I got a copy of the predator/furbearer harvest stats from AGFD. I crunched some numbers to compare statewide harvest of predators before and after leg hold traps were banned in 1994. Here is what I found.
Before leg hold traps were banned, from the 1982 to 1993, trappers in AZ averaged 9577 coyotes, 3836 bobcats, and 13,911 foxes taken each year. During this same time period, hunters averaged 24,819 coyotes, 878 bobcats, and 2028 foxes each year for a combined statewide annual harvest averaging 34,396 coyotes, 4715 bobcats, and 15,939 foxes each year. The number of licensed trappers in AZ averaged 926 while the number of hunters pursuing predators averaged 11,675.
After leg hold traps were banned on public lands in AZ, from the 1994 to 2005, trappers averaged 782 coyotes, 439 bobcats, and 554 foxes per year while hunters averaged 34,636 coyotes, 1767 bobcats, and 4361 foxes for a combined statewide annual harvest averaging 35,418 coyotes, 2207 bobcats, and 914 foxes each year. The number of licensed trappers in AZ averaged 105 while the number of hunters pursuing predators averaged 13,367.
When more predators/furbearers became available to hunters after the trapping ban, the harvest of coyotes by hunters increased with an average of 3% more coyotes taken annually after 1994. However, there were 54% less bobcats and 94% fewer foxes being harvested annually after 1994 in light of a slight increase in predator hunters.
The ban on leg hold traps did not affect the number of coyotes taken each year because hunters filled the void. Bobcats and foxes are what became more abundant.
I believe a more liberal hunting season should be allowed to also take other predator/furbearers year around. Coyotes and skunks can be taken year around in AZ, but other predators/furbearers cannot and should be.
For example, no sense in closing the hunting season for foxes during the denning period when statewide harvest is 94% below historic levels, rabies in AZ is setting records each year, and foxes are a primary disease vector for rabies to other wildlife species.