2005 Vermont Code - § 44. — Rule governing trapping

§ 44. Rule governing trapping

1.0 Authority

This rule is promulgated pursuant to 10 V.S.A. §§ 4081, 4082 and 4084. 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 fur-bearing animals in this state is in the interest of the public welfare and that the safeguarding of this valuable resource for the people of the state requires a constant and continual vigilance.

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.

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

2.0 Purpose

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

3.0 Permitted Activities and Restrictions

A person who traps for fur-bearing or other animals shall visit his traps at least once in every twenty-four hours, except as provided in subsection (c), and remove any bird or animal caught therein.

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

A person may take beaver during the open season by means of traps only. Such traps shall be marked with a tag visible above the ice.

A person who sets traps in the water or under the ice during the open season for beaver shall visit his traps at least once in every seventy-two hours and remove any animal caught therein.

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

A person shall not take bear by trapping.

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

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 unless the trap is set to 5 or more feet above the ground, or in the water.

Toothed traps shall not be permitted above water.

After the close of the 1981 beaver season toothed traps shall be illegal under any circumstances.

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.

A person shall not possess a living wild animal taken by means of a box, wire or cage trap, except as provided under this title. (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.)