Trapping Regulations
Trapping Licenses and Permits1 |
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License or Permit Type / Fee |
Requirements |
How to Obtain |
Youth Trapping Age 12–15: Free Valid through Dec. 31 the year youth turns 16 |
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Resident Trapping Age 16+, including active military, regardless of residency: $32.50 Valid through Dec. 31 |
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NJ National Guard Resident Trapping Free Valid through Dec. 31 |
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Disabled Veteran Resident Trapping Free Valid through Dec. 31 |
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Non-Resident Trapping Age 16+: $200.50 Valid through Dec. 31 |
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Farmer License Exemption Farm – must meet qualifications under NJ Farmland Assessment Act of 1964. See nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/pdf/farmlandassessmentoverview.pdf |
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* Immediate family members are defined further on Farmer Hunting & Permit Information under Farmer Regulations. |
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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 |
** Beaver Damage Control Permits are issued at the discretion of NJDEP Fish & Wildlife and may only be used at the location specified on the permit. |
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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 |
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Duplicate or Lost License / Permit $2 each |
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Trapping Seasons 2024–25 |
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No trap or trap stake may be set prior to 6 a.m. on any opening day. |
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Species |
Season |
Bag Limit(s) and Additional Information |
Beaver* Permit required (see Trapping Regulations). Maximum of 5 traps per day per zone, regardless of number of permits you have for the same zone. |
Dec. 26, 2024–Feb. 9, 2025 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. All beaver pelts must be brought to an official check station on Sat., February 22, 2025 (see your instruction packet). In addition to the mandatory check station, trappers are encouraged to report their beaver harvest using the Automated Harvest Report System. |
Otter* Permit required (see Trapping Regulations) Up to 3 otter traps per day |
Dec. 26, 2024–Feb. 9, 2025 in zones 1–30 (see map), except: Jan. 1–Feb. 9 on stocked WMAs* |
1 per Season Otter carcass must be surrendered to Fish & Wildlife. All captures must tagged immediately upon taking possession. Otter pelt and carcass must be brought to an official check station on Sat., February 22, 2025 (see your instruction packet). In addition to the mandatory check station, trappers are encouraged to report their otter harvest using the Automated Harvest Report System. |
Coyote*, Gray fox*, Red fox* |
Nov. 15, 2024–Mar. 15, 2025 Statewide, except: Jan. 1–Mar. 15 on stocked WMAs* |
No daily or seasonal limit Coyote harvest must be reported by 8 p.m. on the day of harvest via the Automated Harvest Report System. Reporting of Gray Fox is also requested |
Mink, Muskrat, Nutria |
North Zone Nov. 15, 2024–Mar. 15, 2025 South Zone Dec. 1, 2024–Mar. 15, 2025 |
No daily or seasonal limit See map below, right for Mink, Muskrat, and Nutria zones |
Opossum*, Raccoon*, Striped skunk* |
Nov. 15, 2024–Mar. 15, 2025 Statewide, except: Jan. 1–Mar. 15 on stocked WMAs* |
No daily or seasonal limit |
Weasels Long-tailed, short-tailed |
Nov. 15, 2024–Mar. 15, 2025 Statewide |
No daily or seasonal limit |
Bobcat, Fisher |
Closed statewide |
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. |
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Trapping Regulations
See General Hunting Regulations, 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 in the spring and fall. To enroll in a Trapper Education Course, go to dep.nj.gov/njfw/hunting/trapping-season-information/. See Trapping Regulations.
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 2024–25 Trapping Seasons table on Trapping Regulations 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.
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 NJFishandWildlife.com/licensesalessite.htm or by phone at (855) 448-6865. The location data collected is similar to that used in reporting a deer harvest (DMZ, county, township). NJDEP Fish & 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.
Report All Furbearer Sightings
Furbearer species sightings are important to NJDEP Fish & Wildlife to estimate abundance and distribution of various furbearing mammals. Please report all sightings to dep.nj.gov/njfw/furbearer-survey/.
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 will begin on or before Nov. 2, 2024. Award pickup will begin November 4, 2024. Permits MUST be claimed by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. 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. 4, 2024 at all license agents and online at NJFishandWildlife.com/licensesalessite.htm. 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 NJDEP Fish & 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 NJFishandWildlife.com/licensesalessite.htm 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 |
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Trap Type |
Target Species |
Specifications |
Notes |
Body-gripping Trap |
Mink, muskrat, nutria |
Max. jaw spread of 6" |
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Beaver*, otter* |
Max. jaw spread of 10" |
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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* |
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Coyote*, fox*, opossum*, raccoon*, skunk* |
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Mink, muskrat, nutria
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Weasel |
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Cage Trap |
Beaver*, coyote, fox, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, otter*, raccoon, skunk, weasel |
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Encapsulating Trap (aka, dog-proof or species-specific trap) |
Opossum, raccoon |
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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. |
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