Trapping Laws in Mississippi: Licenses, Seasons, Trap Rules, and Penalties
October 15, 2026
Trapping laws in Mississippi are more permissive than many states, with no bag limits on furbearers and a four-and-a-half-month season. But the rules that do apply are strict, and a missing trap tag or a late trap check can cost you your gear or your license privileges.
This article walks you through who needs a license, which animals you can trap and when, which devices are legal, how often you must check them, and what happens to your pelts afterward. Use it alongside the current Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) regulations, since seasons, fees, and rules can change.
Pro Tip: Regulations are set by statute (Mississippi Code § 49-7-13) and by Commission rules. Before you set a single trap, confirm the current season dates and any Wildlife Management Area (WMA) rules with MDWFP at 1-800-5GO-HUNT.
Is Trapping Legal in Mississippi
Yes, trapping is legal in Mississippi, but only under specific conditions. Furbearers and nuisance animals fall under different rules, and landowner permission is the baseline requirement for any land that isn’t yours.
According to the MDWFP, no person shall trap on the lands of another unless he has the permission of the landowner. The state divides trappable animals into two groups. Wild hogs, skunks, foxes, coyotes, beavers, and nutria are classified as nuisance species in Mississippi. Raccoons, bobcats, and the other furbearers follow seasonal rules.
One common misconception is that you can trap raccoons on your own property whenever you like. The Roy Howard Community Journalism Center’s fact-check found that claim false, noting that raccoons are not classified as nuisance animals and are instead designated as furbearers, which places them under specific seasonal regulations. If you’re dealing with a problem animal at home, our guide to nuisance wildlife laws in Mississippi explains your options.
Trapping License and Education Requirements in Mississippi
You need a trapping license if you’re 16 or older and trapping on land you don’t own. Fees depend on residency, and helpers need their own licenses too.
The MDWFP states that a trapping license is required of anyone 16 years of age or older who traps furbearers or nuisance animals in the state of Mississippi, with limited exceptions. The same rule applies to assistants: the license is required of each assistant or helper 16 years of age or older employed or used by a trapper.
| License | Resident | Non-Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Trapping License | $25.00 | $205.00 |
Those fees come from the MDWFP Furbearer and Trapping page. Trapping and fur dealer licenses may be purchased at any location that sells MS hunting/fishing licenses, as well as online, at MDWFP offices, or by phone.
Who Is Exempt From the License
Landowners get a break. Under state law, no license shall be required of a resident who traps on lands in which the record title is vested in that person. If you’re exempt, you still have to mark your traps with your name, phone number, and address.
Wild hogs are a separate case. Persons trapping wild hogs must possess a valid Lifetime, All Game, Sportsman, or Trapping License, unless otherwise exempt.
Is a Trapper Education Course Required
The sources reviewed for this article did not identify a mandatory trapper education course for Mississippi trappers. MDWFP does publish a Trapper Education Manual (PDF) on its furbearer page, and it’s worth reading before your first season. Confirm with MDWFP whether any requirement has been added since this article was published.
Trapping Seasons and Legal Furbearer Species in Mississippi
The statewide trapping season is simple to remember. The MDWFP lists it as November 1 through March 15 for all furbearer and nuisance species, with no bag or possession limits.
| Category | Species | Season Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Furbearers | Bobcat, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, raccoon, weasel | Nov. 1 to Mar. 15 |
| Nuisance Animals | Beaver, coyote, fox, nutria, skunk, wild hog | Year-round on private land (see below) |
The species lists come from the MDWFP, which names furbearers (bobcat, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, raccoon, and weasel) and nuisance animals (beaver, coyote, fox, nutria, and skunks). Nuisance animals have more flexibility. MDWFP says beaver, coyote, fox, nutria, skunks, and wild hogs are classified as “nuisance animals” and may be taken year-round on private lands, with some public-land exceptions.
The statute backs up the season limit for everything else: the taking of any animal other than nuisance animals by the use of a trap is unlawful except during the time the season is open for fur-bearing animals.
Important Note: The MDWFP site lists the season as November 1 to March 15, while one retail hunting guide describes it only as running “November through March.” Rely on the MDWFP dates, and check the current-year regulations for any changes.
Harvest Survey Deadline
Trappers also have a paperwork deadline. The deadline for returning trapper harvest surveys is May 1.
Legal Trap Types and Restrictions in Mississippi
Mississippi allows foothold traps, cable snares, and body-gripping (Conibear-type) traps. The state limits the size of body-gripping traps on public land and restricts how bait and lure can be used.
MDWFP’s trapping page covers foot hold, cable snare, and body grip types, with information on how to place land-set, water-set, and snare traps.
Body-Gripping Trap Size Limit on Public Land
Mississippi Code § 49-7-13 sets a hard cap. No person shall use, on any public lands, a conibear-type or body-gripping trap with an inside jaw spread exceeding seven inches, unless it is partially submerged in water. Public authorities and their agents are exempt when doing nuisance control.
Bait, Calls, and Lure
The bait rules trip up a lot of new trappers. It is illegal to trap with the aid of bait, recordings of bird or animal calls, or electrically amplified imitations of calls of any kind. Nuisance animals on private land are an exception, since the statute allows them to be hunted or trapped with the aid of bait and lures, on private lands, according to regulations adopted by the commission.
