Trapping Laws & Rules

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Reminders for the 2023-2024 Season

Beaver Trapping Closures: An updated list of open and closed areas to beaver trapping are listed here.

Jaw/Tooth Sample Requirement: Trappers and hunters must submit a lower jaw or canine tooth for fisher, marten, and river otter and a lower jaw, canine tooth, or lateral incisor tooth and meat sample for bobcat at the time of fur registration . Partial jaws are not acceptable because they have resulted in too many broken canines over the past several years. Learn more about biological samples.

Mandatory Trapper Harvest Reports: Fall and Spring Harvest Reports are due for all licensed trappers 16 years and older, by January 31 and May 31, even if a trapper did not trap. Click here to complete your surveys online.  Click here to view instructions (PDF)

Trap Restrictions to Protect Lynx: Canada lynx are a federally listed Threatened Species. There is no open season for the trapping or hunting of lynx in Maine. To protect lynx and to help Maine trappers avoid accidentally taking lynx, the Department has delineated a lynx protection zone in northern Maine where special regulations are in effect. Learn about the lynx protection zone and trap restrictions here.

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2023-2024 Trapping Seasons

Beaver trapping season dates as well as open and closed areas are subject to change annually.

Season Area Season Dates
Early Fox & Coyote Statewide October 15 - October 28, 2023
Early Muskrat WMDs 1-6 & 9-11 October 22 - October 28, 2023
Beaver WMDs 1-4 October 20, 2023 - April 30, 2024
WMDs 5, 6 & 8-11 October 22, 2023 - April 30, 2024
WMDs 7 & 12-29 October 22, 2023 - April 15, 2024
Bear Statewide September 1 - October 31, 2023
General Trapping (bobcat, coyote, fisher, fox, mink, muskrat*, opossum, otter, raccoon, red squirrel, marten, skunk, weasel) Statewide October 29 - December 31, 2023

2024-2025 Trapping Seasons

Beaver trapping season dates as well as open and closed areas are subject to change annually.

Season Area Season Dates
Early Fox & Coyote Statewide October 20 - November 2, 2024
Early Muskrat WMDs 1-6 & 9-11 October 27 - November 2, 2024
Beaver WMDs 1-4 October 20, 2024 - April 30, 2025
WMDs 5, 6 & 8-11 October 27, 2024 - April 30, 2025
WMDs 7 & 12-29 October 27, 2024 - April 15, 2025
Bear Statewide September 1, 2024 - October 31, 2024
General Trapping (bobcat, coyote, fisher, fox, mink, muskrat*, opossum, otter, raccoon, red squirrel, marten, skunk, weasel) Statewide November 3, 2024 - December 31, 2024

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