Has anyone ever encountered a Fisher?

[Buck_Story]

I was bow hunting last Saturday evening in WI and on my way out I was surprised to see the silhouette of a large animal crouched in attack mode only four feet in front of me. It was black, about the size of a large raccoon, and had a long, even tail, that it was calmly wagging back and fourth as it was sizing me up.

I stopped, reached for my knife, and raised my bow towards the animal while shouting. It ran at me, then veered to my right and off into the woods.

After talking to some hunting buddies and a google image search, we figured out it was a Fisher, and that I was lucky because apparently these things are just as aggressive as badgers when fully grown.

I had never heard of them before, and I am curious if anyone else out there has ever encountered one?

[Code-Man]

I saw one last year. Saw the coat and went WOW that might be worht something. Nocked an arrow and figured I got a racoon earlier the season what the heck. Drew back let an arrow fly and by josh he jumped the arrow. Fast little thing. Nocked another arrow went I'll get him this time. He had jumped around with back to me and i figured he jumped me the first time no way in heck the second time. Drew let one fly he jumped a second one...I was a little hot because now I'm 0-2 on this thing and he took off running into the woods. Well I debated getting down to get my arrows figured I would wait only 30/60 minutes of light left. 10 min later a huge buck came down the trail. Don't know if the thing spooked it or what not but I ended up getting him. 124 4/8 gross 121 1/8 net. Can't argue with that. oh ya never got the fisher.

[panthrcat]

funny you should mention this,, a gal I work with come in with pictures of "something" but she wasn't sure what it was,, she said a martin,, my hubby used to be a trapper, so I am familiar with the critters around here,, (nw Ontario) so I informed her it was a fisher,, larger than a martin, and not too often seen. she said he's been hanging around her house, in fact the picture she got of him was in her birdfeeder.. they'll take a cat if there's one there,, as for their aggresiveness,, oh my yes! but to actually size you up?? that's surprising!! perhaps he too was guarding his area? they are pretty big, I don't know that I'd want to tangle with an angry one!

Sue

[BobT]

I'd seen them around in my logging days.

I remember one winter when one of my colleagues happened across a fisher that had got caught in a snare. It froze in a position with its teeth bared and one paw like it was about to strike at something. The rest of us had just stopped to have a little lunch. One of the fellas was sitting on a log pile while the rest of us were standing. We were engrossed in conversation when we noticed another fella sneaking up behind the one sitting on the logs carrying this fisher. He casually set it down behind the guy. As he was busy with his conversation he happened to turn his head just enough to catch a glimpse of the animal over his left shoulder. He about jumped out of his skin.

They are a very beautiful animal. One of the guys happened to do some trapping and at that time (circa 1984) figured the pelt was probably worth about $70.00.

[B-man715]

They are somewhat common in my area. Every year I see two or three while out hunting.

They are a curious critter. Twice I have had a fisher cross my track and follow it right to my tree while bow hunting. Another time while out turkey hunting a fisher stalked to within 5 yards of my hen decoy! I finally yelled at it so it didn't rip the deke apart!

[Buck_Story]

I saw one last year. Saw the coat and went WOW that might be worht something. Nocked an arrow and figured I got a racoon earlier the season what the heck. Drew back let an arrow fly and by josh he jumped the arrow. Fast little thing. Nocked another arrow went I'll get him this time. He had jumped around with back to me and i figured he jumped me the first time no way in heck the second time. Drew let one fly he jumped a second one...I was a little hot because now I'm 0-2 on this thing and he took off running into the woods. Well I debated getting down to get my arrows figured I would wait only 30/60 minutes of light left. 10 min later a huge buck came down the trail. Don't know if the thing spooked it or what not but I ended up getting him. 124 4/8 gross 121 1/8 net. Can't argue with that. oh ya never got the fisher.

That's a very nice buck, turns out that fisher was a good thing in that scenario. Either way, I will try to stay clear of that Fisher next time I head out, I don't want to stare it down a second time!

[Grayfox]

Code Man, shooting a fisher with a gun or bow in Minnesota or Wisconsin will only get you a fine. You can't even dispatch them with a firearm while legally trapping.

A person may not take pine marten, fisher, mink, muskrat, beaver,

or otter by hunting.

[johnsd16]

Every time I go in my basement.

As for the guy that tried shooting it with his bow. Dumb and illegal. Try not to make sportsmen look like ignorant slobs by just willy nilly shooting things without knowing the regulations regarding their harvest based on the fact that the hide looks nice and you could make some money from it. In MN the season recently has been only 9 or 16 days in the end of Nov early Dec and may only be taken by trapping and must be registered and tagged in person by DNR people on one of two dates. So good luck to you in the future, you'll get busted for being silly eventually.

