2020 FURBEARER AND TRAPPING FWP Montana Trapping and Hunting Regulations Bobcat Lynx Rufus TURN IN POACHERS: CALL 1-800-TIP-MONT fwp.mt.gov Regulations are Adopted by the Fish & Wildlife Commission License Availability Chart Excess Take (CR) - the take of a legally harvestable species after the Exposed Carcass or Bait (CR) – No trap or snare may be set within season is closed or an individual’s possession limit has been met. 30 feet of an exposed carcass or bait that is visible from above. Regulations for season dates, structures, and restrictions were License Requirements Cost adopted by the F&W Commission on August 13, 2020, under the Fur Dealer (MCA 87-4-301) – Any person or persons, firm, Inspection by Warden (MCA 87-1-502) - Wildlife taken must be $4 Resident company, or corporation engaging in or conducting wholly shown to FWP Enforcement personnel for inspection when requested. authority granted in MCA 87-1-301 and are valid from the date of (6-17, 62+) adoption, through June 30, 2021. The F&W Commission reserves or in part the business of buying or selling, trading or dealing Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC) - Montana is the authority to amend the seasons, limits, and regulations herein Conservation Required Prerequisite $8 Resident within the state of Montana, in the skins or pelts of any animal a member of the IWVC. Under the compact, member states (18-62) if deemed necessary for wildlife management purposes. Statutes or animals, designated by the laws of Montana as furbearing or recognize suspensions of hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges. and other information, including other agencies’ restrictions, $10 Nonresident predatory animals. If such fur dealer resides in or the principal It is unlawful for a violator whose privilege to hunt, fish, or trap is are provided as a courtesy and do not fall under Commission Available to resident conservation place of business is within the state of Montana, that dealer shall suspended to obtain or attempt to obtain a license, tag, or permit authority. Martha Williams, Director. license holders 12 years of age or older. General be deemed a resident fur dealer. All other fur dealers should be in a member state. For more information, call 406-444-2452. Discrimination Prohibited – State and Federal laws, Title VI of Purchase by Feb. 28, 2021. Allows Trapper, $20 deemed nonresident fur dealers. Landowner Permission (MCA 87-6-415) Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act license holder to trap furbearers, hunt of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Resident Furbearers (MCA 87-6-101) – Furbearing animals are legally A resident or nonresident shall obtain permission of the landowner, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education or chase bobcat. Deadline for bobcat defined as beaver, otter, muskrat, mink, marten, fisher, wolverine, validation is Nov. 30, 2020. the lessee, or their agents before taking or attempting to take Amendments of 1972, prohibit discrimination on the basis of bobcat, swift fox, and lynx . There is currently no season for lynx or game animals, migratory game birds, nongame wildlife, predatory race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, or disability. Anyone Available to resident conservation for wolverine. Only Montana residents may hunt or trap furbearers animals, furbearers, upland game birds, or wolves while hunting believing he or she has been discriminated against (as described Youth license holders 6 through 11 years of and a license is required. Bobcats are the only furbearer that may be on private property. above) in any FWP program, activity, or facility may write to Trapper, age. Valid only for two furbearers – Free hunted in Montana. FWP Human Resources, 1420 East Sixth Avenue, PO Box 200701, Even if the land is not posted, hunters and trappers must have Resident mink and muskrat. Purchase by Feb. Ground Set (CR) – Any trap originally set in or on the land (soil, permission from the land owner, lessee, or their agent before Helena, MT 59620-0701 or the office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. 