This amendment restructures this rule for clarity and increases opportunity for use of snares and Conibear® traps on private land.
Acknowledgements
Title 3 – Department of Conservation
Division 10 – Conservation Commission
Chapter 8— Wildlife Code: Trapping: Seasons, Methods
Proposed Amendment
Proposed Amendment
[(1) Traps shall have smooth or rubber jaws only, and may include foot-hold traps, Conibear® or other killing type traps, foot-enclosing traps, cage-type traps, colony traps with openings no greater than six inches (6”) in height and six inches (6”) wide, or snares (as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805) set in water only, and cable restraint devices (as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805). From March 1 through April 14 only foot-hold traps, foot-enclosing traps, and cage-type traps may be used to trap coyote, opossum, raccoon, and striped skunk. From August 1 through October 15 only foot-enclosing traps and cage-type traps may be used to trap opossum, raccoon, and striped skunk. Use of pitfalls, deadfalls, snares set in a dry land set, and nets are prohibited.
(2) Traps, snares, and cable restraint devices shall be plainly labeled, on durable material, with the user’s full name and address or Conservation Number. Wildlife held in traps, snares, or cable restraint devices may be killed or removed only by the user. Conibear® or other killing-type traps set under water, colony traps set under water, and drowning sets shall be attended and wildlife removed at least once every forty-eight (48) hours. All other traps, snares, and cable restraint devices must be attended daily and wildlife removed or released. Traps may not be set in paths made or used by persons or domestic animals, and Conibear® or other killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways, except under water in permanent waters. Except as provided in 3 CSR 10-4.130, only cage-type traps or foot-enclosing-type traps may be set within one hundred fifty feet (150') of any residence or occupied building located within the established boundaries of cities or towns containing ten thousand (10,000) or more inhabitants. Homes, dens, or nests of furbearers shall not be molested or destroyed. Traps may be used in conjunction with electronic calls.
(3) Use of Conibear® or Other Killing-Type Traps.
(A) No Conibear® or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread greater than five inches (5") shall be used in any dry land set.
(B) Conibear® or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread not greater than eight inches (8") may be set six feet (6') or more above ground level in buildings.
(C) Conibear® or other killing-type traps of any size may be set under water. Conibear® or other killing-type traps having no food, scent, or visual lure placed within one foot (1’) of the trap may be partially exposed above water provided the hinges are fully submerged.
(4) Use of Snares and Cable Restraint Devices.
(A) Snares (except as provided in subsection (4)(B)) must be set in water and must have the loop at least half (1/2) submerged. Snares (as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805) must have a loop fifteen inches (15") or less in diameter when set and must have a stop device that prevents the snare from closing to less than two and one-half inches (2 1/2") in diameter.
(B) Furbearers may be taken by trapping through the use of cable restraint devices during specified seasons (3 CSR 10-8.515). Cable restraint devices (as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805) must have a loop size of twelve inches (12") in diameter or smaller when set, and the bottom of set restraint cable loop must be at least six inches (6") or greater above the ground. Cable restraint devices must be anchored solid or staked in a location not allowing entanglement (such as rooted, woody vegetation greater than one-half inch (1/2") in diameter), and shall not be capable of extending to within twelve inches (12") of a fence, nor shall be set using a drag, or used with a kill-pole. Cable restraint devices may not be used within one hundred fifty feet (150') of any residence, occupied building, or a driveway leading to a residence.]
(1) Traps shall have smooth or rubber jaws only, and may include foot-hold traps, Conibear® or other killing-type traps, foot-enclosing traps, cage-type traps, colony traps with openings no greater than six inches (6") in height and six inches (6") in width, snares (as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805), and cable restraint devices (as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805). Use of pitfalls, deadfalls, and nets is prohibited. Traps may be used in conjunction with electronic calls.
(2) From March 1 through April 14, only foot-hold traps, foot-enclosing traps, and cage-type traps may be used to trap coyote, opossum, raccoon, and striped skunk. From August 1 through October 15, only foot-enclosing traps and cage-type traps may be used to trap opossum, raccoon, and striped skunk. The trapping method restrictions of this section shall not apply to the use of traps for the purposes of capturing or killing wildlife in accordance with 3 CSR 10-4.130.
(3) Traps, snares, and cable restraint devices shall be plainly labeled, on durable material, with the user’s full name and address, or Conservation Number.
(4) Wildlife held in traps may be killed or removed only by the user. Conibear® or other killing-type traps set underwater, colony traps set underwater, and drowning sets shall be attended and wildlife removed at least once every forty-eight (48) hours. All other traps, snares, and cable restraint devices must be attended daily and wildlife removed or released.
