§ 44 - Furbearing species - Vermont Statutes

§ 44. Furbearing species TITLE 10AConservation and Development 4 APPENDIXCHAPTER 1. GAMESubchapter IV. Fur-Bearing Animals

§ 44. Furbearing species

1.0 Authority

1.1 This rule is promulgated pursuant to 10 V.S.A. §§ 4081, 4082, 4084, 4828, and 4861. In promulgating this rule, the fish and wildlife board is following the policy established by the general assembly that the protection, propagation, control, management, and conservation of fish, wildlife, and furbearing animals in this state is in the interest of the public welfare and that the safeguarding of these valuable resources for the people of the state requires a constant and continual vigilance.

1.2 In accordance with 10 V.S.A. §§ 4082 and 4084, this rule is designed to maintain the best health, population, and utilization levels of the regulated species.

1.3 This rule shall apply to all persons who take or attempt to take wild or furbearing animals by trapping or hunting.

2.0 Purpose

The purpose of this rule is to regulate the taking of wild animals by trapping.

3.0 Permitted Activities and Restrictions

3.1 A person who traps for furbearing or other animals shall visit his/her traps at least once daily, except as provided in paragraph 3.5, and dispatch or release any animal caught therein.

3.2 A person shall not set a trap on lands other than his/her own which does not have his/her name and address permanently and legibly stamped or engraved thereon, or on a tag of rustless material securely attached thereto.

3.3 A person may take beaver, otter, and mink during the open season by means of traps only.

3.4 All traps under ice will be marked with a tag visible above the ice.

3.5 A person who sets body traps in the water or foot traps or body traps under the ice during the open season for beaver shall visit his/her traps at least once in every three days and remove any animal caught therein.

3.6 No person shall set a trap within 10 feet of the nearest point, above the water, of a beaver house or dam.

3.7 A person shall not set a body gripping trap with a jaw spread over 8 inches measured inside the jaws unless the trap is set 5 feet or more above the ground, or in the water.

3.8 From December 17 to December 31, both dates inclusive, in order to minimize incidental bobcat harvest during the remainder of the fisher season, a person shall not set a body gripping trap with a jaw spread over 6 inches measured inside the jaws unless the trap is set 5 or more feet above the ground, or in the water.

3.9 Use of toothed traps shall be illegal under any circumstances.

3.10 A person shall not set a trap between December 31 and the following fourth Saturday in October unless the trap is in the water, under the ice, or on a float in the water.

3.11 A person shall not possess a living wild animal, except as provided by rules of the Board or part 4 of Title 10.

3.12 A person shall not have in his/her possession in the raw state a fur or skin of a furbearing animal unlawfully taken.

3.13 A person who takes bobcats during the shooting season shall present the pelts and carcasses to a designee of the commissioner for tagging within ten days of the close of the season.

3.14 A person who takes bobcats, otter, or fisher during the trapping season shall notify a designee of the commissioner within 48 hours of the close of the season. Pelts and carcasses shall be presented for tagging and marked in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. Such tags shall remain affixed to each skin until tanned and made into commercial fur.

3.15 All bobcat, otter, and fisher carcasses shall be surrendered to the designee of the commissioner.

3.16 No bobcat, otter, or fisher pelts or carcasses taken during these seasons shall be transported out of the state of Vermont prior to being tagged by a designee of the commissioner.

3.17 The skins of bobcat, otter, and fisher legally taken may be possessed, transported, bought and sold only when tagged and marked as hereinafter provided.

3.18 Bobcat, fisher, and otter taken in defense of property will be tagged by a designee of the commissioner. At the time of tagging, carcasses will be turned over to a designee of the commissioner.

3.19 The commissioner shall close the seasons for taking bobcat if and when the total take exceeds 100 animals.

4.0 Method of taking

4.1 A person may not take a furbearing animal by use of any poisonous mixture.

4.2 A person shall not disturb or destroy a muskrat house or place a trap therein, thereon or at the entrance thereof, or in the entrance or inside a muskrat burrow.

