Trapping Laws & Safety

Trapping is a highly regulated activity, designed to allow the sustainable harvest of furbearers and to help manage furbearing animals using safe and selective equipment and techniques that take into consideration the welfare of the trapped animal.

Trapping Regulations and Information

Statewide Trapping Laws
It is unlawful to:
  • 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 his agent.
  • Remove or disturb any lawfully set trap or remove any furbearing animal from a trap without permission of the trap owner.
  • Set or use a trap so that animals or birds will be suspended when caught.
  • Set or use a hook of any sort or type to take wild animals or wild birds.
  • Open or damage a beaver lodge without a permit from the Wildlife Resources Commission.
  • Possess or sell any furbearer species, armadillos, groundhogs and nutria. Licensed trappers may live-trap foxes and coyotes during any open trapping season for foxes and coyotes, and sell them to licensed controlled fox hunting preserves up to 10 days after the trapping season. 
  • Take wild animals by trapping with any steel-jaw, leg-hold orConibear-type trap unless the trap:
    • a. has a jaw spread of not more than 7½ inches.
    • b. is horizontally offset with a closed-jaw offset of at least 3/16 of an inch for a trap with a jaw spread of more than 5½ inches. This provision does not apply if the trap is set in the water with a quick-drown type set.
    • c. is smooth-edged and without teeth or spikes.
    • d. has a weather-resistant permanent tag attached legibly giving the trapper’s name and address.
  • Set a steel-jaw or leghold trap on dry land with solid anchor with a trap chain longer than eight inches from trap to anchor, unless fitted with a shock-absorbing device with at least 40 lbs. and not more than 75 lbs. of pull. Trap chain is measured from anchor point (ground level) to the base of the trap.
  • Set snares of any type, except for capturing beavers and only during the beaver trapping season. However, landowners and/or persons assisting them may use snares for beaver that are damaging the property.

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.

Bobcat and Otter Tags (CITES tags):

  • Needed to sell or otherwise transfer ownership of bobcat or otter carcasses or pelts.
  • All bobcat and otter carcasses shall be properly tagged within 10 days following the close of the applicable trapping or hunting season.
  • $2.20 per tag
  • Call (888) 248-6834 for information on purchasing bobcat and otter tags.
Fox Tags:
  • Needed in most counties with a fox season to sell or otherwise transfer ownership of a fox carcass or pelt.
  • To find out if your county exempts you from needing fox tags, please see Fox Season Trapping and Hunting Laws (PDF)
  • If required for a county, all fox carcasses or pelts shall be tagged within 10 days following close of the applicable hunting or trapping season.
  • Live foxes are exempt from tagging requirements.
  • $2.25 per tag
  • Call (888) 248-6834 for information on purchasing fox tags.

Regulations Digest



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Unlawful Harassment of Persons Taking Wildlife Resources

In North Carolina, it is unlawful for a person to interfere intentionally with the lawful taking 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. General Statute §113-295).

What Should I Do?

If you experience unlawful harassment, immediately 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-trapping activists seek confrontation and may be accompanied by the news media.