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Furbearer Trapping

Furbearer Trapping

Regulated trapping is an important part of Indiana’s management of furbearers. Trapping is highly regulated, and those regulations are strictly enforced by conservation officers. Regulated trapping is a sustainable activity that does not cause species to become endangered, and much of the animal trapped is used by those licensed to trap. Not all furbearers have a regulated trapping season.

Furbearers with a regulated trapping season include:

  • beaver
  • coyote
  • gray fox
  • long-tailed weasel
  • mink
  • muskrat
  • opossum
  • raccoon
  • red fox
  • river otter
  • striped skunk

All of these species, except river otter, also have regulated hunting seasons. Like trapping seasons, these are generally in the fall and winter when the animals are mostly used for meat and fur and to avoid the period when the animals might have young in dens. To learn more about the hunting seasons and regulations for furbearers, visit the Hunting & Trapping Guide.

Trapping on state-owned lands

  • Fish & Wildlife Areas

    Fish & Wildlife areas (FWAs) also include Wetland Conservation Areas and Wildlife Management Areas. These properties typically allow water/wetland trapping only. Wetland trapping is available through a drawing that is held annually on the first Saturday in October at 10 a.m. local time. This information is posted on the website of each property that allows wetland trapping and conducts a drawing.

    Contact the property for more information about drawings or if any opportunities for dryland trapping are available.

  • Nature Preserves

    Generally, nature preserves are closed to regulated trapping. If a nature preserve is within an FWA, the trapping regulations for the FWA would apply. See the above information about FWAs for more details.

  • State Forests

    Most state forests are closed to all trapping. A few may allow limited water trapping. Contact the property for property-specific information.

  • State Parks & Reservoirs

    Indiana State Parks are generally closed to trapping. Some State Reservoirs (Brookville Lake, Hardy Lake, Mississinewa Lake, Monroe Lake, Patoka Lake, Salamonie Lake) allow limited trapping. Contact the property for specific information.

  • Off-road State Recreation Areas

    Trapping is allowed at Interlake Off-Road State Recreation Area (OSRA) by permit only. Contact the property for more information. Other OSRAs are closed to trapping.

  • Hoosier National Forest

    Trapping is allowed anywhere in Hoosier National Forest, except in recreation areas with designated boundaries, Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest, or where otherwise posted. All state laws apply and are enforced. Discharging a firearm or bow is prohibited within 150 yards of a developed recreation site, including trails, a residence, or any place where people are likely to be. Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun from, into, or across any parking area, trail, boat ramp, body of water, or road that is open to motorized vehicle traffic is prohibited. Review the rules and regulations online.

Best Management Practices for Trapping

Best Management Practices for Trapping, or BMPs, are determined by research into traps and trap systems for humaneness, efficiency, selectivity, practicality, and safety. The program has been testing traps and trap systems under international standards since 1997. BMPs help Indiana DNR be confident that traps and trap systems are humane for wildlife while giving licensed trappers information about which traps have been shown to be humane and effective at catching furbearers.

BMPs for trapping

Visit furbearermanagement.com.

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Trap portal

Find BMP traps on furbearermanagement.com.

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BMP reports

See species BMPs on furbearermanagement.com.

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BMP videos

furbearermanagement.com's YouTube channel.

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Bobcats

Bobcats can be tricky to successfully release from foothold traps. Bobcats are built differently than species like coyotes and foxes. Care must be taken to not cut off a bobcat’s blood flow. When releasing a bobcat from a foothold trap, it is important to not use a snare/catch pole, as this can cut off the bobcat’s main arteries. Using a V board instead will prevent harming the animal and keep you safe. A best management practice is having three swivel points on your trap chain for ease of leg movement. The following diagrams show examples of how to safely release a bobcat alone, or if you have help. If possible, releasing a bobcat with the help of another trapper is the safest option.

Tools you will need

V board

v-board

Heavy gloves

gloves

Trapper's helper

trapping tool

Swivel

swivel

Use the V board as a barrier to gently push the animal away after releasing.

Releasing the bobcat alone

one man releases a bobcat

Releasing the bobcat with help

two men releasing a bobcat

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