Trapping Regulations
Trapping Licenses and Permits1
- Most licenses and permits may be purchased at license agents or online at NJ.WildlifeLicense.com.
- Possession of a valid Trapping License is required to trap and must be openly displayed on back and cannot be covered by a pack or harness.
- Must also carry Snare Course Completion Card1 whenever using any cable restraint.
License or Permit Type / Fee |
Requirements |
How to Obtain |
Youth Trapping Age 12–15: Free Valid through Dec. 31 the year youth turns 16 |
|
|
Resident Trapping Age 16+, including active military, regardless of residency: $32.50 Valid through Dec. 31 |
|
|
NJ National Guard Resident Trapping Free Valid through Dec. 31 |
|
|
Disabled Veteran Resident Trapping Free Valid through Dec. 31 |
|
|
Non-Resident Trapping Age 16+: $200.50 Valid through Dec. 31 |
|
|
Farmer License Exemption Farm – must meet qualifications under NJ Farmland Assessment Act of 1964. See www.state.nj.us/agriculture/divisions/anr/pdf/farmlandassessmentoverview.pdf. |
|
|
* Immediate family members include: spouse, mother, father, parent, child, grandchild, stepchild, stepparent, legal guardian, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, great-grandparent, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law of farm owner or lessee who resides on the farm. |
||
Special Beaver Trapping Permit: $17 Beaver Damage Control Permit: $17 (during open season only) Special Otter Trapping Permit: $2 Permit valid Dec. 26–Feb. 9 |
|
|
Rifle Permit
Required to use .22 cal. and .22 cal. short ammo to dispatch trapped animals, except muskrat3. Permit valid from July 1 to June 30 |
|
|
Duplicate or Lost License / Permit $2 each |
|
|
Trapping Seasons 2021–22
No trap or trap stake may be set prior to 6 a.m. on any opening day.
Species |
Season |
Bag Limit(s) and Additional Informatiion |
Beaver* Permit required. Up to 5 traps per day per zone, regardless of number of permits you have for the same zone. |
Dec. 26, 2021–Feb. 9, 2022 in zones 1–30 (see map), except: Jan. 1–Feb. 9 on stocked WMAs* |
8 per Special Permit 10 per Damage Permit All captures must tagged immediately Harvest must be reported using the Automated Harvest Report System. All beaver pelts must be brought to an official check station on Sat., February 26 (see your instruction packet). |
Otter* Permit required (see age 66) Up to 3 otter traps per day |
Dec. 26, 2021–Feb. 9, 2022 in zones 1–30 (see map), except: Jan. 1–Feb. 9 on stocked WMAs* |
1 per Season Otter carcass must be surrendered to Fish and Wildlife. All captures must tagged immediately upon taking possession. Harvests must be reported using the Automated Harvest Report System. Otter pelt and carcass must be brought to an official check station on Sat., February 26 (see your instruction packet). |
Coyote*, Gray fox*, Red fox* |
Nov. 15, 2021–Mar. 15, 2022 Statewide, except: Jan. 1–Mar. 15 on stocked WMAs* |
No daily or seasonal limit Coyote harvest must be reported by 8 p.m. via the Automated Harvest Report System. Reporting of Gray Fox is also requested |
Mink, Muskrat, Nutria |
North Zone Nov. 15, 2021–Mar. 15, 2022 South Zone Dec. 1, 2021–Mar. 15, 2022 |
No daily or seasonal limit See map below, right for Mink, Muskrat, and Nutria zones |
Opossum*, Raccoon*, Striped skunk* |
Nov. 15, 2021–Mar. 15, 2022 Statewide, except: Jan. 1–Mar. 15 on stocked WMAs* |
No daily or seasonal limit |
Weasels Long-tailed, short-tailed |
Nov. 15, 2021–Mar. 15, 2022 Statewide |
No daily or seasonal limit |
Bobcat, Fisher |
Closed statewide No take is allowed |
If you find a bobcat or fisher in your trap, do not disturb the set; immediately call (877) 927-6337 to report capture, and await Fish and Wildlife's Response Team. |
|


Trapping Regulations
See General Hunting Regulations.
Anyone applying for a trapping license must show a previous resident trapping license from this or any state or a Trapper Education Course Completion Card. Trapper Education courses are offered once in the spring and four times in September and October. To enroll in a Trapper Education Course, go to NJFishandWildlife.com or call (856) 629-0552 to register.
The trapping license (including farmers) must be visibly displayed on outer clothing (not covered by a pack or harness) while trapping. In addition to a Trapping License, additional permits may be required depending on the furbearer to be trapped. A Rifle Permit is required when using a .22 caliber rifle to dispatch trapped animals other than muskrat.
