My first Otter

[Moss Back]

Well i have a friend with a private fish pond. he called me and asked if i have ever trapped one. I told him I've tried but never had success. Well after many try's, BAM!!!! got one... although i do have a question for you folks. I had this one in a trap on an island and the big male was sitting next to her and would not leave. Can i shoot the one sitting out in the open? I mean this place is infested and i saw them everywhere....

[Alpinist]

... although i do have a question for you folks. I had this one in a trap on an island and the big male was sitting next to her and would not leave. Can i shoot the one sitting out in the open?

According to the 2013 Washington State Big Game Hunting Pamphlet:
"Beaver, Badger, Weasels, Marten, Mink, Muskrat, and River Otter
Cannot be hunted; see trapping regulations"

On the other hand, according to WAC 232-36-051:
"(3) Killing wildlife causing damage or killing wildlife to prevent private property damage.
(c) Subject to subsection (7) of this section, the following list of wildlife species may be killed with the express permission of the owner, when causing damage to private property: Raccoon, fox, bobcat, beaver, muskrat, mink, river otter, weasel, hare, and cottontail rabbits."
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=232-36-051

[3nails]

Nice one! Are you keeping or selling?

[boneaddict]

My brother taxidermied his first one.  Pretty cool mount.

[Moss Back]

The deal i made with the owner was he wants to mount the first one and i get the rest. I skinned it for taxidermy. kinda tough skinning those little knuckles. I seen the regs about not hunting them, but the owner wants them GONE...... he figures they've cost him 15,000 bucks. I figured they might fall under depredation reg. This one measured 42" from tip to base of tail, and weighed 33lbs.

[boneaddict]

How did the male compare in size?   He might make a great trophy.

[Moss Back]

 The male was huge compared to this one. The owner has 15lbs plus fish, or should i say had. We seen him eating a trout the size of a salmon. I'm just guessing but maybe a 50-60 pounder. he's as tall as a 5 year old.

[boneaddict]

Hope you get him, that would be cool

[BOWHUNTER45]

Sweeeet 

[Moss Back]

Got some decent info. my old neighbor is a gamie. I had him put a cities tag on this fur. I asked him about depredation regs on these buggers. I must say he is well versed on the laws and regs. I can blast away on the wily buggers but...... I have to turn the entire carcass over to the WDFW. So i think i'll just spend all season trying to trap'em. Only down side is I gotta drive a long ways. He also told me that the Orting fish hatchery has an officer once a month available to put cities tags on your furs till March. He's not sure but thinks either the first or the last Saturday.

[one more]

That's a Beautiful and well fed female!
Do you have more cage traps?  I would set a lot of them all over.  Some on land as this probably was, with another one right next to it just a few inches apart so they can't reach into the other one.  Make some trail sets on land if you have ones with two doors.   I would also put some in the water.  If you don't have many traps, borrow more.  Roughly, where is the fish pond? 

I think the otter did more exploring this dry summer because some creeks were so low.
Diane

ps.  I see your out of Eatonville.  Is the pond west, and if so how far?  I have a couple traps that haven't done much this season in our creek.  Just for a loan, not selling.

[Moss Back]

Yes it is west of me. About an hour from my house. It's closer to you than me.I'd hate to say the exact place. All i have out their is 2 comstock swim thru's,2 home made jobies just like a comstock,and a 1081. I had 3 other swim thru's stolen last year and just haven't been able to restock. this place is about 40 acres of ponds and cat tails,creeks and channels.I could use probably about 20 more traps cause this place is loaded.... we counted 8 different looking ones besides the one i got. I have a trail set an under water  channel set, one set on an island rite where their feeding next to a massive toilet.I also have 2 set on main trails leading up to their den...

[bugs n bones]

Nice job....

[C-Money]

Very cool! Congrats, and keep us posted!!