4.3 A person shall not take raccoons, foxes, or coyotes from holes or dens by cutting, digging, smoking, trapping, snaring, or by the use of chemicals, or any mechanical device.

4.4 A person shall not take skunks from holes or dens by cutting, digging, smoking, or by the use of chemicals.

4.5 A person shall not interfere in any manner with dams, dens, or houses of beaver except upon special permit in writing from the commissioner.

4.6 A person shall not take raccoon by shooting except with a .22 caliber rimfire or #2 shot or smaller.

4.7 Skunks may be taken with the aid of a light of not more than 9 volts. A light of not more than 9 volts may be used while locating in and taking from a tree any raccoon treed by a dog.

4.8 When trapping muskrat between March 1 and March 31, body gripping traps are restricted to 5" or less.

4.9 When trapping beaver between March 1 and March 31, the trap triggers shall:

4.9(1): for body gripping traps have a tension adjustable/parallel trigger and trigger stop. The trigger should be offset at least 8" from one side of the trap and no longer than 6 1/2". Trigger wires must be joined together.

4.9(2): include tension adjustable square-notch trigger brackets. Acceptable trigger stops include twisted wire, cable ties, wire wrap, or welded bead. Four-way and/or V-notch triggers are illegal to use.

4.9(3): Diagram one below illustrates these requirements.

PLEASE REFER TO THE BOOK FOR GRAPHIC IMAGE OF BEAVER TRAP

5.0 Seasons, Bag Limits

The following seasons and bag limits are hereby established for the species listed. All shooting seasons will be with or without dogs, except as otherwise provided.

SEASONS BAG LIMIT

5.1 Beaver by trapping November 15 through March 31 No limit

5.2 Otter by trapping Fourth Sat. in Oct-last day of Feb No limit

5.3 Marten No open season

5.4 Mink by trapping Fourth Sat in Oct.-Dec. 31 No limit

5.5 Raccoon

By shooting 2nd Sat. in Oct.-Dec. 31 No limit

By trapping Fourth Sat. in Oct.-Dec. 31 No limit

5.6 Bobcat

By shooting January 10-February 7 No limit

By trapping December 1-December 16 No limit

5.7 Fox (red or grey)

By shooting Fourth Sat. in Oct. to the No limit

second Sun. in Feb.

By trapping Fourth Sat. in Oct.-Dec. 31 No limit

5.8 Skunk Fourth Sat. in Oct.-Dec. 31 No limit

5.9 Muskrat

By shooting March 20-April 19, inclusive No limit

By trapping Fourth Sat. in Oct.-March 31, inclusive No limit

5.10 Coyote

By shooting No closed season No limit

Use of dogs No closed season No limit

By trapping Fourth Sat. in Oct.-Dec. 31 No limit

5.14 Fisher by trapping December 1-December 31 No limit

5.15 Weasel by trapping Fourth Sat. in Oct.-Dec. 31 No limit

5.16 Opossum Fourth Sat. in Oct.-Dec. 31 No limit

5.17 Wolf No open season

5.18 Lynx No open season

(1961, No. 119, § 2, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1966, Fish and Game Board Reg. No. -, eff. Jan. 1, 1967; 1974, Fish and Game Board Reg. No. 883, eff. Jan. 18, 1974; 1977, Fish and Game Board Reg. No. 904, § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; 1977, No. 231 (Adj. Sess.); 1980, Fish and Game Board Regs. No. 917, eff. July 2, 1980; No. 925,§§ 1, 2, eff. Dec. 27, 1980; 1984, Fish and Game Board Reg. No. 949, eff. June 2, 1984; 1989, No. 36, § 2; 1995, Fish and Game Board Reg. No. 1008, eff. July 9, 1994; 2003, Fish and Wildlife Reg. No. 1008, eff. Oct. 31, 2003; 2007, Fish and Wildlife Reg. No. 1008, eff. Jan. 12, 2007.)