N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.9

Current through Register Vol. 57, No. 1, January 6, 2025

Section 7:25-5.9 - Beaver (Castor canadensis) trapping

(a) Beaver may only be taken by means of a trap approved by the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

(b) The annual beaver trapping season shall begin 6:00 A.M. EST on December 26 and conclude the following February 9, 11:59 P.M. EST, inclusive, except on State Fish and Wildlife Management Areas enumerated in N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.33(a)2. On State Fish and Wildlife Management Areas enumerated in N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.33(a)2, the trapping season for beaver shall begin 6:00 A.M. EST on January 1 and conclude February 9, 11:59 P.M. EST, inclusive. If the anticipated harvest of beaver has not been accomplished during this season, up to 14 additional days may be authorized by the Director.

(c) Special Permit: A special permit obtained from the Division of Fish and Wildlife shall be required to trap beaver. If the number of applications received exceeds the quotas listed, a random drawing will be held to determine permit holders. Application for special permits shall be made via the Division's ELS or, in the event of ELS operating difficulties, by providing the same information at ELS locations through such alternate system as may be designated by the Division during the period October 1-31, annually. Unclaimed beaver permits may be issued over-the-counter. Applicants may apply for only one beaver trapping permit and shall provide their Conservation ID Number, or name, age, address, and any other information requested thereon. Successful applicants must trap with a valid, current trapping license. The annual Special Beaver Trapping Permit quota is as follows:

ANNUAL SPECIAL BEAVER PERMIT QUOTAS
Beaver ManagementZone Number*	AnnualPermit Quota	Portions of Counties Involved
1	8	Sussex
2	17	Sussex
3	9	Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Sussex
4	7	Sussex, Warren
5	12	Sussex, Warren
6	22	Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren
7	10	Essex, Morris, Passaic
8	8	Ocean
9	7	Burlington, Ocean
10	8	Atlantic, Burlington, Camden
11	6	Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean
12	3	Atlantic, Camden, Gloucester
13	7	Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland
14	2	Atlantic, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem
15	2	Cumberland, Salem
16	6	Atlantic, Burlington
17	5	Atlantic
18	3	Atlantic, Cape May
19	3	Hunterdon, Morris, Warren
20	7	Hunterdon, Morris
21	1	Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset
22	1	Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Union
23	1	Bergen, Hudson, Passaic
24	3	Hunterdon, Mercer, Somerset
25	6	Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset
26	3	Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth
27	2	Monmouth, Ocean
28	11	Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth
29	12	Burlington, Camden, Gloucester
30	8	Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem
Total	200

*Beaver and otter management zones are described in N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.10(h)1 through 30.

(d) Beaver Damage Control Permit: Special permits, known as Beaver Damage Control Permits, may be issued by the Director, in his or her discretion, for the control of beavers. These permits may be issued to the owner or lessee of any land to control beavers that are causing damage on that land.

1. The permittee and their agents shall conform to all Federal, State, and local statutes, rules, codes, and ordinances pertaining to the use and discharge of firearms, and the setting of traps.

2. The permittee and their agents shall comply with the means, methods of take, hours, recordkeeping requirements, and other conditions prescribed by the Division and listed on the Beaver Damage Control Permit.

3. The conditions set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.32(b)3 through 6, 8, 9, 10, and 12 through 15 apply to Beaver Damage Control Permits.

4. For Beaver Damage Control Permits issued during the dates of the annual beaver trapping season, the trapper must have first applied for a special permit for the current beaver trapping season. Beaver taken outside the recreational trapping season cannot be possessed or sold by the damage control trapper. Permit conditions for a Beaver Damage Control Permit issued during the annual season may include provisions for possession of beavers caught under the permit, in which case the beavers must be tagged and checked in accordance with (f) below. A valid trapping license is required for trapping under a Beaver Damage Control Permit issued during the annual trapping season.

(e) The season limit for beaver trapping is eight beaver per special permit.

(f) A "beaver transportation tag" provided by the Division shall be affixed to each beaver taken immediately upon taking possession of the beaver or any part thereof, and all beaver pelts shall be taken to a designated beaver checking station at the times and dates specified on the beaver permit and, in any case, no later than 20 days after the close of the season.

(g) Each beaver trapper shall be restricted to a maximum of five traps daily in any given management zone. Each trap shall be tagged pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.12 with the tag clearly visible above the level of the water or ice. The Division, in its discretion, may designate and suitably post certain beaver colonies and prohibit all trapping within their dams, or within 500 feet thereof, during the beaver trapping season as indicated in this section.

(h) Special Beaver Permits and Beaver Damage Control Permits are valid only in the zone or site designated and are not transferable from person to person.

(i) Authority: The authority for the adoption of the foregoing section is found in N.J.S.A. 23:3-1, 23:4-1, 23:4-22.2, 23:4-27, 23:4-37, 23:4-38.2, 23:4-38.3, 23:4-39, 23:4-40, 23:4-41, 23:4-55 and other applicable statutes.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-5.9

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