Code of Maryland Regulations
Title 08 - DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Subtitle 03 - WILDLIFE
Chapter 08.03.06 - Furbearer Wildlife
Section 08.03.06.03 - Trapping

Universal Citation: MD Code Reg 08.03.06.03

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, March 22, 2024

A. Except as otherwise expressly permitted or prohibited by law, trapping shall conform to the conditions in §§B-H of this regulation.

B. A person may set, tend, or operate smooth-jawed leg-hold traps having a jaw spread no greater than 5-3/4 inches except that smooth-jawed leg-hold traps set completely submerged underwater may have a maximum jaw spread of 7-3/4 inches.

C. A person may not set or tend body-gripping traps exceeding 8 inches by 8 inches or 8 inches in diameter except when the traps are submerged partially or totally in water.

D. A person may set and tend body-gripping traps equal to or less than 8 inches by 8 inches or 8 inches in diameter in State and private tidal wetlands, flooded nontidal wetlands, and in those portions of inland freshwater marshes, shrub swamps, wooded swamps, and bogs where water is covering the surface of the soil or the soil is waterlogged to the surface. In all other locations these traps may only be set if submerged partially or totally in water.

E. A person who sets any traps authorized by this regulation shall tend them or cause them to be tended at least once every day, except those traps which are set in water or tidal marshes, which shall be tended at least once every 2 days.

F. Live traps such as box or cage traps are permissible in all upland and wetland areas.

G. A person who traps any furbearer, taken during any established trapping season, may not transport it from the place of capture unless the animal has been killed.

H. A person who uses a snare, a trap, or another similar device to capture wildlife shall stamp their DNRid number on each device, or affix a metal tag with their DNRid number to each device, unless the device is being used on private property that is owned or rented by the person placing the device.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maryland may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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