Planning to hunt or trap furbearers in March and April? Important license changes to remember

Reminder: if you do not purchase your 2016 base license by Feb. 28, 2017, you will be unable to purchase a 2016 fur harvester license in the months of March or April.

All those who hunt and trap furbearing animals must have a valid base license and fur harvester license.

Feb. 28, 2017 is the last day to purchase a 2016 base license. A 2016 base license is required to purchase a 2016 fur harvester license.

Base and fur harvester licenses can be purchased at license agents, DNR Customer Service Centers, or online at E-License.

The fur harvester license allows residents to hunt fox, opossum, skunk, weasel, bobcat, coyote, raccoon, and trap badger, bobcat, fisher, marten, fox, coyote, weasel, mink, raccoon, muskrat, beaver, otter, skunk and opossum.

A base hunting license entitles you to hunt rabbit, hare, squirrel (fox and gray, black phase included), pheasant, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, woodchuck, woodcock (HIP endorsement required), quail, crow, coyote (applies to Michigan residents only) and waterfowl (with a federal waterfowl stamp and Michigan waterfowl hunting license, if 16 years of age or older) during the open season for each species.

2016 fur harvester licenses expire on April 30, 2017. May 1, 2017 will be the first day to purchase the 2017 fur harvester license and obtain kill tags.

Learn about other important changes for fur harvesters during the 2016 seasons by visiting mi.gov/trapping or see the 2016 Michigan Hunting and Trapping Digest, found online at mi.gov/dnrdigests.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.