Michigan DNR to Hold Furbearer Registration at Wakefield and Stephenson Field Offices
Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division staff will hold furbearer registration hours at the Wakefield and Stephenson field offices on specific dates and times in December, January and February.
Furbearer registration will take place at the Wakefield Field Office, located at 1405 US-2 East in Wakefield, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central Time on the following dates: Dec. 12, Dec. 19, Jan. 9, Jan. 23, Feb. 6, Feb. 20, March 6, March 20 and April 17.
Questions about furbearer registration at the Wakefield Field Office may be directed to the DNR’s Baraga Operations Service Center: 906-353-6651.
Furbearer registration will take place at the Stephenson Field Office, located at West 5420 River Road in Stephenson, on the following dates: Dec. 11, 4-7 p.m.; Jan. 4, by appointment; Feb. 7, 4-6 p.m.; March 7, 4-6 p.m.; May 4, 4-6 p.m. (all times are Central Time).
Questions about furbearer registration at the Stephenson Field Office may be directed to the DNR’s Escanaba Field Office: 906-786-2351.
In addition to the special furbearer registration hours in Wakefield and Stephenson, DNR Operations Service Centers are open during normal business hours for registration and sealing. Field offices may also be able to register and seal pelts during normal business hours, but trappers and hunters must call ahead to ensure staff availability. For OSC and field office locations, visit www.michigan.gov/hunting.
Anyone taking a bobcat, river otter, fisher, marten or incidental catches must bring the animal to a designated furbearer check station for examination. DNR staff members collect biological data from the harvested animals, including sex, age and physical condition of the specimen. The skull of each specimen will also be retained for tooth and DNA samples.
Registration of these furbearers is mandatory; an official seal is attached to each pelt to show it has been inspected.
Trappers and furbearer hunters are reminded that they must register their own take and cannot register for others. Complete details and instructions for furbearer registration can be found in the 2012 Michigan Hunting and Trapping Digest, which is available online at www.michigan.gov/hunting, at DNR Operations Service Centers and authorized license vendors statewide.
For more information about furbearer registration, contact wildlife biologist Brian Roell at 906-228-6561 or call one of the DNR offices listed above.
