Furbearer Trapping School

Standing in knee-deep water, Illinois Conservation Police Officer (CPO) Don Schachner asked the group assembled on the shoreline what seemed to be a simple question: “Is this a legal trap set? As a CPO would you ticket this trapper?”

“It is too shallow in the water and a ticket should be issued,” seemed to be the common opinion.

But then Schachner added another point to consider, saying “Yesterday this trap was legal. The water level dropped over night, a factor outside the control of the trapper.”

Schachner and the other instructors stressed the need to consider environmental factors when setting traps, and for deciding if, and when, a ticket should be issued.

“It is important that Conservation Police Officers understand the totality of the circumstances of a situation when enforcing law, not just purely looking at the black and white of it,” Schachner explained.

Such are the lessons learned by those attending the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) 2024 Furbearer Trapping Workshop.

Furbearer Trapping Workshops

Following establishment of a mandated trapper education course in 1985 and creation of the Illinois Furbearer Stamp (now the Illinois Habitat Stamp) in 1990, it became evident that training in-house staff on the rules and regulations of trapping was needed.

“Staff from the Office of Law Enforcement and Division of Wildlife Resources need to stay up-to-date on the rules regarding handling of nuisance wildlife trapping and the use of fur trapping as a wildlife management tool,” said Stan McTaggart, IDNR Wildlife Diversity Program Manager. “A baseline knowledge of how science-based regulations are developed, the ethics and principles of trapping and how trapping can benefit wildlife and people is important for these IDNR employees to understand so they can effectively do their jobs.”

The workshops also provide the opportunity for staff to receive updates on new rules, regulations, education programs and techniques for humanely capturing target animals. Many of the past workshop attendees periodically work with IDNR Safety Education staff and members of the Illinois Trappers Association to update the Trapper Education book and test.

Organization of the workshop is the responsibility of a team of 10 CPOs, wildlife biologist Stan McTaggart and a representative from the Illinois Trapper’s Association.

Attending the 2024 Furbearer Trapping Workshop were staff from IDNR’s Office of Law Enforcement—representing the Conservation Police Officers as well as Safety Education Program—and Division of Wildlife Resources. Also present were U.S. Department of Agriculture staff and volunteer instructors affiliated with the Fur Takers of America, Illinois Trappers Association and Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators.

Best Management Practices

According to Stan McTaggart, a primary focus of the furbearer trapping workshop is for participants to become familiar with Best Management Practices (BMPs).

The development of BMPs is a science-based team effort coordinated by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in collaboration with wildlife biologists, veterinarians, experienced trappers and statisticians who evaluate criteria such as animal welfare, selectivity, practicality, efficiency and safety of the trapping methods. This is a dynamic and continuous process.

Furbearer trapping is an important part of our nation’s history and today is a key element of many wildlife management programs. According to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, in some cases local populations of furbearers are controlled to help minimize human-wildlife conflicts and mitigate habitat changes brought about by certain furbearer species. Similarly, in some situations, trapping can contribute to the protection of threatened and endangered species by controlling predators. Trapping has also been used to translocate animals and restore populations in areas where conditions are suitable for the species to thrive. In Illinois trapping of beaver, river otter, white-tailed deer and wild turkey (to name a few) was undertaken to re-establish and enhance populations.

“Whether they work in law enforcement or as a wildlife biologist, educator or land manager, it is critical for these folks to be able to identify and promote the most effective and humane tools and sets for trappers,” McTaggart said.

Furbearers and Trapping

In Illinois, 14 species are classified as furbearers: American badger, beaver, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, least weasel, long-tailed weasel, American mink, muskrat, Virginia opossum, raccoon, red fox, river otter and striped skunk.

Furbearer trapping is a highly regulated activity, with strict rules established, and enforced, by IDNR. The broad-ranging rules include what species may be harvested, the timeframe for harvest, what types of traps and methods are legal and where trapping may occur. Specifics are available in the annual Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest, the wildlife code and administrative rules.

Before the Trapping Starts

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1998, is required to complete a trapper education course before they are able to purchase a trapping license and trap on their own. Students have the option of taking the 8-hour traditional, in-person course or an online course. Ethics, respect and safety are key components of each course.

“Trapping is an important tool for managing Illinois’ furbearers,” noted Robert Draper, Office Administrator III, with the IDNR Safety Education Program. “The trapper education course ensures this tool is used with safety and respect for both people and wildlife.”

Cody Gray, Education Administrator for boater, hunter, snowmobiler and safety education courses within the IDNR Safety Education Section, reiterated the value of the trapper education courses, saying “these courses are not just about teaching future trappers about safety practices but they inform attendees about the need to preserve habitats, balance ecosystems and ensure healthy wildlife populations in Illinois.”

