Arizona Game & Fish has Proposed some Changes in our Trapping Regulations.
(1) Shorten the Bobcat Trapping Season by one month. Instead of starting November 1, start it December 1
(2) To get a CITES Tag you must have the Lower Jaw again.
(3) Trapping Harvest Reports are Mandatory, or No Trapping License next year.
Will these changes help Bobcat Production in the State of Arizona?
What about Feline Distemper (Cat Plague), the number one Virus that takes out Bobcat Populations?
Any thoughts would help?

Oregon has all three of these rules in place. Not sure what impact , if any, it will have on your harvest or population.

No, these regulations wont prevent Feline Distemper but they will have other benefits.

(1) Im not familiar with AZ trapping and when you guys get started, but would guess that the G&F feels that starting a month later will reduce the harvest. Perhaps this would be especially true in the high country where access is limited later in the season?

(2) The jaws are necessary to get age structure of the population. This is valuable in determining the overall health and reproduction of the population. You cant manage a species if you don't know what its doing.

(3) Not sure why any trapper would oppose harvest reports. Again, the G&F needs to know what the harvest level is. The trouble with trapper reports is that they depend on the honor system for accuracy.

Oldman! I think the Fur Harvest Report is important, so G&F has a Record of Animals Caught. G&F needs information, when asked by other Groups, about their Fur Harvest.
I hate to says this, but that's what G&F says, other States have these Rules, Why don't we?

(2) The jaws are necessary to get age structure of the population. This is valuable in determining the overall health and reproduction of the population. You cant manage a species if you don't know what its doing.
Chris! Are the Lower Jaws the only way, to tell the age of a Bobcat? Is it Good or No Good, to have Males over 3 years, old in Bobcat Populations. How about Radio Collars on Released Bobcats? Thanks for your Comments!

Bob,of course,any information obtained on furbearer populations is very valuable in establishing regulations,seasons and limits on harvest,especially,when,the scientific evidence gathered by a state fish and game agency confirms the need.In this situation,in Arizona,with their past track record on trapping and their existing trapping regulations,I feel they are shifting the responsibility to obtain this vital information to the trappers,while,not engaging in any significant agency sponsored furbearer population studies,themselves.They will just sit in their offices and let the trappers do the leg work for them,how convenient,while,taking away opportunity,before,the new,current information from trappers,will become available,through the new,proposed regulations.I trap,in New Mexico,about 25 miles,from the Arizona border,but,I have,yet,to set a trap in Arizona,because of the over regulation of trapping,there.What these new regulations will do is create more mandatory hoops for trappers to jump through and will further discourage and limit furbearer trapping,in Arizona,by,both,resident and non-resident trappers,another brick,in the wall,that the animal rights groups are building,in Arizona,with the help of AG&F,in my opinion.First thing needed,in Arizona,is to end the Mexican Wolf fiasco and USFWS's influence,on trapping regulations,once and for all and then repeal the ban on foothold traps,on public land,if they are serious about improving trapping,in Arizona,along with very detailed,in the field furbearer studies,by AG&F.Not,a further movement,in a direction,to limit and restrict the trapping privileges of both,resident and non-resident trappers.Their agenda is very obvious,to further limit trapping opportunity,require trappers to do their work,for them and then take this evidence and spin the results,to their advantage and further limit opportunity and set bobcat limits,which is a page out of the animal rights groups' playbook,out West. It is all too familiar to me,it should be opposed by all trappers and trapping associations,until,AG&F can come up with their own scientific evidence,to prove the need for further regulations.Let them do the job,that they are being paid well to do and not freely choose to follow the agenda of the animal rights groups,first and turn a deaf ear to the sportsmen of Arizona,who are financing their operations,once again.Arizona's trapping regulations should be more in line with New Mexico and not Wisconsin,in my opinion.

The fish and game department could get the information they need if they spent maybe $100,000+ a year collecting it. They'd catch [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot] for wasting money when the information is already available from trappers. Trappers would not be looked upon favorably for not supporting the jaw requirement. I wouldn 't want to pay a $200 trapping license to gather scientific information that is already available from trappers. Scientific evidence is evidence. Coffee house talk is just that--talk. Courts look at evidence and fish and game departments should also be held to that level of accountability. Help them out.

wouldn 't want to pay a $200 trapping license to gather scientific information that is already available from trappers. Scientific evidence is evidence. Coffee house talk is just that--talk. Courts look at evidence and fish and game departments should also be held to that level of accountability. Help them out.
Ole! You have a point but the G&F can afford $100,000. a year, to collect information on Bobcat Populations. The AZG&F gets almost 20 Million Dollars, a year. 10 Million from the Heritage Fund passed in 1990, from Lottery Sales, for the Conservation & Protection of Wildlife, and the States Natural Areas. Over 9.5 Million from the Pittman-Robertson Act, 10% from Firearms and Ammunition, 11% from Archery, sinse 1937, for the Conservation of Wildlife. This is before they sell a License or write a Violation. I agree Trappers should help Game & Fish as much as they can, but read N-R Trappers Post, carefully. He has many Points that should be Considered!

