Rules and Regulations - Missouri Trappers Association

2008-2009 Missouri Trapping Seasons

General Trapping Season
November 15 2008 - January 31 2009

Beaver and Nutria Trapping Season
November 15 2008 - March 31 2009

Cable Restraint Trapping Season
December 15 2008 - January 31 2009

Chapter 8 - Missouri Wildlife Code: Trapping: Seasons, Methods
3 CSR 10-8.505 Trapping

PURPOSE: This rule requires any person engaged in trapping to possess the prescribed permit.

Any person, to exercise the privilege of trapping, shall obtain and have on his/her person the prescribed permit or temporary permit authorization number(s), unless exempt under provisions of 3 CSR 10-5.205. The temporary permit authorization number(s) and picture identification must be carried at all times while trapping until the actual permit( s) is received. Furbearers may be purchased and sold only under provisions of Chapter 10, 3 CSR 10-4.135, and this rule. No person shall accept payment for furbearers taken by another. Furbearers may not be held alive under trapping permits, except as provided in 3 CSR 10-8.515(7).

3 CSR 10-8.510 Use of Traps

PURPOSE: This rule specifies the types of traps that are permitted and the restrictions on their use.

(1) Traps shall have smooth or rubber jaws only, and may include foot-hold traps, Conibear or other killing-type traps, footenclosing- type traps, cage-type traps, colony traps with openings no greater than six inches (6") in height and six inches (6") wide, or snares (as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805) set under water only, and cable restraint devices (as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805), but only with the prescribed permit. Use of pitfalls, deadfalls, snares set in a dry land set, and nets are prohibited.

(2) Traps, snares and cable restraint devices shall be plainly labeled, on durable material, with the user’s full name and address. Wildlife held in traps, snares or cable restraint devices may be killed or removed only by the user. Conibear or other killingtype traps set under water and colony traps set under water shall be attended and wildlife removed at least once every forty-eight (48) hours. All other traps, snares and cable restraint devices must be attended daily and wildlife removed or released. Traps may not be set in paths made or used by persons or domestic animals and Conibear or other killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways, except under water in permanent waters. Except as provided in 3 CSR 10- 4.130, only cage-type traps or foot-enclosingtype traps may be set within one hundred fifty feet (150') of any residence or occupied building located within the established boundaries of cities or towns containing ten thousand (10,000) or more inhabitants. Homes, dens or nests of furbearers shall not be molested or destroyed. Traps may be used in conjunction with electronic calls.

(3) Use of Conibear or Other Killing-Type Traps:

(A) No Conibear or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread greater than five inches (5") shall be used in any dry land set.

(B) Conibear or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread not greater than eight inches (8") may be set six feet (6') or more above ground level in buildings.

(4) Use of Snares and Cable Restraint Devices:

(A) Snares (except as provided in subsection (4)(B)) must be set under water. Snares (as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805) must have a loop fifteen inches (15") or less in diameter when set and must have a stop device that prevents the snare from closing to less than two and one-half inches (2 1/2") in diameter.

(B) Furbearers may be taken by trapping through the use of cable restraint devices during specified seasons (3 CSR 10-8.515) by holders of a Cable Restraint Permit, after completing the cable restraint training course. Cable restraint devices (as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805) must have a loop size of twelve inches (12") in diameter or smaller when set, and the bottom of set restraint cable loop must be at least six inches (6") or greater above the ground. Cable restraint devices must be anchored solid or staked in a location not allowing entanglement (such as rooted, woody vegetation greater than one-half inch (1/2") in diameter), and shall not be capable of extending to within twelve inches (12") of a fence, nor shall be set using a drag, or used with a kill-pole. Cable restraint devices may not be used within one hundred fifty feet (150') of any residence, occupied building, or a driveway leading to a residence.

3 CSR 10-8.515 Furbearers: Trapping Seasons

PURPOSE: This rule establishes the open seasons for trapping and for selling pelts and carcasses of furbearers.

(1) Badger, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, mink, opossum, raccoon, red fox, and striped skunk may be taken in any numbers by trapping from November 15 through January 31. Beaver and nutria may be taken in any number by trapping from November 15 through March 31. Traps may not be placed or set before November 15 and must be removed by midnight of the last day of the applicable trapping season..

(2) Otters and muskrats may be taken by trapping during specified seasons and in specified limits described below:

(A) A season limit of five (5) otters, and muskrats in any numbers may be taken from November 15 through January 31 in Otter Management Zones A, C, and D, described as:

1. Otter Management Zone A - That portion of northwest Missouri from the Iowa border and west of a line running south on Worth County Hwy. F to Mo. Hwy. 46; south on Mo. Hwy. 46 to U.S. Hwy. 136; south on U.S. Hwy. 136 to U.S. Hwy. 169; south on U.S. Hwy. 169 to Mo. Hwy. 31; south on Mo. Hwy. 31 to U.S. Hwy. 36; east on U.S. Hwy. 36 to U.S. Hwy. 69; south on U.S. Hwy. 69 to Mo. Hwy. 10; east on Mo. Hwy. 10 to Mo. Hwy. 13; south on Mo. Hwy. 13 to Interstate Hwy. 70; west on Interstate Hwy. 70 to Mo. Hwy. 131; south on Mo. Hwy. 131 to Mo. Hwy. 2; west on Mo. Hwy. 2 to the Kansas line.