[Moss Back]

**UPDATE**   Worse day of trapping ever...... The property owner has been outta town so bird hunters decided to trespass and have a wholesale death party.... This is what i get for checking two hours late. I figured private property i can mark all my traps with surveyors tape right??? Nope.. They stole all but two traps. the two they left both had otters in them.The fur and the traps are toast.... Shot gun shells everywhere. I don't take many pictures out on the waterline cause my phones,yes phones like to go swimming... Wish i could show you the destruction.... Gonna be a slow year, only have three traps to my name now......

[Machias]

I hope you report it to fish and game, they should open an investigation into this one.  I bet it was kids.....

[onetrapper]

What is with some young hunters that everything is fair game...definitely a problem with these cages so large expensive and visible.  They definitely don't replace the conibears or leg hold. Sorry to hear about the loss..know what it feels like. bought one last year and had it stolen the first check >:(think it was a trapper

[Trapper John]

Here is one thing that you have to plan on every trapping season.  You are going to lose a few traps from trap thieves or high water flooding or missed place.  I hate trap thieves just like everybody else, but it happens.  I know the feeling to well.  I had a ADC/WCO Business for 26 years and just sold it last year.  I use to chain most of my traps down so those thieves wouldn't take them.  What they did was if they couldn't take them them would crush them  by jumping on them smashing them to the ground.  I have had "Hancock Beaver Traps chained and they would cut the chain-link with bolt cutters, release the springs so the beaver would get out, pry the pan off of the trap.    I have had several Hancock traps stolen, If they want them; yes, they will take them or brake them.  Sorry to hear this but I would recommend to you to contact the department of fish & Wildlife and report it.  Who knows maybe they will run into these guys that did this to you.
JC

[Moss Back]

UPDATE***  with only 3 traps to my name I think I had a pretty good catch . I know now that Bob cats like otter meat. my third trap had a 6-inch hole in the side of it. this big bore out here might just be un trappable. the Comstock was no match for him . luckily I was able to do a field repair and keep the thing trapping . the cat is a 28 pound Tom pretty decent belly very spotty on the legs .

[lokidog]

Wow, nice job on the otters and cat!  Too bad those SOBs messed with your stuff.  I hope you reported it as mentioned.  Is there anywhere to set up trailcams to catch these pigs?

What did you use for bait in the otter traps?  Of course, since I purchased my license this year, the eight or so I saw a month ago haven't come back by the dock.

[Turner89]

Right on Nice looking cat

[-Trap_addicT-]

Good catches. That stuff makes me sick to my stomach. Someone tripped every trap on our second line. 5 cat traps and 4 ermine boxes. I truly don't understand it. Sorry to hear that you got ripped off. Let's hope karma does it's job.

[Moss Back]

**UPDATE**
                I had pulled traps for awhile do to time. I put in my only 3 sets yesterday,and wham! got this beast. The scale said 39#15oz. I'm calling it 40#.

[Machias]

VERY nice!!!

[Humptulips]

For those that don't know that is huge. 

[UrbanTrapper]

40 lbs IS Huge! Congrats.  I want to hear the story that taught you bobcats like otter.  I had heard before that NOTHING will eat an otter.

[Moss Back]

  Well i ran outta beaver meat so i chopped off a leg of the otter. the thing was a little ripe. I was desperate.... Oh and i dumped 25 year old potske eggs all over it..

[Smossy]

Super cool to hear, What size are the traps your using?

[Moss Back]

   One trap is a comstock beaver/bobcat trap. not sure on the size. it's expensive. i bought it for a chinese blue print, cause the other two i got out are homemade versions.

[Hawgdawg]

Sweet, I would do a coffee table shadow box with a fish in his mouth and river rock, drift wood  etc

Looks like some damage on the first female. Can you dispatch them legally by drowning or gassing them? I allegedly know of a guy in my neighborhood who has a gas chamber. Hook it into the truck exhaust and the skunks don't spray. allegedly.... 

[Smossy]

   One trap is a comstock beaver/bobcat trap. not sure on the size. it's expensive. i bought it for a chinese blue print, cause the other two i got out are homemade versions.

Sounds like 12x12x36 with spring loaded power doors?

[Moss Back]

12x18x42 i think. that last bugger i caught might not have fit it one any smaller.