pennsylvania to address the increasing number of beaver nuisance complaints.