N-R Trapper, It would be hard to break down all the Points you make, but I Agree with most of them!

Bob,at least,you are getting a first hand,honest opinion,from an experienced non-resident trapper,who has real time trapping experiences,in that general area. I would love to trap,in Arizona,even cage trap bobcats,but,these new regulations,will make me think twice about trapping in Arizona and I will,probably,still trap,only,in New Mexico.I have never been a fan of regulation,for regulation's sake,common sense recommendations should be instituted,first,in an effort,to allow trappers the opportunity to voluntarily regulate themselves. I do not like the direction that AG&F continues to pursue,concerning trapping regulations,they are too much,in line,with the animal rights groups and their agendas,in my opinion,even,with Governor Jan Brewer,a Republican,in office.Governor Susana Martinez,Republican Governor of New Mexico,has really created some positive change,there,in both the NMDGF and the NMDGF Commission,especially,in the fight for common sense trapping regulations.That is the model that Arizona should be following,but,it is going in the opposite direction,at this time,in my opinion.

I think the December 1st start date is an excellent idea. It will mean the fur will be better quality on the cats that are harvested. Which should translate into more money for the trappers.

November 1st is just too early to start trapping cats.

November 1st is just too early to start trapping cats.
WISSMISS, I Agree that November 1 is too early for Desert Trapping. I have trapped the Navajo on October 1 above 7,000 ft. and those Cats were Prime. Once you loose something it's almost impossible to get back. Why not say No Bobcat Trapping below 6,000 ft. until December 1. I sell a lot of Cages here in Arizona, most of the guys I deal with, don't start Desert Trapping until the middle of December anyway. They know if they don't release Small Females Bobcats, they don't buy Cages or Trapping Supplies from me. How do I know, they sell their Bobcats the same place I do.

Bob, gotta disagree with you about November 1st bobcats. I don't care if you are trapping at 15,000 feet - a cat taken that early is not prime.

I realize of course that you guys that trap at the higher elevations need to get in there early, otherwise you dont get in there at all.

N-R Trapper, We have a group of Sportsman called the SCG, and the Director of the AZG&F Commission is with us. I can promise you, because I will be on one of the Committees, that things will be changing in Arizona. I have nothing against NR's, we are all fighting for the same thing. You could Join the SCG and help with your Comments and Opinions.

Bob,PM me the information,I am very interested in helping with the cause,in Arizona.Thanks and good luck,with your and the SCG's efforts to bring positive change to Arizona's trapping regulations.

Bob, gotta disagree with you about November 1st bobcats. I don't care if you are trapping at 15,000 feet - a cat taken that early is not prime.

Wissmiss, I'm not lying to you, but I Sure Respect Your Opinion. I said, I was Trapping October 1, some Winters we get 3' of Snow by December 10, should the Bobcat Season be a 10 Day Season?

I have a Friend Trapping on The Navajo Right Now, the Bobcat Season opened today, October 1. I'll look closely at his early Pelts and send you a picture, would that help?

I Respect all Opinions, that's how We Learn, Thanks for the Posts!!

I don't have the perfect answer to when trapping seasons should start or end. And I understand about getting snowed out at the higher elevations. Just expressing my opinion as a fur buyer.

Would be interesting to see what the leather looks like on those Navaho cats being taken this early.

I can PM you that Information, but Steve Craig is a member of this board. I'm sure when he reads This Post everyone will have that information. I can Post that Information but Steve knows more about it than I do!

WISSMISS, I welcome your opinion, we are on the same side. I thought you were going to give the dates of the Western Fur Sales? Please don't take anything I say Personal. I'm very Opinionated (hopefully with a open mind), just Happy Your Posting, and value your opinions, Thanks!!

Western fur sale dates will be posted later today. I got side tracked this weekend sorting used traps!

Serious question - when the deep snows hit the high elevations and the trappers are driven out, are the bobcats and other fur bearers driven out to lower elevations as well? Or do they stay high and try to survive?

It seems logical that they would move to lower elevations for a better food supply.