Horicon Marsh Joint Trapping Auction Scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 11
Contact(s): Christopher Cole, DNR wildlife technician, 920-387-7883; Sadie O'Dell - Horicon NWR, 920-387-2658 EXT. 114
HORICON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and United States Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a public trapping auction at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center on Thursday, Oct.11, 2018.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. to allow trappers the opportunity to ask questions and review information. The auction will begin promptly at 6 p.m. USFWS and DNR personnel will then review trapping seasons and regulations, unit boundaries, special conditions/restrictions pertaining to each individual unit, trapping reports, as well as other information with the successful bidders.
The Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center is located at N7725 HWY 28, Horicon.
DNR will offer 10 wetland units during the 2018-19 trapping season. An additional unit will be set aside for any interested youth (between the ages of 12 to 17) or disabled trapper (must possess a disabled hunting permit). Upland trapping permits will also be available, at no charge, to anyone interested and possessing a valid trapping license. The trapping season for all wetland and upland units on Horicon State Wildlife Area will run from Oct. 27, 2018 through March 17, 2019. Interested trappers are encouraged to scout the units prior to the auction and may do so, by foot or boat, at any time.
USFWS will have 11 dike/marsh units for bid at the auction. In addition, upland trapping will be offered to any interested trapper, at no charge. One unit will be available at no charge to any interested youth between the ages of 12 to 17. One unit will also be set aside for seniors or trappers with a disability. Two trappers will be randomly drawn for trapping in this area, at no charge. The drawing will be held at the auction. Trappers do not have to be present at the drawing. Seniors must be 62 years of age or older and trappers with disabilities must have a disabled hunting permit from the DNR.
For all units including dike, marsh, and upland the trapping season will be as follows;
**Must Follow State Regulations Start Dates for Specific Species**
Upland
Upland Units Open - Oct 20- March 31(water sets are allowed starting Oct. 27)
Dike
Dike Units Open - Oct 27- March 31 (trappers are restricted to 25 yards into the marsh from where the water meets the dike)
Marsh
Marsh Units Open - Dec 1- March 15
Scouting on the refuge areas open to trapping will be allowed on the day preceding and on the day of the trapping auction; Wednesday, Oct.10 and Thursday, Oct. 11, daylight hours only. Interested trappers must obtain a permit at the Refuge Office/Visitor Center, located at CTY Road Z (W4279 Headquarters Road, Mayville) before accessing the units. A scouting permit can also be obtained by emailing a request to the refuge contact provided. Scouting permits can be picked up or emailed on weekdays starting October 1 through October 11.
All USFWS and DNR trapping units will be sold to the highest bidder with a limit of one unit per trapper. Bidders must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the auction. Trappers who are bidding must be present at the auction and will be required to make full payment at that time. The USFWS will accept payments by check, money order, debit card, or credit card. No cash will be accepted. The DNR will only accept checks or cash. Both the USFWS and the DNR reserve the right to reject any or all bids.
More details of the 2018/2019 Horicon Marsh trapping season can be found on both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Horicon National Wildlife Refuge and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource's State Wildlife Area web sites.
Please contact Chris Cole, DNR Wildlife Technician at (920) 210-1641 or Sadie O'Dell, USFWS Wildlife Biologist at (920) 387-2658 x 114 or sadie_odell@fws.govif you would like to obtain bidding conditions, trapping rules and regulations, scouting permit, or any other information for Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area or Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, respectively.