Considering trapping? Here are the rules
To trap means to take, kill or capture wildlife with traps, deadfalls and other devices commonly used to take wildlife, including the shooting or killing of lawfully trapped animals. It also includes all related activities such as placing, setting, staking or checking traps or assisting another person with these activities.
Rights of Trappers
No one may disturb a trap lawfully set by another person.
No one may remove a lawfully trapped animal from another person's trap.
No one may harass a trapper while he or she is trapping.
Trapper Education
Course
Required for persons who have never possessed a trapping license. The trapping course is at least 8 hours in length and is free. For information on trapper education courses in your area, contact the nearest DEC regional Sportsman Ed Coordinator.
Legal Traps
You must put your name and address on all your traps.
Foothold traps larger than 4 inches set on land must have a pan tension device and be covered when set.
Teeth are not allowed on foothold traps.
On land, foothold traps must be 5 3/4 inches or smaller.
During beaver or otter season, foothold traps up to 7 1/4 inches are allowed if set under water.
When the beaver or otter season is closed, foothold traps set in water for mink or muskrat may not be larger than 5 3/4 inches.
A foothold trap larger than 7 1/4 inches is never legal to use.
Body-gripping traps more than 7 1/2 inches may never be used on land.
Body-gripping traps more than 7 1/2 inches may only be used in water during an open beaver or otter season.
Snares cannot be used for trapping.
Box or cage traps are legal for all species.
You cannot use a cage trap that is designed to take more than one muskrat at a setting.
Trapping Methods
Land
You may not set a trap in such a manner that it causes a captured animal to be fully suspended in the air.
You may not set a trap on a public road. You are allowed to set a trap in a culvert or ditch unless the property is posted or the landowner does not allow trapping.
Foothold traps larger than 4 inches must be covered when set on land.
Water
You may set a trap in a permanent body of water only when the mink, muskrat, otter, or beaver season is open.
You may not disturb a beaver lodge, beaver dam, or muskrat house or den.
Traps may not be set on or within 15 feet of a beaver lodge at any time.
Traps may not be set on or within 15 feet of a beaver dam except during an open otter season.
You may not set a trap on or within 5 feet of a muskrat house.
Land or Water
You may use any legal method to kill a trapped animal. You do not need a hunting license to use a firearm to kill a legally trapped animal.
You may not set or stake a trap prior to 7:00 a.m. on opening day.
You are not allowed to set a trap within 100 feet of a house, school, playground or church unless you have permission from the owner of the land where the trap is set.
Checking Traps
Traps must be checked at least once in each 24 hours except:
If you are trapping in WMUs 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6F, 6J, or 6N, traps must be checked at least once in each 48 hours.
If you are trapping for beaver, otter, mink or muskrat in WMUs 5A, 6A, 6C, 6G or 6H, traps set in water must be checked at least once in each 48 hours.
Written descriptions of Wildlife Management Units are available using this link.
Pelt Sealing
Beaver, otter, bobcat, fisher and marten must have a plastic seal attached to the pelt or unskinned animal before:
It is sold or ownership is transferred to another person, or
It is mounted or tanned, or
It leaves New York State, or
10 days have passed since the close of the season where the fur was taken.
The plastic pelt seals can be removed when the pelt is processed for taxidermy, tanning or manufacturing.
Here is how you get your pelts sealed. It is a 2 step process.
Step 1- Filling out your furbearer possession tag Click for printable tag.
A possession tag must be filled out for each animal you take.
Possession tags must be filled out immediately after you reach your motor vehicle, camp or home, whichever comes first.
Possession tags must stay with the animal or pelt at all times but they do not need to be attached to the pelt.
Step 2- Getting your pelt sealed All Species
A completed furbearer possession tag must be submitted to obtain a plastic pelt seal.
You can give your pelts to another person (other than
a taxidermist) so he or she can get the pelts sealed or get them skinned. You
must give that person your trapping license or a copy of your license and your
completed possession tags while he or she has your pelts.
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