Hi Folks -
As this article explains, the state of Minnesota
has no limits on the number of beavers, muskrats, minks raccoons
that a trapper can catch. This counters the propaganda of the
National Trappers Association which says "In every state
and province in the United States and Canada which have furbearer
trapping programs, seasons, harvest limits and trapping methodology
are strictly regulated by the state or provincial management
authorities."
Trapping is *not* a strictly regulated activity,
despite what the animal killers like to tell us.
Peace,
Joe
WILDLIFE:Minnesota DNR officers say they confiscated
pelts from 44 pine martens, 13 fishers and eight otters.
NEWS TRIBUNE
A Soudan man has been charged with seven counts of
trapping violations and could face more than $27,000 in fines.
Fred Paul Precht, 49, was charged Jan. 12 with seven
counts of small-game gross overlimits and an eighth count of failure
to comply with game and fish laws, according to a news release from
the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources issued Wednesday.
"I've been here seven years. I've never seen a
trapping case like this," said Rich Sprouse, public information
officer for the DNR's Division of Enforcement at Camp Ripley
near Little Falls.
The charges resulted from a December investigation
into Precht's trapping activities near Isabella, according to the
news release. DNR conservation officers Marty Stage of Babbitt and
Kipp Duncan of Two Harbors encountered Precht in the woods near Isabella
checking traps.
Upon discovering that he had more traps out than he
initially acknowledged, they followed Precht to his home in Soudan
and obtained a search warrant to check for furs.
The officers found 44 pine martens, 13 fishers, eight
otters, 12 mink, 85 packages of beaver (some with more than one beaver),
31 muskrats and two raccoons, the news release said. A trapper may
take only five pine martens and fishers combined in one season. The
limit on otters is four. There is no limit on beavers, muskrats,
mink or raccoons.
"We suspect there's a fair amount of overlimit
(trapping) going on, but it isn't that often that we're able to make
those cases," said Greg Payton, DNR enforcement supervisor
at Eveleth.
Precht could be liable for a total of $27,600 in fines
and restitution charges. He could also face more than seven years
in jail.
Precht did not return phone calls to comment on this
story.
