N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.12 - General trapping

(a) All traps set or used in this State must bear a durable and legible tag with the name and address of the person setting, using and maintaining the traps. A Division-issued trap identification number or Conservation Identification Number (CID) may be used in lieu of a name and address.

(b) No trap of any kind shall be permitted to remain set on any property at the close of the trapping season. It shall be illegal to possess, in the woods or fields of this State, any body gripping killer-type trap with a jaw spread greater than six inches except under permit for the trapping of beaver or otter.

(c) No person shall set, use, or maintain any type of body gripping killer-type trap for the purpose of trapping any muskrat or other furbearing animal in this State unless such trap is completely submerged underwater. This shall not preclude the setting of body gripping killer-type traps in tidal waters of this State for the purpose of taking muskrats, whereby the traps may be exposed above the surface of the water due to the ebb and flow of the tide, and provided that all such traps shall be completely submerged at mean high tide.

(d) No body gripping killer-type traps with a jaw spread larger than six inches shall be used or set in this State except for the trapping of beaver or otter. No body gripping killer-type traps with a jaw spread larger than 10 inches shall be used, set, or maintained at any time in this State for the purpose of trapping any animal. Jaw spread shall be measured across the trigger of a set trap to the inner edges of the jaws.

(e) Steel-jaw leghold type trap:

1. Effective October 27, 1985, and thereafter, no person in this State shall:

i. Manufacture, sell, offer for sale, possess, import or transport an animal trap of the steel-jaw leghold type;

ii. Take or attempt to take any animal by means of a trap of the steel-jaw leghold type; or

iii. Use a steel-jaw leghold type trap.

2. The possession of a trap of the steel-jaw leghold type shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of these regulations except under the conditions prescribed by N.J.S.A. 23:4-22.5 which are:

i. The use of steel-jaw leghold traps for the purpose of exhibition by humane or educational institutions or organizations; or

ii. The possession of such traps by a person in the act of turning over the traps to a law enforcement agency.

(f) Live capture cable restraints shall be subject to the following requirements.

1. No person shall set, use or maintain any type of cable restraint unless they have first satisfactorily completed a division-approved cable restraint training course and carry on their person appropriate certification thereof.

2. Except when submerged underwater or when set for weasel, mink, and muskrat as provided herein, all live capture cable restraints used in trapping must be constructed of aircraft cable or crucible wire measuring up to 3/16 inches in diameter and be equipped with a swivel and a relaxing lock. Weasel, mink, and muskrat live capture cable restraints must be constructed of aircraft cable or crucible wire measuring 1/32, 3/64, or 1/16 inches in diameter, equipped with a swivel. Mink and muskrat cable restraints must be set within 50 feet of the mean high water line.

3. Except when submerged underwater or when set for weasel, mink, and muskrat as provided in this subsection, no live capture cable restraints shall be set, used, or maintained with a loop diameter average (arithmetic mean) greater than 12 inches. Weasel, mink, and muskrat live capture cable restraints must be equipped with a stop to prevent the average (arithmetic mean) diameter of the loop opening from exceeding four inches.

4. Except when set for weasel, mink, and muskrat as provided in this subsection, no live capture cable restraints shall be set, used, or maintained with the distance between the ground or walking surface to the top of the loop greater than 24 inches. No weasel, mink, or muskrat live capture cable restraints shall be set, used, or maintained with a distance between the ground or walking surface to the top of the loop greater than seven inches.

5. Except when submerged underwater or when set for weasel, mink, and muskrat as provided in this subsection, no live capture cable restraints shall be set, used, or maintained unless it is equipped with a stop six inches from the end to restrict loop closure to no less than six inches in circumference.

6. All natural baits consisting of fish, bird or mammal carcasses or flesh used in trapping with live capture cable restraints must be covered or concealed from view except when placed or located at a distance of 30 feet or greater from any set cable restraint.

(g) Enclosed foothold traps may be used to harvest furbearing animals during the prescribed open seasons and shall be subject to the following requirements:

1. All triggering and restraining mechanisms shall be enclosed by a housing;

2. The triggering and restraining mechanism is accessible only by a single opening when the trap is set;

3. The access opening does not exceed two inches in diameter or when measured diagonally;

4. The triggering mechanism can be activated only by a pulling force; and

5. The trap has a swivel-mounted anchoring system.

(h) Legally licensed trappers possessing a valid and proper rifle permit may carry and use a .22 caliber rifle and .22 caliber short rimfire cartridges only, to kill legally trapped animals other than muskrats. Legally licensed trappers may also carry and use an air gun, no smaller than .177 caliber, to kill legally trapped animals other than muskrats. Legally licensed trappers under 14 years of age using a rifle or air gun in accordance with a valid and proper rifle permit to dispatch legally trapped animals shall be accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a properly licensed adult who is at least 21 years of age.

(i) All traps set or in use must be checked, tended, and maintained at least once per calendar day for trapping of semi-aquatic species in tidal areas and at least once in every 24 hours for all other trappings.

(j) Authority: The authority for the adoption of the foregoing section is found in N.J.S.A. 23:4-13, 23:4-37, 23:4-38.2, 23:4-39 and 23:4-41 et seq. and other applicable statutes.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.12

Amended by 47 N.J.R. 2264(a), effective 9/8/2015 Amended by 49 N.J.R. 2921(a), effective 9/5/2017