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Furbearer Traps

How to Measure a Trap

How to measure a body-gripping trap:

Measure the inside distance between the outer frames of the trap. The addition of one or more bars to the inside of the frame does not change the way these traps are measured. The measurement is still the MAXIMUM distance as shown in the top picture.

How to measure a foothold trap:

Measure the inside distance between the jaws excluding the gripping surface as shown. If the jaws have inside laminations, the measurement is the inside distance between the laminations. If the trap has double jaws, measure the inside distance between the outer jaws.

Reminders on Pelt Sealing

All bobcat, fisher, otter, and marten need to be sealed within 10 days after the close of the season in the WMU where the fur was taken. Some things to keep in mind to make the pelt sealing process go smoothly:

  • Contact your local wildlife office to make pelt sealing arrangements prior to showing up.
  • When freezing an unsealed pelt, make sure that the face is on the outside and easily accessible.
  • If having an unsealed animal mounted, thaw the carcass enough so that a seal can be inserted through the eye or foot. Inserting a stick or similar object through a pre-made hole makes the sealing process much easier. If this is not done, it may be impossible to seal the animal at that time.

Trigger Regulations for Beaver Trappers

This regulation applies if you:

  • Trap in a WMU in the Southern Zone during a closed otter season; and
  • Use a body-gripping trap larger than 8½ inches (these are “330” size traps).
    1. Body-gripping trap with off-set parallel trigger:
    2. Example of non-legal vs. legal trigger brackets:

Non-legal: V-notch, four-way trigger

Legal: square-notch, two-way trigger

  1. Examples of acceptable parallel triggers:
  2. Tension-adjustable triggers and trigger stops are no longer required.

Regulations for Body-Gripping Traps Set on Land

Body-gripping traps set on land shall not be within 100 feet of a public trail except on Wildlife Management Areas.

Permit Requirements for Marten

A free special permit is still required to trap marten in New York State. To receive a permit, contact the DEC Region 5 Wildlife Office in Warrensburg at 518-623-1240. You must provide the following information:

  • Name
  • Mailing address
  • DEC ID # (from your trapping license or backtag)
  • Phone number or email address.

You can also apply by email to: [email protected], type “Marten Permit” in the subject line. Please be sure to include the information listed above.

Report Your Furbearer Sightings!

DEC wants to learn more about the occurrence of various furbearers throughout New York State such as bobcat, otter, fisher, weasel, and snowshoe hare. Your observations help biologists understand the distribution and abundance of these elusive or inconspicuous mammals.

You can report your observations online, and you can even include photos!

Go to dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/biodiversity-species-conservation/citizen-science/furbearer-sighting-surveys or email us at [email protected]!

Thanks for your help!

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