Trappers awarded beaver and river otter trapping permits should have already received award notifications, which were sent the week of November 16. Permits awarded through the lottery must be claimed either online at https://nj.aspirafocus.com/internetsales/ or at any license agent before 11:59 PM on Sunday, December 13, 2009. Leftover and unclaimed permits will be available for sale online and at all license agent locations beginning 10:00 AM on Tuesday, December 15, 2009. For permit availability, see the Permit Availability Chart on the Division Website or call the Permit Hotline at 609-292-9192 beginning December 15.

All beaver and river otter pelts must be presented for examination between 9:00 AM and 12:00 Noon on Saturday, February 20, 2010, at one of the six statewide check-in stations (Assunpink, Clinton, Flatbrook, Tuckahoe and Winslow Wildlife Management Areas and the Newfoundland Fire Company).

The New Jersey Trappers Association cancelled its January fur auction at Space Farms in Beemerville. Successful trappers should NOT bring their pelts to Space Farms, as indicated on page 67 of the Fish and Wildlife Digest. Instead, pelts must be brought to one of the check-in stations listed above on February 20.

Successful trappers unable to present their pelts or have someone else present their pelts on February 20 should contact either Joseph Garris at 908-735-7040 or Andrew Burnett at 609-748-2058 to schedule alternate arrangements.

All beaver and river otter should be properly skinned and fleshed. Please do not bring frozen carcasses "in the round". Successful otter trappers are also reminded they are required by the Game Code to surrender the carcass of their river otter for further biological examination. Trappers that comply fully with these regulations will be awarded $5.00. Failure to fully comply with these regulations may result in fines and/or other penalties, including denial of future otter trapping permits. Trappers who do not have adequate freezer storage for their otter carcass until February 20 should call Joe Garris or Andrew Burnett at the numbers listed above to arrange a mutually convenient time and place to have it picked up.