Badgers

[Intruder]

Anyone know why the F/G have made it illegal to hunt badgers?  They have em classified as furbearers and only allow them to be harvested via traps. 

This appears to be one of the many suspect/idiotic regulations adopted by this state.  Not that I care so much about killing a badger but it's just one of the many things that frustrates me about hunting regulations here.  Seriously makes me want to just stop hunting here altogether sometimes.   

[caseyv21]

i've wondered the same thing, but i do know that farmers can get damage permits for badgers

[Houndhunter]

you have to trap them in order to kill em, but not sure bout if farmers can shoot them for diggin in their fields

[demontang]

You have to get a traping lic to get them which is bs I think. just another way to milk some money out of us.

[bearhunter99]

When did they change the rules?  I haven't been out recently, but it doesn't seem like it was that long ago that you could call in badgers with predator calls???

[lanconi]

What state are you referring to?

I am in Washington state and I want to know if I can hunt badgers here.
Does anyone know?
I am a bow hunter.

Lance
Bear Grizzly Recurve Bow 50#

[Wenatcheejay]

I am pretty sure they are protected outside of trapping in Washington. I don't have the info but I remember looking it up. I think you can hunt them in Idaho.

[MADMAX]

Pretty sure your right on the trapping not shooting

[AWS]

Badgers main food supply are ground squirels and gophers so other than digging large holes they are fairly beneficial.  Their fur has been a useful product used for everything from shaving brushes to clothing.  I would guess that indescriminant killing and leaving them lay would seem like a waste and that most trappers are in for the fur or for damage control.  Unlike coyote, fox, and skunks that can have a major impact on game populations and need serious thinning.

AWS

[Heredoggydoggy]

I think the reason they are protected here in Washington is that their numbers have declined so much.  When I first came here, there were lots of Badgers in Douglas County, especially around the Waterville area.  The last Badger I saw was one that crossed Hwy. 2 in front of me as I got to the top of the hill coming out of Moses Coulee near Jameson Lake.  That was nearly 20 years ago.