28, 2021. rock, etc.). This includes any traps elevated less than 48 inches Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. Any changes hunting or trapping on private property, regardless of whether the made to this printed publication can be found on the FWP website Applicant must give description of above the natural ground or current snow level. land is posted or not. or by inquiring at any local FWP office. owned or leased land, name, address, Nongame Wildlife (MCA 87-6-101) – means any wild mammal, Access to public land through private land requires permission of and resident ALS number. License bird, amphibian, reptile, fish, mollusk, crustacean, or other animal the private land owner, lessee, or their agent. Highlights not otherwise legally classified by Montana statute or regulation. Landowner holder restricted to trapping and Retrieval of all wildlife through private land requires permission of • Boundary change to swift fox portion of trapping district 6 Examples of nongame wildlife are badger, raccoon, and red fox. Trapper, hunting only on their owned property $1 the private landowner, lessee, or their agent. and season end date change for swift fox. Resident and leased lands. Issued only through There is no resident license required to trap nongame wildlife. • Marten harvest is now required to be called in. FWP offices. Deadline for bobcat Nonresidents must purchase a license in order to trap nongame (MCA 87-6-601) – A person may not use a snare trap for the • Marten trapping closures have been imposed to facilitate validation is Nov. 30, 2020. Purchase wildlife. purpose of snaring a fur-bearing animals, a predatory animal, or reintroduction of the species to the Little Belt Mountains see by Feb. 28, 2021. Non-target Capture (CR)- Capture of any animal that cannot be a nongame species unless the consent of the landowner has been obtained for a set on private property; and the snare trap is set in a marten regulations on page 9 for specific locations. lawfully trapped, including domestic animals. Available only to nonresident manner and at a time so that it will not unduly endanger livestock. • Two swivels, including a center swivel on the base of the trap, conservation license holders 12 years of Predatory Animals (MCA 87-6-101) – coyote, weasel, skunk, and License and Permit Possession/Use (MCA 87-6-304) are required for all ground set foothold traps. age or older, whose state of residence civet cat. There is no resident license required to trap predators. It is unlawful to: • Inspection of bobcat, fisher, otter, and swift fox harvests can has nonresident trapper licenses Nonresidents must purchase a license in order to trap predators. Nonresident • Hunt or trap or attempt to hunt or trap for any furbearing animal now be completed within 10 days of the calender close of the available to Montana trappers. Issued $250 Relaxing Snare – A relaxing snare has a snare lock that allows the Trapper unless the person is carrying the required license or permit at season. Formerly it was within 10 days of the harvest. only through FWP offices. Season snare loop to release constriction pressure on the captured animal the time. • Roads and Trails definition has been clarified, see roads and Dates: Oct. 16-Apr. 15. Valid only for when the cable is not taut (e.g., when the animal stops pulling, it • Refuse to produce a license or permit and the identification trails information under the setbacks section on page 5 predatory animals, nongame wildlife, will loosen). This means that the locking device on the snare cable used in purchasing a license or permit for inspection to a game operates both ways allowing the snare cable to move back and Reminders and wolves. Purchase by Feb. 28, 2021. warden. forth to some degree. Locks that only close or that use springs or • Alter or change a license in any material manner. • Setbacks apply to all public, federal, and state lands for the Required to trap on State School other powering devices to hold them closed are not considered Trust Lands. Contact Montana • Loan or transfer any license to another person. trapping of predatory animals and non-game wildlife as well Special DNRC relaxing snares. See page 15 for examples of relaxing snares. Department of Natural Resources • Use a license issued to another person. as furbearers at any time. Recreational Free and Conservation to apply for this Trap (MCA 87-6-101) – to take or harvest or participate in the • Have physical control over a valid and unused hunting license • Special trapping regulations in Lynx Protection Zones Use License license (406-444-9726). Apply by taking or harvesting of any wildlife protected by the laws of the or permit issued to another person while in any location that • Trapping on Fish, Wildlife & Parks lands, which includes Sep. 30, 2020. state by setting or placing any mechanical device, snare, deadfall, the species to be hunted may inhabit. This prohibition does not Wildlife Management Areas, Fishing Access Sites, and State pit, or device intended to take wildlife or to remove wildlife from Resident apply to a person who is carrying or has physical control over a Parks requires, written authorization. Available to resident conservation any of these devices. Hound license or permit issued to that person’s spouse or to any minor license holders 12 years of age or $5 • Trappers are required to obtain a free Special Recreational Training Water Set (CR)– Any trap originally set in or on any body of water. when the spouse or minor is hunting with that person. older. Purchase by Feb.