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Pennsylvania is having it's first otter season since 1953 and it begins today and ends on Tuesday. Yep, only 3 days. Otter trapping is limited to the extreme northeastern part of the state. Too far for me to go but good luck to those who are going after them today.

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trapperrick@comcast.net

Best of luck on the 3 day otter season. Hopefully you time it just right and get one quickly.

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Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Well that's a start. How many can be harvested Rick or is it what ever over the 3 days.

Only 1 otter per trapper Wolf. Plus, you have to buy an otter permit. They said that 1,100 otter permits were sold.

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trapperrick@comcast.net

Will be interesting to find out the numbers after the 3 day season. Keep us posted.

The PA Game Commission reported today that due to a very light harvest they have extended the season an additional day.

OTTER SEASON EXTENDED
Further extensions are possible; the Game Commission’s Facebook page is the fastest path to updates.


Pennsylvania’s first river-otter season in more than 50 years is being extended at least until Wednesday, Feb. 24 because harvest quotas have not yet been met.
The season, which is open only in Wildlife Management Units 3C and 3D in northeastern Pennsylvania, began Sunday and had been scheduled to close today.
At 8 p.m. Monday, a decision was made to extend the season until Wednesday, Feb. 24.
At 8 p.m. today, a decision will be made on whether to extend the season beyond Wednesday, and the information will be included as part of a nightly update on the river-otter season posted on the Game Commission’s Facebook page.
Further decisions on possible additional extensions also will be announced as part of the Facebook nightly update, available at www.facebook/PennsylvaniaGameCommission. The Facebook page also can be accessed through a link at the Game Commission’s website, www.pgc.state.pa.us.

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trapperrick@comcast.net

wonder why only in the northeast part of the state? 1A is polluted with them.shenango river shed, French creek,allegany river shed guys are catching them in beaver sets and having to turn them in.

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life member pta distric #1,venango co leader
life member vfw
member fta
member nta
i have trapped in nebraska,michigan,new york,alaska and pa.
us air force retired.

You PA guys hear of anyone catching a slider??

Cooncrazy, keep on those state agency guys about why certain areas aren't being opened up. I think starting an otter season is pretty political as they come across as one of the "cute" furbearers. The state guys might loosen up a bit after a couple of seasons get done in a few areas and no one really raises a stink about it. Hopefully...

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"And God said, Let us make man in our image …and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, …the fowl of the air…and all the creatures that move along the ground.
Genesis 1:26

last I heard they keep "extending " the season since they can't reach their quota on them.duh! 5 days to catch a otter with the creeks over the banks? or solid ice? lol!! these folks don't have a clue!!

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life member pta distric #1,venango co leader
life member vfw
member fta
member nta
i have trapped in nebraska,michigan,new york,alaska and pa.
us air force retired.

Season closes on Sunday the 28th at sunset now.

34 otters were taken so far. 12 in Wildlife Management Unit 3C and 24 in WMU 3D.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission said they would send out a short questionaire on how hard you tried and devices used.

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trapperrick@comcast.net

8 days is not very long as far as otters go. Ive seen them be gone from an area for 2-3 weeks. If a guy was on hot sign, 8 days might just do it. I consider 5 days or less very fast hits...

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The PA Game Commission always goes very conservative when opening a season on something that was an endangered species at one time in PA.

In 2001 they opened Bobcat season for the first time since 1969. The season was 3 months long but tags were by a lottery drawing limited to 75 tags available. Now, anybody can get a tag but trapping season is 3 weeks long and a separate hunting/hound chasing season is also 3 weeks long.

In 2010 they opened fisher season. It's been unlimited tags since it started but the season is only 6 days long. They just announced that the season has now been expanded to 12 days this coming year.

As far as Otter, Bobcat and Fisher, only 1 per trapper and all need to be checked into the Game Commission so they can do biological studies on them such as blood samples and they pull a tooth for some sort of testing.

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trapperrick@comcast.net

I purchased a permit, but I didn't set a trap for them. Maybe next season!

At least you are grandfathered in.