2. Otter Management Zone C - That portion of eastern Missouri east and south of a line running west from the Illinois border on Interstate Hwy. 270 to Interstate Hwy. 44; west on Interstate Hwy. 44 to Mo. Hwy. 68; south on Mo. Hwy. 68 to Mo. Hwy. 32; and north of a line comprised of Mo. Hwy. 32 east to St. Francois County Hwy. OO; south on St. Francois County Hwy. OO to St. Francois County Hwy. T; east on St. Francois County Hwy. T to Mo. Hwy. 51; and west of Mo. Hwy. 51 to the Illinois line.

3. Otter Management Zone D - That portion of southwest Missouri west and south of a line running north from the Arkansas border on Mo. Hwy. 37 to U.S. Hwy. 60; east on U.S. Hwy. 60 to Mo. Hwy. 39; north on Mo. Hwy. 39 to U.S. Hwy. 160; west on U.S. Hwy. 160 to the Kansas line. (B) Otters and muskrat may be taken in any numbers from November 15 through February 20 in Otter Management Zone E, described as:

1. Otter Management Zone E - That portion of south Missouri east and south of a line running north from the Arkansas border on Mo. Hwy. 37 to U.S. Hwy. 60; east on U.S. Hwy. 60 to Mo. Hwy. 39; north on Mo. Hwy. 39 to Interstate Hwy. 44; east on Interstate Hwy. 44 to U.S. Hwy. 65; east of a line running north on U.S. Hwy. 65 to Interstate Hwy. 70; south of a line running east on Interstate Hwy. 70 to the north bank of the Missouri River; east on the Missouri River to U.S. Hwy 63; south on U.S. Hwy. 63 to Mo. Hwy. 68; south on Mo. Hwy. 68 to Mo. Hwy. 32; and south of a line comprised of Mo. Hwy. 32 to U.S. Hwy. 67; south on U.S. Hwy. 67 to Mo. Hwy. 32; east on Mo. Hwy. 32 to St. Francois County Hwy. OO; south on St. Francois County Hwy. OO to St. Francois County Hwy. T; east on St. Francois County Hwy. T to Mo. Hwy. 51; and south and east of Mo. Hwy. 51 to the Illinois line. (C) A season limit of twenty (20) otters and muskrats in any numbers may be taken from November 15 through January 31 in Otter Management Zone B, described as:

1. Otter Management Zone B - The remainder of the state not in Otter Management Zone A, C, D, or E, as described above.

(3) Except in Otter Management Zone E, Conibear or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread less than eight inches (8") and foot-hold traps with an inside width at the jaw post less than six inches (6") are prohibited in water sets after January 31. In Otter Management Zone E, Conibear or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread less than eight inches (8") and foot-hold traps with an inside width at the jaw post less than six inches (6") are prohibited for trapping beavers after February 20.

(4) Except as provided in 3 CSR 10-10.711, pelts of furbearers may be possessed, transported, consigned for processing and sold only by the taker from November 15 through February 15, pelts of beaver may be possessed, transported, consigned for processing and sold by the taker from November 15 through April 10, and tagged bobcats and otters or their pelts may be possessed and sold throughout the year. Bobcats or their pelts shall be delivered by the taker to an agent of the department for registration or tagging; otters shall be delivered by the taker to an agent of the department only in the Otter Management Zone of harvest for registration or tagging. Bobcats and otters shall be registered or tagged before selling, transferring, tanning or mounting not later than February 15, except for otters taken in Otter Management Zone E, not later than March 4. It shall be illegal to purchase or sell untagged bobcats and otters or their pelts. Other pelts may be delivered or shipped and consigned by the taker to a licensed taxidermist or tanner before the close of the possession season for pelts. These pelts must be recorded by the taxidermist or tanner and shall not enter the raw fur market. After tanning, pelts may be possessed, bought or sold without permit. Skinned carcasses of legally taken furbearers may be sold by the taker throughout the year. (Certain Department of Health and Senior Services rules also govern how furbearer carcasses might be utilized.)

(5) Rabbits may be taken by trap from November 15 through January 31 within prescribed hunting limits, but carcasses may not be sold.

(6) Restrictions on possession shall not apply to tanned pelts, mounted specimens or manufactured products.

(7) Red fox, gray fox and coyotes may be taken alive during established seasons by prescribed methods and held in captivity. They may not be exported and may only be sold or given to holders of a valid Hound Running Area Operator and Dealer Permit. Live coyotes, red fox and gray fox may not be possessed after February 15. These animals may be held for no longer than seventy-two (72) hours after capture, except when confined in facilities and cared for as specified in 3 CSR 10-9.220, and after approval by an agent of the department. Complete and current records of all transactions must be maintained showing the county of origin, the species, date captured, date of transfer and name and permit number of the hound running area operator/dealer receiving each individual animal. These records shall be kept on forms provided by the department and submitted to an agent of the department by April 15. Records shall be made available for inspection by an authorized agent of the department at any reasonable time.

(8) Furbearers may be taken by trapping through the use of cable restraint devices from December 15 through January 31, by holders of a Cable Restraint Permit. This permit may be issued only to the holder of a Resident Trapping Permit who has successfully completed a cable restraint training course, validated by a certified instructor. Cable restraint devices must be used according to 3 CSR 10-8.510.

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