The early stages of the trapping season

The column I had originally written to run on Nov. 16 was delayed because of computer problems. For some reason, my computer decided to lock up and completely quit cooperating with me the day before my deadline. I had the column written but couldn’t get it into an email to send. In fact, I couldn’t do anything with my computer.

Because I had earlier committed to attend the Mat-Su Salmon Habitat Symposium and make a presentation, I wasn’t able to get the computer in to a repair shop until last Friday. The repair folks were able to get the column off the computer and send it in, but the deadline was already past.

The editors at the Frontiersman have always been accommodating for quirks happening beyond anybody’s control, but they have space and time restrictions as well. As I write this, I’m not sure when or if the column will appear this week or before the end of the month.

I’d like to thank ITS Alaska Computer Services for their very prompt and courteous service in getting my computer back into the land of the living. Their prices were also quite reasonable too. In addition to bringing the computer back, they have a process they refer to as “defunkifying” the Windows 10 operating system. This process simplifies much of the operating system, hides stuff I would never use and displays stuff I would use if I could figure out where to find it. The service is especially beneficial for us “seniors” who weren’t born with a computer in our hands!

Now, let’ get down to what I wanted to write about this week.

I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoyed the day with family and friends while being mindful of all the things you have to be thankful for. I also hope you enjoyed watching football, since the three NFL games took up much of the daytime television time.

Trapping season opened on Nov. 10 with warm weather making trapping somewhat problematic so far. With little snow and daytime temperatures often reaching above freezing, I would think fur condition might not be as prime as one would hope. Plus, the ground, rivers, and lakes haven’t really frozen yet, which makes travel into the backcountry difficult and hard on snowmachine undercarriages.

I haven’t actively trapped for several years now, but I did a lot of trapping when I lived on Afognak Island and did some otter, beaver and mink trapping after moving to the Valley. I still have a trapping license (it’s part of my senior license) and like to keep up with what’s happening in the field.

Because we’re at or near the high-end cycle for snowshoe hares, there are a lot of lynx running around. As a result, the Board of Game has extended the lynx trapping season in Units 14A, 14B, and 16 by two months, with the season closing on Feb. 28. In Unit 16, beaver may now be taken using a firearm for the entire trapping season.

When I trapped on Afognak Island (Unit 8) years ago, using a firearm to harvest beaver was legal and I did collect a few using that method. The thing I was always careful about was making sure I could retrieve the animal after dispatching it. Using a trap or snare was never a problem in retrieval unless the animal was able to break the trap or snare free and leave the area. I had that happen once on probably the largest beaver I ever caught, but I found the carcass drowned in a creek maybe 20 yards from where the trap had been set.

I would advise picking up a copy of the 2018-2019 Alaska Trapping Regulations booklet and reading it. Trapping activities involve several things which are different from hunting and it would be wise to know the distinctions. Some of the seasons in Units 14A, 14B, and 16 vary a little so know what they are.

The thing I noticed right off is that bag limits for 14A have been liberalized. This season, the only furbearer with a season bag limit is wolverine, with the season running from Dec. 15 to Jan. 31 and a limit of two (2) animals.

If you trap in Unit 14A, stay away from and off the popular hiking trails and anywhere non-trappers are apt to be recreating with family and pets. You don’t want to catch someone’s pet or deal with the irate (and justifiably so) owner. Use some common sense!