Let's hear some otter tales :

[peckprice]

I am stuck here in the mountains of SE Ky. We obviously are not in the otter zone. I have become fascinated with the idea of catching an otter, they are such an amazing animal. I have some close friends out in Livingston County and I am toying with the idea of spending a week of Christmas vacation next year trying my luck on the otters. Anyone having any luck with 'em?

[kytrapper]

I'm with you in SE Kentucky. UTK is working with Frankfort in hopes of expanding the otter zone. Our western Ky members supplied around 50 otter carcasses for the otter study this past season. We have otters over here also. I see their sign regularly when beaver trapping. They are coming up out of Tennessee also in the SE corner. Maybe we'll get a limited harvest season of two or three over here soon. Where are you located in SE Ky?

[peckprice]

Kytrapper, I am in Clay County, the county seat is Manchester. I may travel to Western Ky during the next trapping season to try to catch an otter. I guess the reason they are so appealing to me is that we don't have them yet. There are confirmed reports of their presence in counties very close to me. Hopefully, it won't be too many more years before they spread out. The beaver were the same way, we had very few here it seemed, then in about a 5 year period, they really spread out.

[kytrapper]

I see otter sign on both the South and Middle Forks of the Kentucky River pretty regular. Goose Ck. as you probably know runs into the South Fork. I work on the water gages on the Kentucky River and get to see tracks in the mud a lot while I'm out. I would like to invite you to United Trappers of Kentucky's Spring Fling in London at the JM Feltner 4-H camp May 6-8 if I haven't invited you already. Lots of demos, a trapping related auction, good food, and music Sat. eve. I'm doing a bobcat demo on Saturday.

[peckprice]

I appreciate the invite, and I will be there. I will bring some of my cohorts also. How can I get ahold of a schedule of events? Will the activities be taking place all day Friday? I hate to miss anything. BTW, where are you located?

[kytrapper]

We will have a schedule of events when you get there.First demo is one oclock Friday and every hour thereafter. About all fur handling Friday. We're having buffalo burgers Friday afternoon. Demos start at 10 Sat. morning. Mostly trapping with a couple others. Auction around 4 Sat. afternoon, old fashioned hog roast, and singing. Glad you are coming. I am really wanting to get the trappers east of I-75 on board. We don't seem to be joiners, we hillbillies. We are at about 160 members and growing. We have some real good guys and trappers on board.I live in Whitley County south of Corbin.
PS Camping or a bunk in the cabins are 5.50 per night per person if you guys want to stay over. The camp has a no alcohol policy.

[kytrapper]

Forgot to mention......Matt Jones from Livingston County is skinning and putting up an otter Friday afternoon. You won't want to miss that.

[snareman]

Extending the otter harvest area to include more counties should be a great concern to us trappers. I know of many otter that are taken out of 330's each year only to be thrown in the bushes because they were not legal to catch as of last season and this year caught outside of the legal harvest zone.

[kytrapper]

I agree totally. That is why the study is being done with the carcasses and the otter question is on the trapper survey each year. I think you will see a statewide season soon as they are causing headaches for pay lake and fish farm owners statewide. Otters are like all other wildlife, they are a renewable resource that need regulated harvest and attention. Some areas in eastern Ky. are fairly thick with them as they have prospered from the stockings. I personally saw four at once one morning chasing freshly stocked trout in one of our streams.

[Grant]

Although these wernt trapped, they were fun to photograph!!:cool:
http://www.hunt101.com/img/240048.jpg
http://www.hunt101.com/img/240059.jpg

[snareman]

Grant,

Thanks for the pictures. Excellent. Let me guess, Tradewater River?

[Grant]

Nope, good guess though. This was up a creek off the Cumberland River. I had been trying to photograph them for some time, and the only day I get a chance to, its cloudy!! There were 3 to start with, but I ended up getting caught sneaking over the bank.