Do you think Beavers, Muskrat, and mink are ok until the last day? I've been focusing on water trapping this year.

You have to make that decision based on the quality of the fur you are catching in your area. Also, canines are starting to breed and your chances go up everyday of catching pregnant females. You have to decide if that is a plus, minus or not a concern on your line.

I'm pulling my fox line this weekend because the fur is starting to break down. I caught a few in the last week that were slightly rubbed.

If the fur is still good, keep trapping. Different areas have a different affect on fur quality. Coon are good here at least through March. Coyotes have had very little rub yet, some years they go bad way earlier and the few fox we catch seem to be rubbed right from the get go. If it's an option, run your catch by a buyer as you get it, when they start balking, start pulling.

Do I stop trapping any particular species Before the date the state says ends the season (Feb 15, essentially)?

Can someone help me answer this? I've heard so many different things.

People have said:
1.) Coons have been denned up so their fur isn't worth anything and they're covered in pee.
2.) Coyotes and Foxes are already breeding and their fur isn't worth much.
3.) Water animals are 100% ok I think to trap until end of season

I just want to understand what would be most ethical. In upstate NY.

Thank you.

Do you think Beavers, Muskrat, and mink are ok until the last day? I've been focusing on water trapping this year.

I'm the same as Beachcomber more or less and my fox are still very good . I think the lack of snow here has kept them nice (no fur sticking to the snow when they lay down) . I caught a nice buck mink two days ago and the fur is excellent . Mink seem to get crappy here towards the end of February . The rats are good until late February/mid March when 75 percent are bitten up here . Right now they are very good . Beaver stay good well into March from what I've seen . My coyotes always seem to be no good here . Some of the best coon I've seen (for my purposes) are in January / early February most years .