The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the Special Trapping program will be available this season on both Spring Lake Unit, south of Savanna, IL, and Pleasant Creek Unit, south of Bellevue, IA. 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 Friday, October 23, 2015, at the Refuge headquarters located at 7071 Riverview Road, Thomson, IL 61285. A minimum bid of $200 is required. Bids will be opened Monday, October 26, 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 only allowed from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily to reduce disturbance to waterfowl
- three helpers can accompany the trapper
- vehicle access is allowed on designated levees
- no Refuge trap tags are needed, and an unlimited number of traps are allowed
- a minimum of 100 trap-nights per week is required
- exclusive trapping rights will end on the last day of the regular State duck hunting season (Sunday, December 6, in Iowa and Tuesday, December 15, in Illinois) when all traps must be removed
- trapping is in accordance with the State furbearer season.
For additional information on these special furbearer management programs, contact the Refuge office at the above address or telephone 815-273-2732.