Vermont’s regulated land and water trapping seasons will open on Oct. 26, 2024, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. The season will allow trappers to set traps for various species, including fisher, coyote, and raccoon, on land through Dec. 2024 and for beaver, muskrat, and otter in water or under ice through March 2025.
These species have healthy populations in Vermont, and the regulated trapping seasons help ensure the sustainable management of fur-bearing animals, providing opportunities for trappers to collect fur and food.
Wildlife Biologist and Furbearer Project Leader Brehan Furfey emphasized the importance of awareness during the trapping season: “If you plan to enjoy Vermont’s outdoors this fall and winter, it is important to know when trapping season is open and to be aware that trappers may be using the same public lands or, with landowner permission, private lands.” Furfey noted that Vermont has a strong tradition of safely sharing the landscape among hikers, hunters, skiers, and trappers.
As of Dec. 2023, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board implemented new regulations requiring trappers to use traps that minimize harm to captured animals and follow additional safety measures to reduce conflicts with pets and other outdoor users. While pets caught during Vermont’s regulated trapping seasons are rare, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department provides resources on its website to help free pets from traps in the unlikely event it happens.
Anyone who finds traps violating Vermont’s regulations is encouraged to contact a game warden. Additionally, it is illegal to interfere with legally set traps.
For more information on the trapping season and regulations, visit the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website or contact the department directly.
