An Overview of Alabama Trapping Laws
Trapping has long been a popular and effective method for controlling wildlife populations and maintaining ecological balance. However, in Alabama, as in many other states, it is essential for trappers to be aware of and to strictly adhere to the state’s laws and regulations governing trapping activities. Understanding these laws helps to ensure the practice is responsibly maintained and contributes positively to wildlife conservation efforts nationwide.
In essence, trapping involves the capturing of wildlife using various devices, intending to either relocate the animals or to permanently remove them from an area. Trapping is used for a variety of purposes , including population control, to protect crops or livestock, and to conserve certain vulnerable species. The practice plays a valuable role both in wildlife management and in preserving ecosystem health.
Comprehending the legal components surrounding trapping in Alabama is paramount to ensuring that the activity is conducted in a safe, lawful, and ecologically responsible manner. Misconceptions about what is permissible often lead to trapper violations, which can result in steep fines, the confiscation of traps, and potentially even criminal charges.
Licenses and Permits for Trapping in Alabama
In order to trap black bear and/or beaver in Alabama, a resident of Alabama must be licensed. The license must be current and active. It is issued by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) and the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF). WFF manages the trapping provisions.
Black bear and beaver trapping licenses are free of charge. However, the applications for the licenses must first be submitted to and processed by WFF. The license application is a commercial license and all associated State of Alabama licensing rules apply. You only need to file an application if you wish to commercially trap black bear and/or beaver. You cannot commercially trap on someone else’s land by simply obtaining that person’s signature on your license application. As noted above, a residential trapping license application may be signed by any Alabama resident. You may only trap for your own use. Applications for the licenses are available for download on WFF’s website. The license application must include:
An Alabama resident who wishes to commercially trap may obtain a commercial trapping license. However, in order to commercially trap, a resident must also either have a commercial license for trapping waterfowl or a resident fur dealer’s license. A pre-emption, or a waiver of the license fees is available for those who have $50,000 in sales, net of returns and allowances, in the previous 12 months, excluding animal feed receipts and sales taxes. These license fees are included in the maximum annual fee of $200 for species commercial licenses.
Trapping Seasons, Limits, and Restrictions
Legal trapping seasons in Alabama vary depending on species. In Alabama, the regular seasons for most furbearing animals run from around the end of September through the end of February of the following year, but as with most regulations, the details are more nuanced and warrant a closer look.
Coyote, beaver, bobcat, nutria, raccoon, and squirrel have the longest trapping seasons of all the furbearers and can be trapped year-round.
Fox, opossum, and striped skunk have the next-longest seasons, which run from around the end of October through around the middle of February. Each of these animals can be trapped using any method that is legal for use during trapping season for that animal.
Ringtail cat, mink, muskrat, and otter have regular trapping seasons that run from around the beginning of December through the end of January. During those months, trappers can use any method that is legal for that animal’s trapping season. Additionally, otter, and mink can also be trapped using firearms that are legal to hunt those animals.
Rivers Otters may be killed by landowners and lessees at any time as long as they are damaging property or posing a threat to livestock on their property.
Landowners and lessees may also harass beaver year-round, but do not need a special permit to do so. However, a special permit is required to trap, shoot, or otherwise kill beavers.
Certain furbearers, like coyote, beaver, nutria, and feral hogs, may cause damage to crops or property, and therefore fall under Alabama’s depredation laws. However, private individuals can only take these animals if they are damaging property in an area where the local law enforcement agency has determined that these animals are causing depredation.
Federal investigating officers, state wildlife officers, and sheriff’s deputies may kill coyotes whenever they see them.
Beavers, nutria, and feral hogs may be killed by citizens whenever the local law enforcement agency determines that they are: Trapping seasons for furbearers also include special conditions for certain animals.
Ferrets, rabbits, minks, muskrats, constant raccoon, and mole do not need to be tagged unless they are to be transferred to another person.
Any beaver or otter that is taken must be tagged, immediately after capture with the tag provided by the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. These tags may be purchased through the department for $1 each for non-resident control permits, and tagging is only required on lands where the landowner, lessee, or agent obtains a Special Purpose (Landowner) permit.
