time to comment on the proposed rule changes

http://www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm

Should Hoosiers be allowed to trap river otters for their fur? http://indy.st/1sEHhVu


Personally I say no....

Done.

the reality is they are being unintentionally trapped now and turned loose or often the carcasses being handed over to DNR when and otter is caught in a drowning rig set for beaver or a body grip trap. The same set that will catch a beaver or coon will catch an otter.

I support the regulated trapping of otter. Key word being "regulated"

Done as well. i"m in the support category on a limited basis. Probably like most on here, I know of several places that have otters.

I also support a limited season on otters.

They are another "success" story. I have a buddy that lives in SE Indiana, and has had problems with them in his little pond for years. He finally got some dogs that would keep them out. He has several beavers on his property also, and they got several acres of his corn, and his neighbors corn. We talked about trapping them, but decided to hold off till next year to prevent accidental otter catches…..a year before we are legally allowed to catch them. We don't want to catch them all, or even try. We just each want one to have to mount. If our new fur bearer biologist didn't think they could take a limited or quota type trapping, he wouldn't do it. Like Chevy said, people been catching them for years by accident and it has in no way affected them. My feeling is trappers will have to check in their otters like we do deer. That would give the DNR a good idea of how many are in an area, and being caught. Full support from this old trapper!

had one walk under my deer stand last Saturday morning. pretty cool. first time i ever seen one up close..

I'm all for trapping otters and getting their numbers down. They have really wiped out the fish in farm ponds anywhere in near proximity to a main river or tributary around here.

Several folks I am aware of had their ponds cleaned out by otters, then the otters moved on. They restocked and the otters came back again wiping them out again. Pretty disheartening and expensive.

Plus they are a very valuable fur that might get a few more folks interested in trapping.

Steiny, i know of a couple of dens near Adamsboro. Have watched them numerous times while duck hunting.

Sounds like a good place to trap soon as it gets approved.

I know they were released at a lake I fish and altered spawn dramatically plus amount of fish caught by all

Saw a road killed otter on 31 S. just about 300 yds north of the eel river, North of Peru while heading to the hunting lease several days back....