Here's the press release. Looks like a limit of 2, with a statewide quota.

https://dnr.wi.gov/news/Weekly/Article/?id=4725

Simpler. But is it good or bad?

My opinion? Good.

I am sure there are others that will disagree.

Good news for those of us that trap in both zones.

Good news if you only trap one zone too. No application for tags is a good thing, and a limit per trapper ensures that a handful of trappers doesn't catch the vast majority of the quota.

About time. Kudos to Shawn.

Also thanks to Nathan Roberts.

Amen

No shortage of otter around here. Happy to see the change.

The other thing I heard when at the district 6 otter skinning deal. Was most of those otter that are in DNR freezers are APHIS incidentals when trapping beaver. And there are about 120 some otter left to skin and put up. But we have 3 upcoming fur schools so that should put a dent In them. But who knows how many more Incidental APHIS otter are going to show up this spring. and I wonder how many get left In the brush.

How much of the APHIS work is trout stream restoration? Makes me wonder how many of those trout-eating otter are really incidental.

Will the "government" otter be figured into the state wide quota? also have they set the quota already.

2 good points to consider.
I also heard they may be considering giving out more cat tags.

Good deal all around!

Chris

An again THANKS to Shawn and Nathan, good scientific study and results, possible cat changes coming also.....

Good work on the part of many folks an yes lets get our catches recorded quickly and accurately. The better a new system works the less likely we will go back to what we have dealt with for too long. Under our new system we are now trappers with a limited bag limit instead of borderline poachers so the system recognizes us better for who we are.

Bryce

Just curious how the previous system even remotely characterized the trapper as a ‘borderline poacher.’ This change is a step in the right direction but it’s hardly a true quota. If it was a true quota, you could keep what you catch until season gets shut down. All it amounts to is putting two tags in my pocket instead of one. I still have to turn in the rest!

How does a youth acquire the otter harvest tags since they don't need to purchase a trapping license?

X1000 He was able to get the science that helped change minds.



Again, the science said we could support it. A special thanks to citizen science and all those trappers that helped put collars on the cats and allowed us to have one of the largest cat study in the country. Without you taking the time, we wouldn't have the science to help with these gains!

It will put more fur in the fur room tho. Instead of the river bottoms or DNR freezers.
A small step in the right direction is a token that attention is given to this situation. Do I think this will influence the actual harvest? No.

IMO to get the ground truth greater flexibility in harvest is required.