The following message was sent to John Rockwood, Chair of NYSTA’s JTI Commitee:

The proposed fisher trapping regulations have been posted in the State Register as of today. As a quick summary, we are proposing shifting the seasons in the eastern part of the state later (Adirondack WMUs would have a season running from Dec. 1 – Dec. 31; southeastern and northern NY outside of the ADK would run from Nov. 15 – Dec. 31). The 6-day season in the southern tier would be expanded to a 15-day season that would run from Nov. 26 – Dec. 10, and we would expand that 15-day season into the WMUs immediately north of there. We also are proposing opening a 6-day season (Dec. 5 – Dec. 10) in the Great Lakes Plains, where our camera surveys indicate that the population is similar to what it was in the southern tier when we first opened the 6-day season in 2016. Finally, the proposal includes some changes to the regulation that prohibits the use of bait and lure in body-gripping traps set when the fisher/marten season is closed. Instead of applying to the entire Northern Zone, the proposal would have the restriction on bait/lure only apply in the Adirondack WMUs to protect marten.

Full story here.