Trapping Regulations

Note: This is a summary of regulations that deal with trapping. It is neither a legal document nor a complete collection of the wildlife regulations. It is meant to be a convenient reference only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, some errors or omissions may have occurred. For additional information consult the nearest Manitoba Conservation Office or telephone 204-945-6784 in Winnipeg or 1-800-214-6497. Recent additions or amendments to the printed guide are also available on this site.

For general information on wildlife programs and legislation visit the Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection Branch website.

No person shall:

1. Trap, attempt to trap, possess or sell a furbearing animal without having first obtained a trapper's licence.
2. Trap in areas where trapping is not permitted.
3. Possess illegally taken furbearers.
4. Chase, drive, flush, worry, harass, follow after or search for furbearers from a vehicle. Note: The definition of a vehicle is a motor vehicle, trailer, tractor, powerboat, aircraft or any other vehicle drawn, propelled or driven by any means other than human power.
5. Remove, disturb, spring or in any way interfere with any trap set out lawfully by any other person for the purpose of taking furbearing animals.
6. Shoot a muskrat, beaver or otter except when they are on land or in a trap.
7. Ship raw fur out of the province without first paying the royalties and obtaining an export permit. Contact a local Natural Resource Officer for more information.
8. Tan or process raw furs without first paying the royalties on the pelts to be tanned.
9. Possess poison, including cyanide guns or parts of cyanide guns, for the purpose of taking furbearing animals.
10. Spear, probe, break or destroy a muskrat house, beaver lodge or beaver dam without authorization from the Minister of Conservation. A licensed trapper may probe or open a muskrat house in season for the purpose of trapping providing that it is closed so the water entrance does not freeze.
11. Use common snares for taking furbearing animals and timber wolves except in the Registered Trapline (RTL) Area and for beaver under ice in Open Areas.  Special permits may be issued in exceptional circumstances. This does not include power snares that may be used in the Open Areas to take furbearers and wolves, but not black bears.
12. Take black bear on an Open Area trapping licence in Open Areas 1-5. It is permissible to take black bear on either an RTL permit in the RTL Area or on a resident trapping licence in the Northern Special Trapping Area, but only using a firearm.
13. Trap or attempt to trap furbearing animals within Game Hunting Area 38, Grants Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Oak Hammock WMA, Birds Hill Provincial Park, Beaudry Provincial Heritage Park or Pembina Valley Provincial Park, except under authority of a special permit issued by the minister or a person designated by the minister . Trapping is prohibited in ecological reserves and wildlife refuges, except in Game Bird Refuges and the Canada Goose Refuge. Some municipalities may also enact by-laws concerning trapping.
14. Trap or attempt to trap furbearers on private land or on posted Crown land without first obtaining permission to do so.
15. Hold both a RTL permit and an Open Area trapping licence at the same time or during the same trapping year, except a landowner who may hold both under certain circumstances.
16. Leave trapping devices set after the end of trapping season.
17. Trap furbearing animals using traps with teeth or serrated edges or with hooks.
18. Trap furbearing animals using leghold traps attached to spring poles.
19. Trap furbearing animals using leghold traps set in trees or on poles above ground. The trap used must be a body grip or killing trap.
20. Trap furbearing animals using live holding devices unless they are checked at least once every 72 hours.
21. Use snares set on land unless they are equipped with a locking device or set in such a manner that the noose is prevented from expanding.
22. Take black bear using any device other than a firearm.
23. Take black bear while the bear is in its den.
24. Take a female black bear with cubs.
25. Have in possession a live furbearing animal unless specifically authorized by permit.
26. Buy and/or sell raw fur except under the authority of a dealer's licence.
27. Transfer or use the licence/permit of another person.
28. Market the pelt of a marten and/or fisher taken in the Turtle Mountain Registered Trapline Section unless it has a tag issued by Manitoba Conservation affixed to the pelt.
29. Possess, sell, attempt to sell or import the bile or gall bladder of a bear.
30. Use any trap other than a certified one for beaver, fisher, marten, muskrat, raccoon and lynx.
31. Use an unmodified leghold trap with a jaw spread greater than 23 centimetres (9.06 inches).
32. Use a leghold trap to trap beaver, mink, muskrat or river otter unless it is set in such a manner as to restrain and kill the animal under water.
33. Use a leghold trap on land to trap badger, weasels, mink, otter, red squirrel or wolverine.
34. Use an unmodified leghold restraining trap to trap bobcat, coyote, lynx, timber wolf, or (as of 2004/2005) fox.
35. Allow any part of the pelt of furbearers, black bears and wolves to be wasted, destroyed, abandoned or allowed to spoil.
36. On finding a live furbearer, or wolf in a trapping device, fail to immediately and humanely kill the animal.