Trapping Laws in Georgia: Licenses, Seasons, Traps, and Penalties
October 20, 2026
Trapping laws in Georgia are stricter than many people expect, and they apply even when you are only trying to stop a raccoon from tearing up your yard. A trap that is a quarter inch too wide, a tag left off a metal frame, or a missed 24-hour check can turn a routine job into a misdemeanor.
This article walks you through the rules set by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.). You will see who needs a license, which animals you can trap and when, what traps are legal, and what happens if you break the rules.
Regulations can change, so check the current DNR trapping page before each season. Nothing here is legal advice.
Is Trapping Legal in Georgia
Yes, trapping is legal in Georgia, but only under a licensing and season system. The state treats trapping as a regulated activity, and nearly every part of it is written into state statute. Georgia’s trapping statutes require trappers and fur dealers to be licensed, allow furbearer trapping during open seasons, and make violations misdemeanors.
The default rule is restrictive. According to the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, no wildlife other than designated furbearers may be trapped at any time in the state, except as state law provides. That “except” matters, because Georgia carves out several exceptions for nuisance and damage situations, covered below.
Key Insight: Trapping is legal, but it is not a free-for-all on your own land. Landowners still need a license, still need to follow trap rules, and still have to observe seasons for most species.
If you are dealing with a wildlife problem at home rather than trapping as a hobby, the state’s nuisance rules work differently. Our guide to wildlife removal laws in Georgia explains when a professional is required.
Trapping License and Education Requirements in Georgia
You need a trapping license before you set a trap. Georgia offers two routes: a commercial trapping license or a no-cost landowner trapping license. The DNR says either one is required for trapping, and both also allow you to sell furs, hides, and pelts.
The state code spells out who qualifies for the free option. Under O.C.G.A. § 27-3-60, a landowner or immediate family member who wants to trap on the landowner’s private property can get a license each year at no charge. Anyone engaging in business as a trapper must hold a commercial license.
License Types and How to Apply
- Resident commercial trapping license: for Georgia residents trapping or selling fur.
- Non-resident commercial trapping license: for out-of-state trappers; applicants must also post a forfeiture bond, according to the statute summary.
- Landowner trapping license: free, annual, limited to the landowner’s private property.
As of the DNR’s current regulations page, all three license types can be bought online through Go Outdoors Georgia. You can also mail or hand-deliver an application to the License and Boating Registration Unit at 2065 US Highway 278 SE, Social Circle, GA 30025.
The search results did not show a mandatory trapper education course for Georgia. Confirm with the DNR whether any education requirement applies to your situation before you apply.
Trapping Seasons and Legal Furbearer Species in Georgia
Georgia’s furbearer trapping season runs December 1 through February 28, according to the DNR Law Enforcement Division. Outside that window, state law makes it unlawful to trap wildlife between March 1 and November 19, except where a specific exception applies.
The legal definition of a furbearer is short. Under O.C.G.A. § 27-1-2, furbearing animals are mink, otter, raccoon, fox, opossum, muskrat, skunk, bobcat, and weasel.
| Species | Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mink, otter, fox, muskrat, skunk, bobcat, weasel | Dec. 1 – Feb. 28 | Bobcat and otter require export tags if shipped out of state |
| Raccoon, opossum | No closed season on private land | Season rules apply on public land |
| Beaver | Year-round | Not legally a furbearer, but a license is still required |
| Coyote | Year-round | No closed season statewide |
The Georgia DNR states that there is no closed season for trapping beaver, coyote, raccoon, or opossum on private lands. Beavers surprise many people: LegalClarity notes they are not classified as furbearers, yet trapping them still requires a license and follows equipment rules.
State law also lets you protect your animals year-round. You may set steel traps within 200 yards of your residence to protect livestock, poultry, or other domestic animals from predatory birds or animals, per O.C.G.A. § 27-3-62. If coyotes are your concern, see our breakdown of coyote hunting laws in Georgia.
Legal Trap Types and Restrictions in Georgia
Georgia regulates trap size, marking, and the gear you carry. Most of these rules sit in O.C.G.A. § 27-3-63, and each one is a separate offense you can be cited for.
The statute, as reproduced by Justia, makes it unlawful to set on land any trap with a jaw opening larger than 5 3/4 inches, though that limit does not restrict traps used in water. It also bars setting a body-gripping trap larger than 9 1/2 inches square except in water or on land within ten feet of water, including swamps, marshes, and tidal areas.
Trap Rules at a Glance
| Requirement | What the Rule Says |
|---|---|
| Leghold jaw spread on land | No larger than 5 3/4 inches |
| Body-gripping traps | No larger than 9 1/2 inches square, unless in water or within 10 feet of water |
| Trap identification | Traps must be stamped, etched, or tagged with your name or permanent trapper ID number |
| Choke stick | You must carry one while tending traps, to release domestic animals |
| .22 rimfire | You must carry one to dispatch furbearers you take |
| Snares | Allowed for beaver only, set in water or within ten feet of water; must be marked |
The DNR’s regulations explain the marking rule in plain terms: traps must be legibly stamped, etched, or tagged with the owner’s name or permanent trapper’s identification number. If you use someone else’s trap, it needs a stamped metal tag with your own name or ID number, according to FindLaw’s copy of the code.