Other guy who "found" the fisher in the snare and then tampered with it. Also illegal. What do you think the trapper who set the snare and caught the fisher thought. It may have been an incidental in a K9 snare and was going to be turned in (or maybe not, and just ditched, then the trappers wrong), or it was intentional during fisher season and unless your buddy put it back the trapper is out of his catch that in the past has been anywhere from $40-$140.

I have never been on a sportsmans forum where more people openly talk about illegal acts, most of them in the context of just saying they did something inplying that they had no idea the act was illegal. It is our responsibility as sportsman to know the regulations and know what you don't know and act accordingly.

Is it that the above posters knew the rules regarding the acts and just don't mind talking about their illegal exploits online? Or do they really just not know? Either of the scenarios is a black eye for sportsmen in general.

Fishers are cool critters, rarely seen, more common than you'd think and can be quite bold in the presence of a human.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Beautiful animals for sure. Good info johnsd.

[charliepete]

There are quite a few near my hunting shack. I saw one climb up and rifle through a dead tree this Saturday. They have an almost catlike tail. Neat to watch.

[Buck_Story]

Very good info Johnsd! I was curious about that, being they are more rare than common, and would have only thought about killing this animal if it had attacked me.

I doubted that it would, but I was amazed by how bold it was when encountering a 6'3" 200lb guy like myself.

Very interesting animals for sure!

[JeffB]

I saw one deer hunting near Black Duck a few years ago. Very cool. After sitting in my stand for a while I got down to check out his tracks, I couldn't believe how far apart they were in the area he was at a 3/4 run.

[bigbucks]

Saw one while bowhunting 2-3 years ago. I was pretty sure that's what it was. My wife's grandpa had trapped some many years ago, so I knew a little about them.

[bogwalker]

I have seen several. While doing Black Bear research, and when deer hunting. I have never seen their aggressive side. News to me.

[gurkster]

They are fun to watch - I see a couple each year in East Central MN.

[Buck_Story]

Ya, I could see how they would be fun to watch when you did not just surprise/scare them into a potential attack mode.

I gotta say, although it was a rush, I was not too excited about the situation being I was wearing my thinnest camo. Ha Ha!

[Duffman]

My first encounter with fishers was up in the Boundary Waters, heard some screaming and a ruckus heading into camp. I said bear, then wolf, then...what the heck???? A pair of fishers were chasing each other, they ran right in between two of us standing an arms length apart, one lap around the firegrate, then in between us again and back into the woods in a span of 15 seconds. It was as though we didn't even exist to them, I'm guessing just a couple of young ones playing with each other. Although it could've been mating season?

[WAG416]

I was hunting a river bank, during black powder season 2 years ago and had one walk up to me where i was sitting in some fallen trees about 10 feet away. he seemed more curious than anything. the next year i started trapping and caught my first fisher in the same spot.

im not a small fellow either and i was impressed how big these weasels can get

oh, and yes, they will bite you ......

[lichen fox]

Matt, you're supposed to kill the fisher at the set, not when you get back to the skinning shed....no wonder you got bit!! But I guess you don't know any better growing up in Newfolden and all...

[WAG416]

I spose you consider yourself to be from Viking, back when they actually graduated from there? 1930's, 40's is that right ?

I may need another sit down with you and Randy. im looking to start fox and coyotes this year.......Don't leave anything out this time, I dont want to get bit again.

[HunterLee]

Only you would get bit by a fisher. I taught you and then you out trap me.

Fishers are very neat. Curious, as I have had trail cams pics of them in the tree smelling my deer lure. Had one crawl up the tree to check me out also. I wouldn't be worried about getting bit though. They are starting to show up in alot of places that didn't have them.

The best thing about them is they like cats. So if your a cat lover, best keep them inside.

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

The other night John WWG and myself had two on the shore as we were heading back down stream lastnight after doing some EYE fishing. ( At least I think thats what we saw ) Sure didn't look like coons, to long and slender and solid coloring with no rings.

[crothmeier]

got back in from fishing one nite and was sitting on the deck, left the new dog run around for awhile when i heard a commotion, walked over into the trees and this thing was staring at me hissing, teeth and claws ready. went back over there the next mornign (shovel in hand) and found she had her youngins in the hollowed out tree right there. She then took her young to a different place and i never saw her again.

Crazy how they can go up and down a tree headfirst like a squirrel. they are one of the only animals that can kill a porcupine.

[Buck_Story]

Yep, the fisher you trapped in that photo is very close to the size of the fisher I ran across. They are kinda cool, the more I am learning about them.

[Musky Buck]

I have 1 that maybe more that live close to my deer stands, have seen them the last 4-5 years and this is in Ottertail county for reference.