FUR BEARERS 



Of all the wildlife resources of the state, only the fur-bearing ani- 

 mals such as beaver, muskrat, mink, marten, otter, fox and raccoon 

 and fur bearers classed as predatory animals provide a direct cash 

 crop. This resource supports a valuable fur trade industry in the 

 state. A total of 2,843 trapping licenses were issued during the past 

 two years. An open season on muskrat, mink, fox, otter and raccoon 

 was declared in 1948 and 49. Except for the otter, an open season 

 was declared on the same fur bearers during the 1949-50 season. 

 The closed season on marten was continued during the past two years. 

 It was determined that the marten population was large enough to 

 declare an open season, but due to the low market value of this 

 fine fur it was decided to keep the season closed until a better price 

 per pelt could be realized by trappers. 



BEAVER. Montana continues to be one of the largest beaver 

 producers in the United States. Under present beaver management 

 where permits are issued, a sustained yield of between eight and 

 ten thousand pelts are taken each year. Beaver now inhabit every 

 major drainage throughout the state. Due to the below average price 

 received for beaver pets during the past few years, trappers have not 

 taken the annual increase on this fur bearer. Complaints of damage 

 and requtses for the department to remove nuisance beaver have 

 been so numerous that our warden force and state trapper were 

 pressed to take care of the beaver damage complaints. In this two- 

 year period, 2,323 permits to trap beaver were issued — an average 

 of almost eight were caught on each permit. 



MUSKRAT. A spring trapping season on muskrats has been con- 

 tinued for the past several years for the reason that muskrat skins 

 taken when the hide is prime are more valuable. Due to the dif- 

 ference in climatic conditions between the higher mountainous sec- 

 tion and plains areas, it has been difficult to set a muskrat season 

 favorable for all trappers to obtain a maximum catch. Special trap- 

 ping permits have been provided on the larger irrigation districts 

 where examinations by wardens have shown that damage to the irri- 

 gation system was caused by muskrats. 



MINK. Wild mink pelts were in good demand during the past 

 two seasons. The mink has withstood heavy trapping in some areas 

 year after year which indicates that its breeding potential has not 

 been harmed. 



OTTER. Except in a few drainages, otter are not too numerous. 

 Periodically an open season has been declared so that some value 

 from this fur bearer can be realized by trappers. 



RACCOON. The raccoon has become a problem in the lower 

 reaches of the Yellowstone drainage. Damages to poultry, pheasants 

 and agricultural crops have been attributed to raccoons. Because of 

 the prevailing low market value received for its pelt, few trappers are 

 interested in trapping this fur bearer. 



FOX. Few fox are found in Montana. Its value as a fur bearer 

 in this state is small. 



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