Common Mistake: Trappers often carry the right traps but forget the choke stick or the .22 rimfire. Both are required equipment, and leaving either in the truck is a violation.
Trap Check Requirements in Georgia
You must check every trap at least once in each 24-hour period. The DNR states it is unlawful to fail to inspect traps at least once each 24-hour period and remove any animals caught in them.
The rule exists for animal welfare and to limit harm to non-target animals such as pets. If you catch a domestic animal, state law requires you to release it, which is why the choke stick is mandatory. Trappers must dispatch furbearers caught in a trap, according to the Animal Legal and Historical Center summary.
- Visit every set within 24 hours of the last check, including bad-weather days.
- Release any domestic animal using your choke stick.
- Dispatch legal furbearers with your .22 rimfire.
- Remove all captured animals, then reset or pull the trap.
Pets are a real risk in neighborhoods. If a cat wanders into a trap on your property, our article on a neighbor’s cat in your yard covers your options.
Where You Can and Can’t Trap in Georgia
Your location decides whether a set is legal. Georgia bars trapping on public roads, restricts trapping on land you do not control, and limits it on state-managed areas.
- Public road rights-of-way: unlawful to trap any wildlife on the right-of-way of any public road or highway, per the DNR.
- Other people’s land: you need the owner’s written consent, and you must carry it on your person while trapping. Setting or baiting traps on adjoining land outside the open season is also prohibited.
- Your own land: allowed with a license, following season and trap rules, with the exceptions noted earlier.
- Wildlife management areas (WMAs): restricted to certain areas and species and require a permit from the Wildlife Resources Division regional office, according to our wildlife removal guide.
Pro Tip: Keep a signed, dated consent note from each landowner in a waterproof sleeve. Officers can ask to see it in the field, and a text message on your phone is not what the statute describes.
Trapping rabbits has its own carve-out. State law lets a person, family, and tenants trap rabbits on their own premises with a rabbit box, and no permit or license is required for that activity. For other backyard animals and nuisance issues, see our guides on roadkill laws in Georgia and estray livestock laws in Georgia.
Tagging, Reporting and Selling Pelts in Georgia
Selling fur is allowed only if you hold the right license. It is unlawful to sell the raw, undressed fur, hide, skin, or pelt of any furbearer without a current commercial trapping license or fur dealer license. You also cannot sell the pelt of a domestic dog or cat caught in a trap.
After the season closes, you owe the state a report. According to the Georgia DNR, all trappers must report in writing, within 30 days after the season closes, the number of furs, hides, or pelts taken and the person to whom they were sold. Completing the Georgia Trapper Harvest Survey emailed to licensed trappers satisfies this duty.
Older DNR materials list a 10-day deadline, but the current regulations page states 30 days. Follow the 30-day figure on the DNR website and confirm with the agency if you are unsure.
Bobcat, Otter, and Export Rules
All bobcats and otters trapped in Georgia and exported out of the state must carry a Federal Export (CITES) tag. State personnel attach the tag, and the DNR says it must be done no later than 30 days after the trapping season closes. Before you ship or transport furs, hides, or pelts out of state, you must also file a written report listing the number and type of items and the name and address of the recipient.
The DNR also runs a muskrat carcass program. Muskrat carcasses must be frozen within 24 hours of harvest, include the entire body and head, and carry a carcass tag in a sealed bag, per the DNR trapping page.
Penalties for Trapping Violations in Georgia
Violating Georgia’s trapping statutes is a misdemeanor. That covers license violations under § 27-3-60, season violations under § 27-3-62, and the general offenses in § 27-3-63.
Fines escalate for repeat offenders. Under § 27-3-63, a second offense within two years carries a fine of not less than $300, and a third or later offense within two years carries a fine of not less than $750, per FindLaw. The first-offense amount was not shown in the sources reviewed, so check the full statute for that figure.
Other wildlife statutes can add to your exposure. LegalClarity reports that unlawfully possessing or transporting a raccoon can bring fines up to $1,000 per violation, and repeat offenders may face license suspension. Treat that as a secondary source and verify against the code.
If a trapping incident involves harm to a pet or an animal that was not a legal target, other laws may apply. Read our overview of animal cruelty laws in Georgia to understand where that line sits.
Important Note: Georgia’s DNR regulations have shown different reporting deadlines over time (10 days in older materials, 30 days on the current page). Always rely on the DNR’s live trapping page and the current O.C.G.A. text, and call the agency when a rule is unclear.
To stay legal, get your license first, trap only in season, mark and size your traps correctly, check them every 24 hours, and file your harvest report on time. Keep this page as a checklist, then confirm the details on the DNR trapping regulations page before you head out.