Our Blog
SPECIES GUIDE: FURBEARER
(TRAPPING)
REGULATIONS & MAPS
-
Regulations
Regulations for upcoming seasons are posted online throughout the year. Furbearer & Trapping regulations are typically posted mid August.
All downloads below are in PDF format.
Mandatory Animal Pelt Tagging & Harvest Reporting
Hunters and trappers must call in their harvest of bobcat, otter, swift fox, fisher, and marten within 24 hours. Bobcat, otter, fisher, and swift fox are required to be inspected and pelt-tagged within 10 days of the calendar close of the season at an FWP office. Tagging and inspection are no longer required for marten.
-
Harvest Reporting Line: 1-877-FWP-WILD (1-877-397-9453)
-
Reminder: The capture of any animal that cannot be lawfully trapped, including domestic animals, must be reported to FWP within 24 hours.
Plan Your Hunt Online
Launch maps, obtain legal descriptions, regulations, and statistics all in one place.
-
SEASONS
-
These dates are provided only as a general reference. Check current regulations or use FWP’s online Hunt Planner for specific dates.
2021 Beaver Season Dates
Western & Southwestern Districts 1, 2 & 3
November 1 – April 15
Central & Eastern Districts 4, 5, 6 & 7
September 1 – May 31
2021 Bobcat Season Dates
Western & Southwestern Districts 1, 2 & 3
December 1 – February 15
Central & Eastern Districts 4, 5, 6 & 7
December 1 – March 1
Reminder: Bobcat season may close earlier when the quota is reached.
2021 Fisher Season Dates
Districts 1 & 2
December 1 – February 15
Reminder: Fisher season may close earlier when the quota is reached
2021 Marten Season Dates
Districts 1 – 5
December 1 – February 15
2021 Otter, Mink, Muskrat Season Dates
Statewide
November 1 – April 15
Reminder: Otter season may close earlier when the quota is reached
2021 Swift Fox Season Dates
District 6
November 1 – January 15
Reminder: Swift Fox season may close earlier when the quota is reached
2021 Wolverine Season Dates
Districts 1 – 5
Closed
Reminder: The Wolverine trapping season will remain closed for the foreseeable future
LICENSES
General Trapper
Details: Available only to resident Conservation License holders 12 years of age or older. Must be purchased by November 30 each year to be valid for bobcat.
Fees:
-
Resident: $20
-
Nonresident: N/A
Landowner Trapper
Details: Available to landowner or member of their immediate family. Trapping restricted to lands owned or leased by the applicant. Must be purchased by November 30 each year to be valid for bobcat.
Fees:
-
Resident: $1
-
Nonresident: N/A
Nonresident Trapper
Details: Available only to nonresident conservation license holders; 12 years of age or older, whose state of residence has nonresident trapper licenses available to Montana trappers. Valid for predatory animals, wolves, and nongame wildlife. Not valid for bobcat.
Fees:
-
Resident: N/A
-
Nonresident: $250
Youth Trapper
Details: Available only to resident conservation license holders 6 through 11 years of age. Valid for mink and muskrat only.
Fees:
-
Resident: $0
-
Nonresident: N/A
Special Recreational Use License for Trapping
Details: Prior to trapping on state trust land, all persons 12 years old and older must first apply for and be issued a “Special Recreational Use License for Trapping” (SRULT) from DNRC.
SPECIES GUIDES
Trapping & Furbearer Management in Montana
For centuries, people have trapped furbearers across Montana. Montana sportsmen and sportswomen take part in this fur trapping tradition to legitimately harvest a renewable resource on public and private land.
Fur trapping is highly regulated, biologically sustainable, and an important part of Montana’s cultural history and outdoor lifestyle.
What Are Furbearers?
Wildlife species that are harvested specifically for their pelts are commonly known as furbearers. Typically, they are harvested in the winter when their furs are in the best condition (called “prime”), but some furbearers may be harvested at other times of the year to control damage they may be causing or for wildlife management purposes, such as relocation and restoration. Although trapping is the primary means of harvesting furbearers, some species may also be hunted during established seasons.
Furbearers are important for a number of reasons.
- Economically, they are valuable for furs, meat, and by-products, such as perfume and fishing lures. However, they may also have negative economic impacts due to crop depredation, property damage, and flooded roads.
- Furbearers serve important ecological functions, including their roles as both predators and prey in functioning ecosystems, and as functional environmental indicators (e.g., for measuring contaminants and toxicants). In some cases, excessive numbers of furbearers may have a detrimental impact if they harm habitats, prey on endangered animals, or expose humans to diseases and parasites.
Facebook Comments