Trapping Regulations AND INFORMATION
• Take wild animals by trapping upon the land of another without having in possession written permission issued and dated within the previous year by the landowner or their agent. This restriction does not apply to pub- lic lands on which trapping is not specifically prohibited, including tidelands, marshlands, and any other untitled land. • Remove or disturb any lawfully set trap or remove any furbearing animal from a trap without permission of the trap owner. Statewide Trap Regulations • All traps must have a weather-resistant per- manent tag attached with either the trapper’s name and address or the trapper’s Trapper Identification Number (TIN) and the Commis- sion’s phone number (800-662-7137). The TIN can be found on your trapping license. • If a trap is placed on the property of another and identified by the TIN, the Commission is required to disclose the identity of the trapper to the landowner upon request. • Unlawful to set or use a trap so that animals or birds will be suspended when caught. • Unlawful to set or use a hook of any sort or type to take wild animals or wild birds. Legal Trap Types • Box/cage traps and colony traps • Conibear™-type traps • Foothold trap • Snares (for beaver only) Conibear ™–type Traps • Must be smooth-edged and without teeth or spikes. • Jaw Spread: » To measure the width and height of a Conibear™-type trap, measure from in- side jaw to inside jaw (Figure 1).
» Trap can be checked every 72 hours if completely submerged. • In addition, if trapping for beaver, Conibear™- type traps can be set one-half covered by water, but must be checked daily. Foothold Traps: • Must be smooth edged and without teeth or spikes. • Jaw Spread: » To measure jaw spread of a foot-hold trap, measure from inside jaw to inside jaw (Figure 2).
to a centralized application database at least once every 12 hours; • a software application that notifies the user of unit status, trap activity, and system health issues within 10 minutes of these events via text-based messaging systems, or an in- application notification; and • on-demand test procedure that is used at each deployment of a unit to confirm that the unit is placed in a location where its wireless communication can be received and processed. If the remote trap checking system control unit reports a trap closure, the trap shall be physically visited within 24 hours of the time the trap was reported closed. If a remote trap checking system control unit fails to report its status after a 12 hour period, or reports a system health issue, the trap shall be physically visited within 24 hours of the last time a status report was sent. Remote trap checking system users shall maintain records of trap status and notification alarms for a period of no less than seven days after receipt. Records shall be made available for inspection upon request by a rep- resentative of the Commission. Unlawful Harassment of Persons Taking Wildlife Resources In North Carolina, it is unlawful for a person to interfere intentionally with the lawful tak- ing of wildlife resources or to drive, harass, or intentionally disturb any wildlife resources for the purpose of disrupting the lawful taking of wildlife resources on public or private property. NOTE: This law does not apply to activity by a person on land he or she owns or leases or to a person who incidentally interferes with the taking of wildlife resources while using the land for other lawful activity such as agriculture, mining or recreation. Violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable for a first conviction by a fine not to exceed $1,000, by imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, or by both and punishable for a second or subsequent conviction by a fine left to the discretion of the court (N.C.G.S. §113-295). What Should I Do? If you experience unlawful harassment, imme- diately notify your nearest wildlife enforcement officer, county sheriff’s office or local police department. Advise the authorities of this law and that you wish to hunt peacefully. What Not to Do Do not provoke a fight, threaten reprisals or use profanity. Remember that some anti-hunting activists seek confrontation and may be ac- companied by the news media.
Figure 2. To measure jaw spread of a foot- hold/leghold trap, measure from inside jaw to inside jaw.
» Cannot have a jaw spread greater than 7 ½ inches. » If the jaw spread is between 5 ½ and 7 ½ inches, the jaws must be offset by 3/16th of an inch. » The jaws do not have to be offset if the trap is set in water with a quick-drown type set. • Chain Length: » Trap chain cannot be longer than 8 inches from anchor point to the base of the trap unless fitted with a shock-absorbing de- vice with at least 40 lbs. and not more than 75 lbs. of pull. » Trap chain can be measured from anchor point (solid ground) to the base of the trap. Snares • Can be used to trap only beaver, except where allowed by local law. • Cannot be used to trap wildlife, except where allowed by local law. You should also read the “Game Lands” and “Local Laws” sections for trapping restrictions on certain game lands and in certain counties. Attendance Every trap must be visited daily and any animal caught therein removed, except for completely submerged Conibear™-type traps, which must be visited at least once every 72 hours and any animal caught therein removed. Remote trap checking systems may be used in lieu of visiting the trap, provided the system has the following features: • a control unit that monitors the trap in real time and reports trap status and unit status
Figure 1. To measure the width and height of a Conibear™-type trap, measure from inside jaw to inside jaw.
» On dry land, cannot have a jaw spread greater than 7 ½ inches. » If totally covered by water, it can have an inside jaw spread (width or height) greater than 7 ½ inches and no larger than 26 inches in width and 12 inches in height. » In areas of tidal waters, the mean high water is considered covering water. » In reservoir areas, covering water is the low water level prevailing during the pre- ceding 24 hours.
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North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting & Trapping Regulations
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