Lure is allowed with limits. Under the Commission’s rule, no more than 2.5 cubic inches of lure may be placed or located within 20 feet of any trap, and it must be covered and not visible from above. Live-cage traps within a set size are exempt from the lure restrictions.
| Restriction | Rule |
|---|---|
| Bait (furbearers) | Prohibited |
| Recorded or electronic calls | Prohibited when trapping |
| Lure | Up to 2.5 cubic inches within 20 feet of a trap, covered |
| Body-gripping traps on public land | 7-inch maximum jaw spread unless partially submerged |
Trap Check Requirements in Mississippi
You must check every trap at least once every 36 hours. This is one of the most frequently enforced trapping rules, and it protects both target animals and non-target catches such as pets.
The statute is direct: every trapper shall visit his traps at least every thirty-six (36) hours. The state’s hunting regulations repeat it, saying all traps must be attended at least once every 36-hour period.
- Record the time you set each trap.
- Plan your route so no trap goes past the 36-hour mark, including after bad weather or flooding.
- Release or dispatch animals according to the species’ status, and report any non-target catches as needed.
Pro Tip: Treat 24 hours as your working limit. A 36-hour maximum leaves little room if a storm or vehicle trouble delays a trip.
Where You Can and Can’t Trap in Mississippi
Where you set a trap matters as much as what you set. Private land requires permission, roads have a 100-foot buffer, and public land comes with its own rules.
Private Land
You need the owner’s permission on any land that isn’t yours. It’s also unlawful to interfere with another trapper’s gear: it shall be unlawful for any person to disturb the traps of another or to take furbearing/nuisance animals from them unless authorized by the owner.
Roads and Public Right-of-Way
The law says that, with exceptions, no person shall place or set a trap on or within one hundred (100) feet of any street or public road. Public waterways don’t count as public roads. Landowners may trap on their own land within 100 feet of a public road, but not within the maintained road right-of-way.
Municipalities and counties have a narrow exception for snares only. They must find that the placement is necessary for public safety, and snares shall be submerged at least fifty percent.
Public Lands and Corps of Engineers Property
WMAs and federal project lands have their own rules. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Vicksburg District regulations for 2025-2026 state that no hunting or trapping is allowed within 1000 feet of any dam, building, construction site, or public use area unless otherwise marked. The same document warns that trapping without a permit and/or releasing feral hogs on Corps lands is strictly prohibited.
If you also hunt the same ground, see our overview of hunting laws in Mississippi. For predator-specific rules, our coyote hunting laws in Mississippi article covers methods that overlap with trapping.
Tagging, Reporting and Selling Pelts in Mississippi
Trap tagging, pelt tagging, and sale windows are all regulated. Getting any of them wrong can put your fur and your license at risk.
Trap Identification
Every trap needs an ID. MDWFP requires that trappers have an identification number, issued by and registered with MDWFP, attached to all traps by a metal tag or permanently inscribed, etched, or stamped on the trap. The number is the MDWFP Customer Number located on each trapper’s hunting or trapping license. Unmarked traps can be removed, since the conservation officer may take up any traps not properly marked.
Selling and Transporting Pelts
You can sell fur during the season and for a short time after. The statute allows a licensed trapper to sell or consign the raw fur, green pelts and dried pelts of fur-bearing and nuisance animals during the trapping season and for thirty (30) days after the close of the season.
Transport has its own window. A trapper may not transport raw fur or green pelts within the state from eleven days after the close of trapping season until the opening day of the following season, unless each is tagged with the harvester’s name, address, trapping ID number, and the date and place of harvest. Licensed trappers can keep fur in storage at any time.
The carcasses of some animals can also be sold. Raccoons, opossums, and muskrats may be sold for food during the open trapping season, and for 30 days after the close of trapping season.
Bobcat and River Otter CITES Tags
Bobcat and river otter carry federal export controls. Under the Commission’s rule, MDWFP provides federal CITES identification tags for bobcat and river otter upon which there are federal export quotas or controls. Unused tags also have a deadline: possession of unused CITES tags between forty-five days after close of trapping season and the day prior to opening trapping season is prohibited.
Penalties for Trapping Violations in Mississippi
The sources reviewed here did not list a single fine schedule for every trapping offense, so check the statute or MDWFP for the exact penalty tied to your violation. What the sources do show is that enforcement starts with your gear and your privileges.
Officers can remove problem traps on the spot. Any trap found without a registered identification number will be in violation and subject to removal by a conservation officer. Taking non-nuisance animals outside the furbearer season is unlawful under § 49-7-31.5, and that section includes penalty provisions.
For a sense of how serious Mississippi treats wildlife crimes, the state’s regulations describe night-time deer headlighting as a Class I violation punishable upon conviction by a $2000-$5000 fine and forfeiture of all hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for one to three years. That example isn’t a trapping offense, but it shows that trapping privileges can be lost alongside hunting and fishing ones.
Important Note: This article is educational and isn’t legal advice. If you’ve received a citation or aren’t sure whether a set is lawful, contact MDWFP law enforcement or a licensed attorney.
Common mistakes that draw citations include untagged traps, sets within 100 feet of a road, missed 36-hour checks, trapping raccoons out of season, and using bait on furbearers. Fixing those five habits keeps you legal in most situations. For related rules on animals you may encounter while trapping, read our guide to feral dog laws in Mississippi and our breakdown of roadkill laws in Mississippi.
To stay on the right side of Mississippi trapping law, carry your license, tag every trap with your MDWFP customer number, and keep a written log of set times. Get permission in writing when you trap on someone else’s land, and confirm WMA or Corps rules before you set on public ground. When in doubt, call MDWFP at 1-800-5GO-HUNT before the season opens on November 1.