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Trapping Laws & Rules
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Index
- Reminders for the 2021-2022 Season
- 2021-2022 Trapping Seasons
- Trapping License Information
- Bear Trapping
- Biological Samples
- Definitions and Descriptions
- Trapping Regulations
- Killer-Type (Conibear) Trap Rules
- Beaver Trapping Closures
- Identifying Rare Mammals
- Landowner Permission Requirements, Trapping on Private Property
- Lynx Protection Zone and Trap Restrictions
- Tagging Requirements and Fur Tagging Stations
- Wildlife Management Districts
Reminders for the 2021-2022 Season
Mandatory Trapper Harvest Reports: See "Surveys" box
Biological Samples: Jaw or tooth must be presented when tagging a bobcat, fisher, marten, and otter - See Biological Samples
Online trapping license renewals + bear permit purchases: See Trapping License Information
Junior trapping (10-15 years) license for residents + nonresidents: See Trapping License Information
Beaver conflicts: See updates to Beaver Trapping
Bear registration: See Bear Trapping for updates related to laws regarding registration.
2021-2022 Trapping Season
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 17, 2021 - October 30, 2021 |
| Early Muskrat | WMDs 1-6 & 9-11 | October 24, 2021 - October 30, 2021 |
| Beaver | WMDs 1-4 | October 17 2021 - April 30, 2022 |
| WMDs 5, 6 & 8-11 | October 24, 2021 - April 30, 2022 | |
| WMDs 7 & 12-29 | October 24, 2021 - April 15, 2022 | |
| Bear | Statewide | September 1, 2021 - October 31, 2021 |
| General Trapping (bobcat, coyote, fisher, fox, mink, muskrat*, opossum, otter, raccoon, red squirrel, marten, skunk, weasel) | Statewide | October 31, 2021 - December 31, 2021 |
| * See muskrat trapping for information on trapping muskrat after the general trapping season in areas where the beaver season is open. | ||
2022-2023 Trapping Season
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 16 - October 29, 2022 |
| Early Muskrat | WMDs 1-6 & 9-11 | October 23 - October 29, 2022 |
| Beaver | WMDs 1-4 | October 16, 2022 - April 30, 2023 |
| WMDs 5, 6 & 8-11 | October 23, 2022 - April 30, 2023 | |
| WMDs 7 & 12-29 | October 23, 2022 - April 15, 2023 | |
| Bear | Statewide | September 1, 2021 - October 31, 2022 |
| General Trapping (bobcat, coyote, fisher, fox, mink, muskrat*, opossum, otter, raccoon, red squirrel, marten, skunk, weasel) | Statewide | October 30 - December 31, 2022 |