The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the special trapping program will be available this season on both their Spring Lake Unit south of Savanna, IL and Pleasant Creek Unit south of Bellevue, IA. The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge was established in 1924 to conserve and manage natural resources along the Upper Mississippi River. The Refuge contains 240,000 acres and extends 261 miles through Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
These special trapping programs allow exclusive trapping rights under restrictive conditions during the duck hunting season. According to Russell Engelke, Wildlife Refuge Specialist for the “Upper Miss” Refuge, “These special trapping programs allow us to better manage the furbearer populations within these Closed Areas as well as protect the levees and structures we use to provide habitat for migrating waterfowl.”
Trappers interested in taking advantage of this program can submit a sealed bid until Wednesday, October 20, 2017, at the Refuge headquarters, 7071 Riverview Road, Thomson, IL 61285. A minimum bid of $200 is required. Bids will be opened on Saturday, October 23, and successful high bidders will be notified that day. Full payment must be received before trapping will be allowed in accordance with state trapping dates. Trappers are encouraged to bid on one or both trapping units; however, separate bids must be submitted.
Other details of this special furbearer management program include:
- access into the trapping unit is allowed from 11:00 to 2:00 p.m. daily
- 3 helpers can accompany the trapper
- Vehicle access is allowed on designated levees
- no Refuge trap tags are needed
- unlimited number of traps are allowed
- minimum of 100 trap-nights per week are required
- exclusive trapping rights will end on the regular state duck hunting season
- trapping is in accordance with the state furbearer season.
For additional information, contact the Refuge office at the above address or telephone 815-273-2732.