(5) Traps, snares, and cable restraint devices may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals. Homes, dens, or nests of furbearers shall not be molested or destroyed. Except as provided in 3 CSR 10-4.130, only cage-type traps or foot-enclosing-type traps may be set within one hundred fifty feet (150') of any residence or occupied building located within the established boundaries of cities or towns containing ten thousand (10,000) or more inhabitants.
- Use of Conibear® or Other Killing-Type Traps.
(A) Conibear® or other killing-type traps may not be set along or used within one hundred fifty feet (150') of a public roadway, except underwater in permanent waters and above ground level in buildings as specifically authorized in this section.
(B) Conibear® or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread greater than five inches (5") may not be used within one hundred fifty feet (150') of any residence, occupied building, or driveway leading to a residence, except Conibear® or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread not greater than seven inches (7") may be set six feet (6') or more above ground level in buildings.
(C) Conibear® or other killing-type traps of any size may be set underwater. Conibear® or other killing-type traps having no food, scent, or visual lure placed within one foot (1') of the trap may be partially exposed above water provided the hinges are fully submerged.
(D) Special Provision for Use on Public Land. No Conibear® or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread greater than five inches (5") shall be used in any dry land set.
(E) Special Provisions for Use on Private Land.
- Only Conibear® or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread not greater than seven inches (7") may be used in a dry land set.
- Food, scents, or visual lures may not be used with Conibear® or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread greater than five inches (5") in a dry land set, except when the trap is set at least seven inches (7") inside the entrance of a cubby (as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805).
- Except for Conibear® or other killing-type traps set in water or above ground level in buildings as authorized in this section, Conibear® or other killing-type traps with a jaw spread greater than five inches (5") may not be used within one hundred fifty feet (150') of a property boundary without written consent from the adjacent landowner.
(7) Use of Cable Restraint Devices.
(A) Cable restraint devices must have a loop size of twelve inches (12") in diameter or smaller when set, and the bottom of the cable loop when set must be at least six inches (6") or greater above the ground. Cable restraint devices must be anchored solid or staked in a location not allowing entanglement (such as rooted, woody vegetation greater than one-half inch (1/2") in diameter), and shall not be capable of extending to within twelve inches (12") of a fence, nor shall be set using a drag, or used with a kill-pole.
(B) Cable restraint devices may not be used within one hundred fifty feet (150') of any residence, occupied building, driveway leading to a residence, or public roadway.
(8) Use of Snares.
(A) Snares may not be set along or used within one hundred fifty feet (150') of a public roadway, except underwater in permanent waters.
(B) Special Provisions for Use on Public Land.
- Snares may not be used on dry land and must be set in water.
- Snares must have a loop fifteen inches (15") or less in diameter when set and must have a stop device that prevents the snare from closing to less than two and one-half inches (2 1/2") in diameter. Snares must have the loop at least half (1/2) submerged.
(C) Special Provisions for Use on Private Land.
1. Snares may be used in dry land and water sets.
2. Snares must have a loop fifteen inches (15") or less in diameter when set and must have a stop device that prevents the snare from closing to less than two and one-half inches (2 1/2") in diameter. Snares set in water must have the loop at least half (1/2) submerged.
3. Snares set on dry land must also have a break-away device that has been tested to break or disassemble at no more than three hundred and fifty pounds (350 lbs.) of pressure and cannot be mechanically assisted by a spring.
4. Snares set on dry land may not be within one foot (1') of food, scent, or a visual lure.
5. Snares in a dry land set may not be used within one hundred fifty feet (150') of any residence, occupied building, or driveway leading to a residence.
6. Snares in a dry land set may not be used within one hundred fifty feet (150') of a property boundary without written consent from the adjacent landowner.
AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const. and section 252.040, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Sept. 20, 1957, effective Dec. 31, 1957. For intervening history, please consult the Code of State Regulations. Amended: Filed May 16, 2025.
PUBLIC ENTITY COST: This proposed amendment will not cost state agencies or political subdivisions more than five hundred dollars ($500) in the aggregate.
PRIVATE ENTITY COST: This proposed amendment will not cost private entities more than five hundred dollars ($500) in the aggregate.
NOTICE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS: Anyone may file a statement in support of or in opposition to this proposed amendment with Regulations Committee Chairman, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, or via the department’s website at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49. To be considered, comments must be received within thirty (30) days after publication of this notice in the Missouri Register. No public hearing is scheduled.