Trappers must report their beaver and otter harvest annually by mail to the department, as they do with their hunting records, which must be submitted by August 15 each year. However, if there was no beaver or otter season, no report is required.
It should be noted that firearms that are legal to kill beavers and otters cannot be used to trap them during the day.
Protected Species and Prohibited Methods
Alabama law has a list of animals that are completely protected from any method of take. These species cannot be trapped or harvested by any means. These species include the following as listed in Code of Alabama 9-11-83.
- Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
- Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos).
- Swallow-tailed kites (Elanoides forficatus).
- Eagles, accipiters, harriers, hawks, and associated migratory raptors possessing an Aspect of the Law of This State.
- Wood storks.
- Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis).
- Red wolves (Canis rufus).
- Gray wolves (Canis lupus).
- Ocelots (Felis wiedii).
- Red-cockaded woodpeckers (Picoides borealis). Restricted to portions of Mobile County.
- Eastern indigo (Indigo ginea), restricted to the lower one-third of the Coosa River, the Alabama River and all downstream reservoirs and their tributaries to U.S. Highway 231/431 north of Montgomery, the Cahaba River, the Tallapoosa River, the upper Tombigbee River, stream systems between the Tombigbee and Alabama Rivers and from Selma upstream on both the Alabama and Coosa Rivers. See: Protected Animals and Fish
Note: Indigos in the wild may be taken on the property of the landowner only by the landowner within not less than 50 yards of any permanent structure. Restrictions on taking eastern indigo snakes require a permit from ADCNR and may be timed to coincide with FWS guidelines. See: Alabama Protected Animals and Fish
No person shall trap or attempt to trap any wild game or wild birds by means of snares, leg-hold traps, or other animals traps except as permitted by regulation and only after obtaining a written trapping license from the Commissioner of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 64 N. Union St., Room 584, State Capitol, Montgomery, AL 36130-1534 or at the district office of any WFF Wildlife Conservation officer and only after having paid a fee of $2.00 per calendar year. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Commissioner of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, District Supervisors, or Game Warden may enter by day or night upon any land to examine such devices or to seize them if set by any person who has not obtained said permit. Any such devices which are set in such manner as to catch and enclose
with a full catch of one or more domestic fowl or livestock belonging to another without the owner’s consent shall be seized immediately. These elements may only be taken and packaged for personal consumption. See Protected Species and Prohibited Methods
It is unlawful to hunt or trap any wild animal, wild bird, or wild fowl by points, sprouting weeds, poisonous herb, or any poisonous wash except as may be allowed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Commissioner of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. See Code of Alabama 9-11-190 & 9-11-191.
Tagging, Reporting, and Other Requirements
In order to ensure the perpetuation, enjoyment, and protection of wildlife in Alabama, all trappers must adhere to applicable state regulations by reporting their catches and complying with all limits and rules. The most up-to-date laws can be found in the annual rules and regulations publication provided by the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries as well as in the Alabama Game and Fish Law Book. A license (issued annually) is required for and becomes effective the first day of the month following purchase. Trappers are required to adhere to the following rules and regulations, and are subject to a maximum fine of $500 per violation for violations of any law or regulation relating to the hunting, fishing, and/or trapping of all species of wildlife.
Note: It is illegal to sell bobcats and the pelts of bobcats .
Information on how to obtain a hunting, fishing, and trapping license can be found on the following page. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has authorized counties to issue substitute licenses upon application of a person who has lost his/her license somewhere other than on the water. Application must be made within 24 hours of the license being lost. All persons born on or before August 1, 1954 must take a hunter safety course in order to obtain a hunting license. A copy of the safety course card must be presented at the time of application.
The ADCNR has also implemented a registration program for nuisance permits (for professional trappers) and a citation program for any individual who violates ADCNR regulations for taking wildlife. Violation of this law is a Class B misdemeanor and is punishable by fine of not less than $25 or more than $500.
Fines and Penalties for Trapping Violations
The penalties for violating Alabama trapping laws can come in various forms and with varying degrees of severity, depending on the nature of the violation. Trapping without a license, for example, is a straightforward way to get into some serious trouble with the law.
