Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.30

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 02, November 27, 2024

Section 220-2-.30 - Fur-Bearing Animals Designated/Trap Specifications/And Prohibited Devices/Tagging Requirement

The following shall be named and designated as fur-bearing animals in Alabama:

Beaver, Bobcat, Fox, Mink, Muskrat, Nutria, Opossum, Otter, Raccoon, Striped Skunk, Coyote, and Feral Swine.

(1) Trap Specifications - It shall be unlawful for any person to set or use a leg hold trap on land that has an inside diameter jaw spread greater than six (6) inches as measured at the widest point perpendicular to the frame and parallel to the trap dog and for those traps without a dog, at the widest point parallel with the pan shank. Leg hold trap having teeth or serrated edges along the inside of one or both jaws are prohibited. All body gripping traps with jaw width exceeding 5 inches as measured from the inside of the main jaw at the trigger assembly to the inside of the opposing jaw across the entrance window, and snares (except powered foot snare with a maximum loop of 5 1/2 inches) are prohibited for use in trapping fur-bearing animals on land. It shall be unlawful for any person to trap in the State of Alabama without identifying each trap with a metal tag bearing the name and address or Conservation Identification Number (CID) of the owner. Instructions for obtaining a CID are available at www.outdooralabama.com.

(2) Any person trapping fur-bearing animals, except for feral swine, in the State of Alabama must carry a choke stick while running traps. When trapped fur-bearing animals are dispatched with a firearm, only standard .22 caliber rimfire firearms may be used. However, feral swine may be dispatched by any firearm or sharpened blade.

(3) Tagging Bobcat/Otter Pelts - Persons taking bobcat and otter must have the fur or pelts tagged by representatives of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater within 14 days of taking and before the fur or pelt is sold or otherwise disposed of.

(a) However, a licensed fur catcher may sell untagged bobcat and otter to an authorized resident fur dealer and leave a completed signed fur tag report with said dealer. The dealer must then have the bobcat and otter tagged by a representative of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries within 14 days of purchasing bobcat or otter pelts.

(b) Legally acquired bobcat and otter pelts or carcasses may be delivered untagged to a resident taxidermist for mounting if the owner leaves a completed, signed fur tag report with said taxidermist. The taxidermist must then have the bobcat and otter tagged by a representative of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries within 14 days of taking delivery of said pelts and transmit the completed fur tag report to Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries representative at the time the pelt or carcass is tagged.

(c) Tags may be removed from bobcat and otter pelts when processed by a taxidermist for mounting. However, the removed tag must remain with the mounted specimen when it is returned to its owner and until the mount and pelt are destroyed.

(d) It shall be unlawful for anyone to ship, transport, or export bobcat and otter pelts from this state unless said bobcat and otter pelts are tagged by a representative of the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.

(e) All bobcat and otter pelts shipped or imported into this state must be officially tagged by the state of origin.

(4) It shall be illegal to set a trap on top of a post or stake elevated above ground level.

(5) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess a furbearer alive beyond the confines of the trap without permit from the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources or his designee. Except for feral swine, all furbearers shall be immediately dispatched or released at the trap site. All feral swine must be killed at the site of capture in accordance with rule 220-2-.86.

(6) It shall be unlawful for any person to disturb a legally set trap or to remove a furbearing animals from a trap without permission of the owner

Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.30

Filed September 30, 1982. Amended: October 20, 1983; October 19, 1985; September 13, 1986; November 16, 1990. Amended: Filed September 10, 1997; effective October 16, 1997. Amended (PE): Filed August 24, 2011; effective August 24, 2011. Amended: Filed August 15, 2012; effective September 19, 2012. Amended: Filed September 6, 2013; effective October 14, 2013.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIII, Issue No. 09, June 30, 2015, eff. 7/15/2015.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVII, Issue No. 11, August 30, 2019, eff. 10/3/2019.

Author: Christopher M. Blankenship

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 9-2-7, 9-2-8, 9-2-12.

PENALTY: As provided by law.