county park trapping?

[Blacktailaddict]

okay so is it legal to trap in a county park? im going to get my trapping license for this upcoming season and i can ride my bike right to this place, i asked a similar question in the bowhunting forum about hunting this place, its called coulter creek heritage park in kitsap county on sunnyslope road, any help would be greatly apreciated!!! ps it 1145 acres so im sure theres plenty of fur running round in there!

[Cylvertip]

Best bet is to get in touch with the county on that one   You will have to watch for bunny huggers too - if allowed.  Could be a bigger can of worms than you want to open.

[Blacktailaddict]

yes i would  have to be careful about that one...ah i cant wait till i get try trapping out this season!

[HornHoarder]

I have been under the impression that trapping has been illegal for some time in wa state. What is this trapping liscense you talk about?

[bear]

I have been under the impression that trapping has been illegal for some time in wa state. What is this trapping liscense you talk about?

Nope.  They just made it a lot harder, that's all.

[fatslinger]

About 10 or 11 years ago the voters in this state were duped by animal rights activists to approve an initiative which banned the use of 'body gripping traps'.  There are not many fur trappers left due to the fact that cage traps are not as effective for many furbearers and they are heavy and difficult to carry for any distance.
We are trying to change this situation with HB 1137. This bill would once again allow humane traps to be used.

[HornHoarder]

Thanks for some clarifification guys. I have never trapped before, but my dad did it a lot in his youth. Mostly muscrat and beavers. I think it would be a neat experience.

[Blacktailaddict]

i hope that bill passes cause it would make things alot easier for everybody! does anybody know, is it legal to trap moutain beaver? and do they have any value?

[Humptulips]

i hope that bill passes cause it would make things alot easier for everybody! does anybody know, is it legal to trap moutain beaver? and do they have any value?

They are an unprotected animal so are legal to trap year round. Limitations on traps are the same as other animals though.
They have no fur value. I do see one sell on taxidermy.net once in a while though. I have sold a few for biological research for $10. No real established markets for them though.

[Blacktailaddict]

cool,opposums are unprotected to right? any market for them? any other unprotected species that can be trapped besides coyotes? thanks for the info!!!!

[Humptulips]

cool,opposums are unprotected to right? any market for them? any other unprotected species that can be trapped besides coyotes? thanks for the info!!!!

I don't believe you can trap coyotes year round in Western WA without a permit. We didn't used to be able to set a coyote trap until October 1st. Can't imagine how you would catch any in a cage trap anyway.

[Blacktailaddict]

well i knew that, you can hunt them year round if you have either hunting License, but ithey are unprotected but just not like opossums and mountain beaver.. is there anything else that can be trapped year round that unprotected? (also how much is a  opossum worth?)

[Cylvertip]

well i knew that, you can hunt them year round if you have either hunting License, but ithey are unprotected but just not like opossums and mountain beaver.. is there anything else that can be trapped year round that unprotected? (also how much is a  opossum worth?)

For possum, I suggest you save your catch through the year and take it to next years auction in Centralia - When they announce your lot of say 20 possum, the crowds reaction will be priceless......   There's usually a lot of laughter for possum and skunk, well at least every time I saw it happen.  

I'm guessing you'd be damn lucky to get 1/2 a buck each.

[Humptulips]

Actually, I send any possum I catch to NAFA. The bigger white ones are worth up to $3 and the blacks 50 to 75 cents. I kind of think it's a waste to throw stuff away so I put everything up. I'm able to sell it all even if maybe not much.
Nutria are the worst for me to get rid of and lucky to get a couple bucks but I take care of them anyway.

I would like to address an undertone of year round trapping in this thread with the questions about unprotected wildlife. What is the point of trapping out of season unless it is for damage control? Trapping season is 5 months long. Except maybe for coyotes (oct. coyotes are OK) anything trapped outside those times will be out of prime. Can't say I approve of the idea of catching something just to be catching it.
If you can't get your fill of trapping in 5 months get a WCO permit and at least trap for a good reason.

[Blacktailaddict]

i totally understand that and id would only do it in season anyway, i was just wondering what species we unprotected, but i get what your saying and i agree with it