Most commonly, penalties take the form of fines. In general, violations of regulations typically issue fines of between $100 and $1,000 per infraction. The fines associated with hunting violations are widely known to be steep, and those connected to trapping preserves tend to be no different.
In the most severe circumstances, offenders may face legal action outside of simple fines. For instance, those charged with committing crimes in trapping will almost certainly face legal consequences.
Trapping without a license in Alabama is a Class A misdemeanor. Open season is open year round so if you get caught chasing small game you are going to pay a hefty price. In fact you will sometimes get checked while driving on the road and an officer will give you a ticket and have to go to court and face the judge. In short, trapping without a license is probably the type of offense that can be most easily cleared up in court.
Violating bag limits is also a serious offense and is considered a Class B misdemeanor. Conducting a legal business while breaking the law is also a Class B misdemeanor.
Unlike trout, the penalty for not wearing a personal flotation device is only $25 which includes a small court cost. The game warden will issue the ticket and tell you to get a flotation device, you should do what the officer says and go on your way. There are few things that will ruin a day on the water faster than a first degree trespassing ticket which is a big fine and some time on probation.
Violations of hunting, trapping and fishing with a hunting aid. Any violation of the Alabama hunting, trapping, or fishing laws that exploits the most fragile ecosystems can carry some of the harshest penalties. After all, protecting these delicate areas is critical to the future of hunters everywhere.
Best Practices and Tips for Eschewing Liability
When it comes to trapping in Alabama, responsibility means more than just following the law. Trappers have an important role in animal population control, wildlife management, and even conservation efforts. Follow these best practices to ensure that your trapping activities are both purposeful and humane:
- Follow the Law: Ensure you have all required permits and know all regional restrictions and guidelines for the area in which you are trapping. If you are unsure of anything, double-check with local law enforcement or wildlife agencies. Don’t take chances with permits and licenses.
- Ensure Good Animal Welfare: Traps should be placed so that they are easily discoverable. Be sure to check your traps as regularly as required by law. You must remove any animals that may be caught in traps promptly and in a humane way. Also be sure that you do not trap creatures inadvertently — look for traps in places where you may want to just attract or capture one type of animal. Also look at potential traps from the perspective of other animals that might also encounter them.
- Use Good Etiquette: Respect the land of others. Always acquire permission to trap before you set up a location near someone’s property. The only exception is when your trap is located on public land or maybe in the right-of-way near a public road.
- Avoid Non-Targeted Animals: If you are trapping for one animal that is not endangered, and another animal is trapped, turn in that second animal, but don’t kill the second animal unless you have the license to do so. It could be illegal to kill the second animal and not be allowed to do so; even if it is legal, allow wildlife officers to decide what should be done with the animal.
- Don’t Move Traps: It’s okay to move if necessary, but don’t set traps in new locations unnecessarily. Candidly, traps aren’t cheap. And in some cases, you’ll be required to relocate a trap somewhere safer. But do so only when absolutely necessary.
- Recycle Your Gear: When financially feasible, use the proper equipment. Also, properly marked traps make it easier to identify them, which could help protect you from any "blaming-shifting."
- Leave the wildlife alone: If you are not licensed to catch certain species or sizes of animals, then leave such animals alone no matter what is going on. Do not allow your activities to be dictated by animals! Be responsible.
Resources and Contacts for Trappers
For those who prefer a more detailed examination of the laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to trapping in Alabama, you’ll find several excellent guides that provide in-depth details. The official Guide to Regulated Hunting Activities put out by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is the most up-to-date online government resource you can consult. It’s not just useful for trapping. It also covers every other legal hunting activity in the state of Alabama as well – including big game, small game, birds, and migratory waterfowl. This guide can be downloaded as an Adobe PDF or viewed as an online book if you don’t need all the hunting information outside of trapping . You can always reach the ADCNR Trapping Section at (334) 242-3469 or visit their official website for more information. The Alabama Trappers Association is another good resource, as is their Western Region. They have a website that details trappers adoption, history and purpose, guidelines for membership, and much more. Another good resource and place to inquire for helpful information is the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Trap Roster. They include posting services for lost and found items for deer hunters, and have divisions for every state including Alabama – among others. These fellows know their stuff and can help answer questions or locate trappers in the area.