Trappers must use breakaway snares

Animals that trappers aren't trying to trap will have an easier time escaping from snares in Utah. And the number of cougars that hunters take in Utah this season should be similar to the number taken during the past three seasons.

Starting with the 2007-08 season, trappers in Utah must use breakaway snares. These snares allow bigger animals to escape if they're accidentally trapped.

"Larger animals should be able to escape from these snares," said Kevin Bunnell, mammals program coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "These animals include deer, elk, cougars and black bears. When one of these animals puts enough pressure on the snare by pulling on it, the snare releases and lets the animal free."

Bunnell said it's rare for larger animals to get caught in these traps.

The only exception to the breakaway snare rule are traps set in water or traps that have a loop size that's less than 3 inches in diameter. These traps aren't big enough to trap larger animals.

Hunters are expected to take about 300 cougars in Utah during the 2007-08 season. That would be similar to numbers posted the past three seasons.

"An effort was under way a few years ago to reduce the number of cougars in Utah," Bunnell added. "The goal was to bring them into better balance with the deer, bighorn sheep and other animals that cougars prey on.

"It appears those efforts have worked. Now we're trying to find the proper balance. We think the recommendations the board passed are another step to finding that balance."

Overall, the board reduced the number of hunting permits for Utah's limited entry units, and the total number of cougars to be taken on the state's harvest objective units, by about 7 percent for the upcoming season.