Code of Trapping Ethics
1. Know and obey trapping laws a n d a s s i s t i n t h e i r e n f o r c e m e n t b y reporting violations.
2. Improve your knowledge of fur bearers, their ecology and management, and improved trapping and fur handling methods.
3. Respect landowners’ rights and always obtain permission before trapping on private lands.
4. Respect and conserve public lands and the natural resources found on them.
5. Be aware of other people u s i n g t h e o u t d o o r s a n d a v o i d i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s .
6. Be aware of free-ranging domestic animals and avoid trapping where there is a high risk of catching them.
7. Know and use selective and humane trapping sets with appropriate trap types and sizes.
8. Don’t set more traps than YOU can effectively handle.
9. Cover all foothold traps set on land.
10. When trapping muskrat, always use body-gripping traps, guarded foothold traps, or submersion sets.
11. Use body-gripping traps or submersion sets w i t h s l i d i n g l o c k s f o r a l l b e a v e r a n d o t t e r s e t s .
12. Anchor traps securely enough to hold the largest potential catch.
13. Check all traps daily and as early in the day as possible.
14. Dispose of animal carcasses properly.
15. Support trapping, trapper training, and fur bearer management and research.
16. Report diseased animals.
17. Make an effort to trap any areas where fur bearer populations are overabundant or are creating a nuisance.
18. Know and use proper releasing and killing methods
2. Improve your knowledge of fur bearers, their ecology and management, and improved trapping and fur handling methods.
3. Respect landowners’ rights and always obtain permission before trapping on private lands.
4. Respect and conserve public lands and the natural resources found on them.
5. Be aware of other people u s i n g t h e o u t d o o r s a n d a v o i d i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s .
6. Be aware of free-ranging domestic animals and avoid trapping where there is a high risk of catching them.
7. Know and use selective and humane trapping sets with appropriate trap types and sizes.
8. Don’t set more traps than YOU can effectively handle.
9. Cover all foothold traps set on land.
10. When trapping muskrat, always use body-gripping traps, guarded foothold traps, or submersion sets.
11. Use body-gripping traps or submersion sets w i t h s l i d i n g l o c k s f o r a l l b e a v e r a n d o t t e r s e t s .
12. Anchor traps securely enough to hold the largest potential catch.
13. Check all traps daily and as early in the day as possible.
14. Dispose of animal carcasses properly.
15. Support trapping, trapper training, and fur bearer management and research.
16. Report diseased animals.
17. Make an effort to trap any areas where fur bearer populations are overabundant or are creating a nuisance.
18. Know and use proper releasing and killing methods