In addition to the training, trappers must purchase an Illinois Trapping License and an Illinois Habitat Stamp must before heading afield. Youth are allowed to participate in trapping under the direct supervision of a licensed adult if they purchase a Youth Hunting/Trapping License.

Conservation Law Enforcement

Conservation Police Sergeant David Wollgast, one of the workshop organizers and an instructor, explained that “Our CPOs need to understand trapping extremely well as our organization is the only agency in the state that deals with enforcement of this management technique. Officers need to fully understand trapping so they can confidently answer questions from the public and are knowledgeable when teaching Trapping Safety Education courses. When dealing with a trapper or the traps they have set, the officers need to know what to look for in the field, what is happening and why so they are able to enforce the laws.”

CPO Schachner added that the more involved a CPO is in the outdoor pursuits in general, and any particular outdoor endeavor, the more understanding they will have of natural resources.

“A deep understanding of outdoor activities helps each officer use better discretion when enforcing the law,” he noted. “As a result they will have a better relationship and reputation with their constituents.”

Managing Illinois’ Wildlife Resources

McTaggart explained that the use of trapping aids researchers by collecting important biological information about wildlife. Preferred habitats, home ranges, survival, migration patterns and population indices for some species of wildlife are determined through mark and recapture programs and by monitoring regulated harvest levels. In addition, trapping can help reduce the exposure of humans and pets to rabies and other diseases. Trapping is widely recognized by the wildlife conservation community as a beneficial outdoor activity, providing food, clothing, cosmetic items, artists’ supplies and other products.

“Illinois Department of Natural Resources biologists attend these furbearer workshops to develop a better understanding of the traps and methods they prescribe to the public to handle nuisance wildlife and when managing trapping programs on state sites,” McTaggart said.

IDNR wildlife biologists work with the agency’s Office of Land Management to determine whether trapping programs should be allowed, or not, on state-owned or -managed sites.

“A comprehensive understanding of regulated trapping is important to provide opportunity for trappers to reduce nuisance issues on sites while ensuring the safety of other site users,” McTaggart noted.

Wildlife biologists also need to understand the role of trapping in research activities that may take place on some state sites.

“Many research projects use traditional trapping to capture study animals,” McTaggert explained. “In some research programs, animals are fitted with GPS collars and released unharmed so the researchers can track their movements, survival, home range preferences and interactions with other wildlife. Other animals captured may be studied for diseases, genetics and other demographic data that is used to address important wildlife management questions.”

From the Perspective of Trapping Educators

Along with Joe McCall and Dan Brault, Dave Scifres was one of the trappers helping lead the furbearer workshop. Spend a few minutes speaking with him and you’ll soon realize how passionate he is about the conservation and management of wildlife resources. Review the list of organizations he is a member of, and you get a better sense of his dedication to natural resources. Scifres is a nuisance wildlife control operator and on the board of directors for the Illinois Trappers Association. He is the Vice President of Illinois Chapter 17 of Furtakers of America, a member of the National Trappers Association, and a member of the Illinois and the National Wildlife Control Operators organizations. In addition to serving as a volunteer instructor for the IDNR furbearer education workshop, Scifres often instructs at workshops for these various organizations.

From Scifres’ perspective, education workshops, such as the one recently conducted in Illinois, help people understand the value of trapping as a component of wildlife management. He stresses the need for law enforcement officers to understand trapping laws and regulations because they will be in contact with trappers like himself—people who passionately care about furbearers and their sport.

“I like teaching about the biological aspect of trapping,” Scifres explained, noting his interest in nature was sparked with a wildlife identification guide he received as a child. “Oftentimes it is the little things I enjoy most when I spend a day outdoors with someone. I take great delight helping people learn to look at the signs of nature—where wildlife travel or discovering what the animals are eating—and deepening their understanding of wildlife behavior.”

Gavin Keefauver, the IDNR Region 3 Volunteer Service Coordinator within the Safety Education Program, was one of the participants in the 2024 Furbearer Trapping Workshop.

“I found the furbearer trapping workshop to be a quality session and value what I was able to learn by participating,” he explained. “Understanding the skills needed to monitor furbearer populations, and how I can support the trapping community and responsible wildlife management, will help me better relate to trapping course volunteer educators and those enrolling in a trapper education course.”

The Furbearer Trapping Workshop also instilled in Keefauver an interest in spending more time outdoors observing wildlife—and participating in the time-honored sport of trapping.