State Prohibitions on Leghold, Kill-type, and Snare Traps
Leghold Trap:
Arizona
Date: 09/12/86
Exception(s): public lands; human health/safety, rodent control, wildlife research/relocation (jaws must be padded or offset)
Law: ARIZ. REV. STAT. ANN. § 17-301 D; ARIZ. ADMIN. CODE 12-4-307
How Enacted: Initiative/Regulation
California
Date: 11/03/98
Exception(s): human health/safety (jaws must be padded)
Law: CAL. FISH & GAME CODE § 3003.1
How Enacted: Initiative
Colorado
Date: 01/15/97
Exception(s): human health/safety, rodent control, wildlife research/relocation, by permit for animal damage control for up to 30 days (jaws must be padded)
Law: COLO. REV. STAT. §§ 33-6-203, 33-6-207, 33-6-208; 8 COLO. CODE REGS. § 1201-12
How Enacted: Initiative/Regulation
Florida
Date: 1979 & last amended 1998
Exception(s): by permit for animal damage control (jaws must be padded)
Law: FLA. ADMIN. CODE ANN. r. 68A-12.009(4), 68A-24.002(3); FL Hunting Handbook & Regulations
How Enacted: Regulation/Policy
Massachusetts
Date: 11/05/96
Exception(s): human health/safety
Law: MASS. GEN. LAWS ch. 131, § 80A
How Enacted: Initiative
New Jersey
Date: 1984
Exception(s): none
Law: N.J. REV. STAT. §§ 23:4-22.1 to 23:4-22.7
How Enacted: Legislation
Rhode Island
Date: 1981
Exception(s): by permit for animal damage control for up to 90 days
Law: R.I. GEN. LAWS § 20-16-8
How Enacted: Legislation
Washington
Date: 11/07/00
Exception(s): by permit for human health/safety, endangered species protection, wildlife research, animal damage control for up to 30 days (jaws must be padded)
Law: WASH. REV. CODE § 77.15.194 - 77.15.198
How Enacted: Initiative
Conibear (Kill) Trap:
Arizona
Date: 1994
Exception(s): public lands; human health/safety, rodent control, wildlife research/relocation
Law: ARIZ. REV. STAT. ANN. § 17-301 D
How Enacted: Initiative
California
Date: 11/03/98
Exception(s): all purposes except recreation or commerce in fur
Law: CAL. FISH & GAME CODE § 3003.1
How Enacted: Initiative
Colorado
Date: 01/15/97
Exception(s): human health/safety, rodent control, by permit for animal damage control for up to 30 days
Law: COLO. REV. STAT. §§ 33-6-203, 33-6-207, 33-6-208
How Enacted: Initiative
Connecticut
Date: 02/16/94
Exception(s): water sets
Law: CONN. AGENCIES REGS. § 26-66-5
How Enacted: Regulation
Florida
Date: 1997 & last amended 1998
Exception(s): none
Law: FLA. ADMIN. CODE ANN. r. 68A-24.002(3)
How Enacted: Regulation
Maryland
Date: -unknown-
Exception(s): water sets
Law: MD. REGS. CODE tit. 08, § 03.06.03
How Enacted: Regulation
Massachusetts
Date: 11/05/96
Exception(s): human health/safety, by permit for beaver/muskrat damage control
Law: MASS. GEN. LAWS ch. 131, § 80A
How Enacted: Initiative
New Jersey
Date: 1971
Exception(s): water sets
Law: N.J. REV. STAT. § 23:4-38.2
How Enacted: Legislation
Oklahoma
Date: -unknown-
Exception(s): water sets
Law: OK Dept. of Wildlife Conservation Hunting Regulations
How Enacted: Policy
Pennsylvania
Date: -unknown-
Exception(s): water sets
Law: PA Game Commission Hunting & Trapping Regulations
How Enacted: Policy
South Carolina
Date: 1993
Exception(s): water sets
Law: S.C. CODE ANN. § 50-11-2410
How Enacted: Legislation
South Dakota
Date: 1987
Exception(s): water sets
Law: S.D. ADMIN. R. 41:08:02:06
How Enacted: Regulation
Washington
