Harvest numbers

[foxtrot]

Just wondering how everyone feels about the population this year compared to other years?I can definitely say that call ins are down this year in some areas non existant.I thought it was just me but after talking to an experienced local trapper he said his catch is half of last years.

[Lookn4Fur]

I have not experienced that this year in my area but then again there are never high numbers in my area.  I have a high number of predator hunters and trappers in my area and we all keep them pretty cleaned out.

I have hunted in many other areas this year that have shown consistant numbers But it always gets tough this time of year it seems.

[Seeking_Coyotes]

I am seeing the same volume of predators but I have not been out much this year.

[Thirty Cal]

I have not killed a single varmint or predator (except crows  ) this year and havn't'really tried yet. I'll be gearing up for them right after Christmas.

That said, up in Bradford County, I have seen more squirrels this year than ever. A record crop of them! And although this is anecdotal, I feel like the acorn crop is low this year. But because it was SOOOO wet all year long, there's a ton of corn still in the fields so my guess is the grain eaters are having a good time of it.

I have gotten trail cam pictures of coyote, fox, bobcat, coons, skunk, possum, bear and deer consistently all year long. We typically get up to 3-5 coons in one image, 1 coyote, 1 bobcat, 1 fox, 1-3 bear, several deer at a time in any image. I know they're up there. I know we've gotten fisher and porcupines too.

Whether there are more or less varmint this year than previous years is anecdotal as well. A dairy farmer told me there are no groundhogs and rabbits left (rarely ever see one now) because the coyote have killed them all off. That would suggest there's a lot of coyote. He told me he sees several at a time where he dumps his dead calves. Again, suggests there's a good population but certainly not scientific.

Bears are definitely more prevalent. We get trail cam pics from spring right through to late fall.

Before I put the trail cams out and started getting images, the owner didn't think he had bear, coyote or bobcat on the property and said he rarely ever saw a fox.

Given that my trail cams only cover a very small section of land, I'd have to say there seems to be a good population of critters up there.

We even saw a number of grouse and a couple woodcock this year too. And of course the turkey are in good supply now.

What does that all mean? I have no idea, except to say that it would seem there is a pretty healthy population of animals on that property.

I saw more buck deer, and nice big rack buck deer this year than at any time over the past 6 years. (That's how long I've hunted on this particular farm.)

I sure do look forward to busting fur on a coyote too!

[Seeking_Coyotes]

Bradford County is an amazing place...I used to live up there and it was the best hunting I ever experienced!

[foxtrot]

Well the local trappers have a small rendezvous here every year and this is pretty much the elites in the area and everyones success is down considerably this year.Not sure why.Have seen some mange but not much.Quite a few more coyotes this year though.Do you think this impacts the fox population?Hopefully not a start to a trend.

[Lookn4Fur]

I think most definately it will effect the fox population.

[uncle buck]

I was out calling last night in Cumbeland County... I saw more fox hunters then predators... In one case there were up to three guys in a field.. Then in a field across the street from where I have permission to hunt.  Notice that I just have not been calling in predators in these areas like the old days.. Now I don't think they are killing them they might be educating them.. This was the same area last year that as soon as I turned on the electronics the fox would start to bark at me..no doubt...Cumberland county seems to have quite a bit of predator callers now..

[coyotenightmare]

Every property in my area is hunted by deer hunters and 90% of them own a predator call. Most only go out a night or two but that is enough to give fox and coyotes an education. The one local fox trapper that normally catches around 30-40 fox only trapped 14 the last I talked to him. There may be more coyotes this year. I have only went out one time and didn't bring anything back.