Otter season

[k9]

I am hoping our new biologist reads in here.

I am the guy who talked during the ITA meeting about most otter catches being incidental.

For what its worth, I think roughly the same amount of otters are being killed with the season set up the way it is as would be if a season was opened up with no limits.

No one is going to longline otters, and a great majority of otter catches are incidental coon sets. If a spike in the otter market should occur, DNR could administratively put a limit on that season to prevent longlining of otter, which I sill doubt will happen.

Right now some trappers are not reporting drowned otter or connibeared otter because they don't want the hassles. Those are being floated and wasted and its a shame.

I doubt opening a season up would increase the otter kill in a noteworthy number, but it would increase the accuracy of the DNR's stats as they would get more honest reporting.

[Horn]

I agree.

[Scott W.]

I agree too! Glad you made your point to him during the meeting Bruce.

[hvtrapper]

I'm glad you brought it up also, Bruce. I know Ron agrees with you and believe the new guy,Dave, does as well. It's my opinion that the problem is with the higher ups in the DNR and their lack of knowledge/experience in the real wildlife world. With our DNR combined and administrated by EPA types, wildlife decisions will become more "political" and less "biology" oriented.

[iayogi17]

Dave Hoffman will only be acting Bio for about a month or two I bet. so save your point of action for the New Bio. ( it wont be Dave)
Most of us that work in the feild can see the story with otters, I too hope they open it up.

[iayogi17]

The state Fur bio just opened up for tranfer so in a week I can let you know if anyone took the job.