Date: 11/07/00
Exception(s): water sets by permit for human health/safety, endangered species protection, animal damage control for up to 30 days
Law: WASH. REV. CODE § 77.15.194 - 77.15.198
How Enacted: Initiative
West Virginia
Date: -unknown-
Exception(s): water sets
Law: W. VA. CODE ST. R. § 58-53-3
How Enacted: Regulation
Snare:
Alabama
Date: 1982 & last amended 1997
Exception(s): water sets; powered foot snares with max loop of 5-1/2 inches (neck/body snares illegal on land)
Law: ALA. ADMIN. CODE r. 220-2-.30
How Enacted: Regulation
Arizona
Date: 09/12/82
Exception(s): none
Law: ARIZ. ADMIN. CODE 12-4-307
How Enacted: Regulation
California
Date: 11/03/98
Exception(s): all purposes except recreation or commerce in fur
Law: CAL. FISH & GAME CODE § 3003.1
How Enacted: Initiative
Colorado
Date: 01/15/97
Exception(s): human health/safety, rodent control, wildlife research/relocation (nonlethal), by permit for animal damage control for up to 30 days
Law: COLO. REV. STAT. §§ 33-6-203, 33-6-207, 33-6-208
How Enacted: Initiative
Connecticut
Date: 1955
Exception(s): none
Law: CONN. GEN. STAT. § 26-72
How Enacted: Legislation
Illinois
Date: -unknown-
Exception(s): water sets
Law: 520 ILL. COMP. STAT. 5/2.33
How Enacted: Legislation
Maine
Date: 1979, 1979, & 1993
Exception(s): foot snares for bear; water sets for beaver
Law: ME. REV. STAT. ANN. tit. 12, §§ 7453-B, 10105, 12252, 12259
How Enacted: Legislation
Massachusetts
Date: 11/05/96
Exception(s): human health/safety
Law: MASS. GEN. LAWS ch. 131, § 80A
How Enacted: Initiative
Michigan
Date: -unknown-
Exception(s): water sets
Law: Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources Hunting & Trapping Guide
How Enacted: Policy
Missouri
Date: 1957 & last amended 1996
Exception(s): water sets
Law: MO. CODE REGS. ANN. tit. 3, § 10-8.510
How Enacted: Regulation
New Hampshire
Date: 1935 & last amended 1998
Exception(s): water sets for beaver and otter
Law: N.H. REV. STAT. ANN. § 207:10
How Enacted: Legislation
New York
Date: 1972
Exception(s): none
Law: N.Y. ENVTL. CONSERV. LAW § 11-1101
How Enacted: Legislation
North Carolina
Date: 1935 & last amended 1999; 1991 & last amended 1997
Exception(s): water sets for beaver
Law: N.C. GEN. STAT. §§ 113-291.1, 113-291.9
How Enacted: Legislation
Oklahoma
Date: 1974 & last amended 2000
Exception(s): none
Law: OKLA. STAT. tit. 29, § 29-5-502
How Enacted: Legislation
Pennsylvania
Date: 1979 & last amended 2000
Exception(s): water sets for beaver
Law: 58 PA. CODE § 141.6
How Enacted: Regulation
Rhode Island
Date: 1981
Exception(s): none
Law: R.I. GEN. LAWS § 20-16-6
How Enacted: Legislation
South Carolina
Date: 1993
Exception(s): water sets for beaver
Law: S.C. CODE ANN. § 50-11-2410
How Enacted: Legislation
Vermont
Date: 05/09/61
Exception(s): none
Law: VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 10, § 4706
How Enacted: Legislation
Washington
Date: 11/07/00
Exception(s): foot snare by permit for human health/safety, endangered species protection, wildlife research, animal damage control for up to 30 days
Law: WASH. REV. CODE § 77.15.194 - 77.15.198
How Enacted: Initiative
West Virginia
Date: -unknown-
Exception(s): water sets; foot snares with max loop of 6-1/2 inches (neck/body snares illegal on land)
Law: W. VA. CODE ST. R. § 58-53-3
How Enacted: Regulation
