What defines a Nuisance animal

I will be starting my first trap season in the fall now that I just got licenced. I know only three other trappers, two of which trap on neighbouring lots. They all talk about how they can kill just about any animal any time of the year. They consider Beavers, Martin, Fishers, Muskrats all nuisance animals and shoot or trap at will just because they are on the property and what they could potentially do. This is on hundreds, thousands, of acres of where the animals are doing what they naturally do. Most of their trapping and shooting is done May to early September when the area is easier to access yet I know the seasons are not open. I'll go by their cabin in August to regularly see Beaver carcasses skinned and laid on the grass. One is up there now in May trapping for Beaver and brags he will shoot any he see's, when I don't see any threat of why it can't be done during the open season.

I plan to trap only my quota issued and during the next season for my first time trapping. Now that I have done my course and know more about trapping, now I am questioning things.
Are quota's only for furs I want to sell?
Why cannot I not get a Fisher or Martin quota yet others consider them a nuisance in the middle of the woods and can trap them any day of the year?

I believe I know the answers on whether they are right to do so or not.

My question, what is the acceptable point where I would be in the right to trap out of season when out in the middle of no where in the deep woods?
What are the protocols for trapping out of season, don't I need to report to MNRF the capture within 48 hours after catch and before removal from trap? I don't need to report prior to setting traps out of season.

Where did you do your course. Just interested. I'm hoping to start as well. From what I understand is you can trap nuisance animals anytime of the year if you own the property or are an agent. Otherwise you have to wait until the open season. That's the best thing to do anyway. The fur is best then. I'm not sure critters on crown land in the middle of nowhere constitutes as a pest. Who are they bothering ?


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From the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act:

Protection of property
31 (1) If a person believes on reasonable grounds that wildlife is damaging or is about to damage the person’s property, the person may, on the person’s land,

(a) harass the wildlife for the purpose of deterring it from damaging the person’s property; or

(b) capture or kill the wildlife. 1997, c. 41, s. 31 (1).

Agents
(2) The person may use an agent to harass, capture or kill the wildlife under subsection (1) if the agent has the authorization of the Minister or belongs to a class of agents prescribed by the regulations. 1997, c. 41, s. 31 (2).


It sounds like you are talking about Crown land. So unless the queen hires you as an agent, you can't kill animals in protection of property on Crown land. Even if it is private land, they need to have some cause to believe the wildlife is about to damage their property (e.g. a coon in your corn or chicken coop).

How much are they getting for a pelt in August?? Most trappers won't take animals until the pelts are prime.

The person who taught the Fur Mgt course, I would highly recommend to learn from. He periodically teaches from his barn. Is about $300 as I recall. He is located in Manilla which is a little west of Lindsay. Contact him regarding price and frequency of visits to get the 28 hours to complete.
Ed Skrabek
(705) 357-1812
[email protected]

As for my question, it is all private land, they are not hired as agents but friends of the owner who lets them use his land as they please, and by the definitions (thank you for providing) the animals are not nuisance animals.

Time to speak up since I am willing to do legally.

Re: 28 hour course. I suggest you call the Ontario Fur managers Federation to inform them that someone certified you with a 28 hour course! It's a 40 hour course minimum, with a mandatory day in the field, plus the tests. The General Manager would definitely like to hear about this. There is absolutely no possible way that the course material can be covered in 28 hours.

Sorry, my mistake. 40 hour course. I was guessing from memory and not verifying the facts. Thank you for the correction.

If they are doing what you say then the MNR should be notified .To take fisher in most cases you have to have 500 acres or more,A fisher has about 10kil.range so they wouldn't be where they are daily.I doudt very much if you could class them as nuisance.

This post smells fishy...

Shouldn't you be able to answer most of these questions if you just passed your trapping course?

I think that he wants to be told to call the ministry on his friends.

Insinuating the neighbouring trappers on private property are breaking the law and up to no good, when they are acting as agents of the land owners is a slippery slope. The OP will need to verify what is going on, and I would suggest to before posting accusations. Bradford is not that big of a community.