Trapping in B.C.
Last updated on October 27, 2023In British Columbia, some 3,500 trappers actively manage 17 types of furbearing animals, following standards, legislation and regulation developed by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. About half of the province's trappers are Aboriginal.
Trapping regulations
The regulation of trapping in BC falls under the Wildlife Act and its associated Wildlife Act Commercial Activities Regulation. This includes the licensing of trappers and fur traders, management of fur bearing animals, regulation of trapping methods and traps, reporting and inspection, and the collection of fur royalties.
- Trapping Regulations 2022-2024 (PDF, 1.1MB)
- Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis Corrections and Updates
The Fur Management Program includes:
- The BC Trappers Association's Trapper Education Program courses for new and experienced trappers.
- The Furbearer Management Guidelines. These guidelines outline the role that trappers can play in the wise management of furbearing species.
Reducing fisher bycatch
The Columbian population of fishers in B.C.’s Central Interior is endangered and at risk of being lost. Although fisher trapping seasons have been closed across the range of Columbian population, fishers may still be incidentally killed in traps set for other species. The following provides information on measures trappers operating within Columbian fisher habitat can take to help reduce the bycatch of fishers:
Fisher exclusion box
Trappers are encouraged to use a Fisher Exclusion Box when marten trapping in areas where there is a chance of incidentally trapping fishers.
The Fisher Exclusion Box is an elongated marten cubby fitted with a faceplate that is sized to prevent fishers from getting in and becoming bycatch. The link below provides additional information on the exclusion box, how it works, and how you can build your own exclusion boxes to support fisher conservation.
Fur royalty regulations and schedule
Royalty must be paid by a person to keep the pelt or skin of a furbearing animal (not raised in captivity) lawfully taken under their trapping licence, unless that person sells the pelt or skin to a licensed fur trader.
Schedule of Royalties
The following amounts are to be paid per pelt or skin. Royalties are determined as 3% of the average price paid at auction in Canada for the pelt or skin of the particular species during the preceding three years, as determined by the director responsible for the wildlife program.
| Species | Royalties |
|---|---|
| Beaver | $0.72 |
| Black Bear | $7.56 |
| Bobcat | $6.00 |
| Coyote | $1.48 |
| Fisher | $1.04 |
| Fox | $0.66 |
| Lynx | $3.20 |
| Marten | $1.40 |
| Mink | $0.15 |
| Muskrat | $0.10 |
| Otter | $1.03 |
| Raccoon | $0.13 |
| Skunk | $0.54 |
| Squirrel | $0.05 |
| Weasel | $0.11 |
| Wolf | $8.33 |
| Wolverine |
$12. |
Trapping compulsory reporting and inspection
For more information and instructions, visit trapping compulsory reporting and inspection.
Use of road-kill wildlife by trappers
Trappers with valid trapping licences, valid trapping permits, or persons exempted from holding licences or permits to trap fur bearing animals are able to pick up certain species of wildlife that have died as a result of collisions with motor vehicles and to use the carcasses as bait for traps set under the authority of their trapping licence, permit, or exemption.
Trappers may pick up and transport any dead mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose, black bear, or any wildlife listed in Schedules B or C (see the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for current schedules) if:
(a) the wildlife has died as a result of colliding with a motor vehicle, other than a motor vehicle operated by the trapper;
(b) the meat of the wildlife is unfit for human consumption;
(c) the carcass of the wildlife is to be used only:
(i) by the trapper, and
(ii) as bait for traps set under the authority of the trapper’s licence or licence exemption; and
(d) at the time of possession and transportation, the trapper has, on his or her person, the trapper’s current trapping licence or proof of the trapper’s licence exemption.
Trappers that pick up road-kill wildlife for use as bait must, within 30 days of picking up the road kill, must complete a Trapper Road Kill Possession Report Form (PDF, 125KB) and submit it to the address shown on the form.
Trappers must maintain a copy of every completed Trapper Road Kill Report Form for at least 2 years after the date of pick up of the road kill described on the form.