On this page the New Mexico regulations governing trapping are described under the following headings:

Licensing and Fees
Seasons
Species Restrictions
Bag Limits
Trap Placement and Check Time

The NM in-state license fee is $20.00. An additional $5.00 fee for a habitat stamp is required if the trapper intends to use public land. (It’s required of hunters too.) In addition to trapping, furbearers may also be hunted. Dogs are often used as are predator calls. NM does not distinguish whether a license holder is a trapper or furbearer hunter.

Several thousand licenses are sold each year. But since no license is needed for the most commonly killed furbearer, the coyote, no one knows how many traps are set out. As pelt prices rise, trapping activity rises also.

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The season for most furbearers (badger, ringtail, fox, weasel and bobcat) runs from November 1 to March 15 (4.5 months). There are two raccoon seasons, which comprise 10 months, and two seasons for the aquatic mammals (beaver, nutria and muskrat) which comprise 6.5 months a year. Coyotes and skunk season is year around.

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It is not legal to trap coatis, pine martens, bears, cougars or endangered species, but the trapper is not liable for any injuries that result to these species if they are caught. Other species that may be caught include birds of prey, waterfowl, ravens, song birds, porcupines, squirrels, fawns of deer and elk, Javelina, turkeys, domestic animals including companion dogs, cats, and calves.

Endangered species in NM that are vulnerable to traps are Mexican wolves, otters, jaguars and lynx. These were extirpated from New Mexico in part by trapping. Bald eagles have been caught in leg-hold traps.

Beaver may not be trapped in the Gila, Cibola, Lincoln or Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Generally in NM, National Wildlife Refuges, State Parks, National Parks and Monuments are closed to trapping. State trust land is closed to coyote trapping.

Badger photo courtesy of Jim Robertson.

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Photo courtesy of Jim Robertson.

The number of “furbearing” animals that may be killed is limitless.

There is no limit to how many traps a single trapper may set out. It can number in the hundreds. They also can stay in the same place for the entire season virtually eliminating “furbearers” from the area and beyond as animals migrate in to fill the vacancy left by the trapped ones. In this way, traps can drain a much larger area than the trap line occupies.

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Traps need only be 25 yards from a trail or road. But to qualify, the trail must be on an agency map and the road must be maintained annually. If those conditions are not met, the 25-yard restriction does not apply. Traps must be 440 yards (1/4 mile) from a dwelling, or established campground, picnic area or boat launch. No warning signs are required anywhere. If you like to camp outside of developed camping areas and hike on trails that aren’t on agency maps, which you have every right to do, traps may be anywhere.

Traps must be marked either with the trapper’s name and address or a trapper ID number. This may be on a tag riveted to the trap chain or stamped on the trap itself. Not having this identification is the most common trapping infraction according to the Department of Game and Fish.

Traps must be checked every day. The trapper must carry a catchpole to release the animal if it is not legal to keep it. Many trappers do not check this often. It uses up gasoline and time which eats into the trapper’s bottom line. There is not enough law enforcement to monitor trappers and insure the law is followed.

Traps may be baited with scent attractants and/or visible “flags” not made from animal parts. (These “flags” are things like cloth, shiny tape or cotton balls) If the bait cannot be seen from more that 3 ft above the ground, animal parts can be used. These can be dried bones, hide, fur, viscera or feathers of any animal.

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