Furbearer Registration Hours Offered at Many Michigan DNR Locations
Many Department of Natural Resources office locations are offering furbearer registration hours for successful trappers and hunters during the 2012-2013 furharvester seasons.
Anyone taking a bobcat, river otter, fisher, marten or incidental catch must bring the animal to a designated furbearer check station for examination.
DNR staff members collect biological data from the harvested animals, including sex, age and physical condition of the specimen. The skull of each specimen will also be retained for tooth and DNA samples. An official seal is then attached to each pelt to show it has been inspected.
“Registration for these furbearers is mandatory, as the information gathered helps us determine proposed bag limits and season structure for the future,” said DNR furbearer specialist Adam Bump. “Cooperation from trappers and hunters in this effort is greatly appreciated.”
The following DNR offices are open for furbearer registration during regular business hours: Please note, due to field staff limitations, all fur harvesters are encouraged to call ahead to ensure someone is available to assist with furbearer registration.)
- Baraga, Bay City, Cadillac, Gaylord, Marquette and Newberry operations service centers
- Cheboygan, Crystal Falls, Escanaba, Gwinn and Norway field offices
DNR offices with specially designated furbearer registration dates and hours are as follows:
- Wakefield: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Central Time) on Jan. 9 & 23; Feb. 6 & 20; March 6 & 20; and April 17
- Stephenson: 4 to 6 p.m. (Central Time) on Jan. 4, Feb. 7, March 7 and May 4
DNR offices that offer furbearer registration by appointment only:
Approximately 40 additional DNR locations (including operations service centers, field offices, state game areas and state parks) offer furbearer registration during normal business hours by appointment only.
Trappers and hunters must call ahead to ensure staff availability at locations that require an appointment. For a full list of locations, including contact information, visit www.michigan.gov/trapping.
Non-DNR locations open for furbearer registration include:
- U.S. Forest Service Office in Manistique, by appointment only
- U.S. Forest Service Office in Rapid River, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. M-F
- Settler’s Co-op in Bruce Crossing, by appointment only
Trappers and furbearer hunters are reminded that they must register their own take and cannot register for others. Complete details and instructions for furbearer registration can be found in the 2012 Michigan Hunting and Trapping Guide, which is available online at www.michigan.gov/hunting, at DNR operations service centers, and at authorized license vendors statewide.
For more information about furbearer registration, contact Adam Bump at 517-373-1263, or call one of the DNR offices listed above.