See 2021–22 Trapping Seasons table for seasons and bag limits.
The following wildlife management areas are closed to all beaver and otter trapping as well as for using cable restraints for coyote, fox, opossum, raccoon and skunk until 6 a.m. on Jan. 1: Assunpink, Berkshire Valley, Bevans (Millville), Black River, Clinton, Colliers Mills, Flatbrook-Roy, Glassboro, Greenwood Forest (incl. Howardsville tract), Heislerville, MacNamara (Tuckahoe), Mad Horse, Manahawkin, Manasquan River, Medford, Nantuxent, Peaslee, Pequest, Port Republic, Stafford Forge, Walpack, Whittingham and Winslow. Cage traps and encapsulating traps may be used on these WMAs beginning at 6 a.m. on Nov. 15.
Trapping Devices
See Legal Trap Types table below for trap specifications and restrictions.
Firearms
Licensed trappers may use a firearm to dispatch any captured furbearer except muskrat. Youth trappers under age 14 using any firearm to dispatch, must be accompanied by, and under the direct supervision of, a properly licensed adult, 21 or older. Trappers must carry written permission from the landowner or lessee to possess a loaded firearm within any 450-foot safety zone.
Permitted firearms include:
- Air gun (.177 to .22 caliber) having a minimum muzzle velocity of 600 fps and using wadcutter, domed or pointed or hollow point pellets only. (Spherical BBs not allowed.) Use of an air gun does not require the possession of a Rifle Permit.
- Rimfire (.22 caliber) rifle using .22 short cartridge only. Possession of a valid Rifle Permit is required when using any rimfire rifle.
Harvest Reporting
All coyote harvests must be reported by 8 p.m. via the Automated Harvest Report System (AHRS), either online at www.NJ.WildlifeLicense.com or by phone at (855) 448-6865. The location data collected is similar to that used in reporting a deer harvest (DMZ, county, township). New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife requests trappers to report all harvests of gray fox via the AHRS as with for coyote (see above). Red fox cannot be reported at this time.
Beaver and Otter Lottery, Permits
Application period: Oct. 1–31; may only apply for one beaver and/or one otter permit. Trappers who will only accept a permit for one zone should not fill in second or third choices. Successful beaver applicants are given the first opportunity for otter permits in their respective zone. Permit award notification begins Nov. 2, 2021. Permits MUST be claimed by 11:59 pm on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021. Unclaimed permits will be sold over the counter, first-come, first-served. Application fees for unclaimed permits are not refunded. Over-the-counter permit sales begin 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021 at all license agents and online at www.NJ.WildlifeLicense.com. For permit availability, see website above.
Beaver and otter permit holders will receive a packet regarding mandatory otter carcass surrender, check-in station date and locations, and Fish and Wildlife staff contacts if you wish to check your catch before the actual registration date. Please remember to:
- Report your harvest daily via the AHRS (online at www.NJ.WildlifeLicense.com or by phone at 1(855) 448-6865).
- Make every attempt to properly flesh and stretch all pelts.
- Bring your otter carcass. If you caught an otter while beaver trapping but didn’t have an otter permit, the entire animal must be surrendered, pelt on.
Legal Trap Types
- All trap sets must be tagged either with trapper's name and address, trap ID number or trapper's CID.
- Tags on beaver and otter sets must be clearly visible above the water or ice.
- Relaxing lock for cable restraints are those that stop tightening when the animal stops pulling against the restraint. Cam-locks and spring-assisted locks are prohibited.
Trap Type |
Target Species |
Specifications |
Notes |
Body-gripping Trap |
Mink, muskrat, nutria |
Max. jaw spread of 6" |
|
Beaver*, otter* |
Max. jaw spread of 10" |
||
Cable Restraint Trap Trappers must also carry their Snare Certification Card when trapping with any cable restraint. All natural baits consisting of fish, bird or mammal carcasses or flesh used while using cable restraints must be covered or concealed from view when placed within 30' of the set. |
Beaver*, otter* |
|
|
Coyote*, fox*, opossum*, raccoon*, skunk* |
|
|
|
Mink, muskrat, nutria
|
|
|
|
Weasel |
|||
Cage Trap |
Beaver*, coyote, fox, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, otter*, raccoon, skunk, weasel |
|
|
Encapsulating Trap (aka, dog-proof or species-specific trap) |
Opossum, raccoon |
|
|
Steel-jawed Leghold Trap |
Coil-spring and longspring traps are prohibited in N.J. No person shall manufacture, sell, offer for sale, possess, import or transport any animal trap of the steel-jaw leghold type; nor shall any person use, take or attempt to take any animal by means of a steel-jaw leghold trap. |
||