The Essentials of Trapping in Ontario

Species

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• MAY TRAP furbearing mammals as set out in Schedule 1 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997

• MAY NOT TRAP white-tailed deer, moose, woodland caribou, or American elk- Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, Subsection 21(1) 

• MAY NOT TRAP game birds- Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, Subsection 22(3)

• O. Reg 667/98 Section 2. (1) A person shall not trap a black bear except in an area specified in Table 2 of Ontario Regulation 670/98 (Open Seasons — Wildlife) during the open season specified in the Table for the area.  O. Reg. 582/99, s. 1.

• (2) Despite the requirement in subsection (1) for a licence but subject to section 9 and to any requirement for a licence under section 79, the holder of a licence to trap furbearing mammals may, in accordance with the licence and without any other licence, in the area described in the licence,

  • (a) to the extent that the open season falls within the period from September 1 in a year to June 30 of the following year, trap black bear and other game mammals, other than white-tailed deer, moose, woodland caribou or American elk; and

• With a licence to trap furbearing mammals, black bear may be trapped in accordance with clause 6(2)(a) of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997

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Season

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• There are different seasons for each of the furbearing mammals across the Wildlife Management Units of Ontario. For further information on trapping seasons, see "Seasons." 

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Equipment

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TRAPS- traps are heavily regulated in Ontario. Some key points of trap requirements from "Traps and Methods," sections 17-27 of O. Reg. 667/98 are listed below:

 

Section 17

A person shall not use,

(a) a trap that has a hook or sharpened device capable of impaling a furbearing mammal;

(b) a spring pole set, except with a killing trap;

(c) a deadfall;

(d) a trap that has teeth or serrations on its jaws;

(e) a suspended snare unless,

(i) the snare is set for varying hare, cottontail, European hare or red squirrel,

(ii) a snare lock or other device is used in such a manner that the noose is prevented from expanding, or

(iii) the snare is a relaxing cable restraint that complies with the requirements of subsection 17.1 (1) and is used in accordance with subsection 17.1 (2); or

(f) a number 110 Conibear trap or any body-gripping trap of a similar construction with equivalent or less killing power unless,

(i) the trap is set for muskrat, subject to subsection 18 (1), or

(ii) the trap is set for mink in such a manner that the captured mink will be submerged in water and prevented from resurfacing.

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Section 18

18. (1) If a species is listed in Column 2 of Schedule 1 or in Column 2 of Schedule 2, a person shall not use a trap for trapping the species unless,

(a) the trap that is used is set out in Column 3 of the relevant Schedule opposite the species; and

(b) the trap is used in accordance with any conditions set out in section 18.1. O. Reg. 290/17, s. 2.

(2) Despite subsection (1),

(a) muskrat may be trapped using traps known as funnel traps if they are set under the surface of the water;

(b) lynx may be trapped using a suspended snare in accordance with this Regulation. O. Reg. 290/17, s. 2.

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Firearms- any use of firearms by trappers must follow any conditions listed in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, and the Firearms Act, S.C. 1995, c.39 

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Section 23

24. (1) A person shall not use a leg-hold trap that has a jaw spread greater than,

(a) 18 centimetres when set on land; or

(b) 21 centimetres when set in water.  O. Reg. 303/07, s. 6.

(2) Despite subsection (1), a person entitled to use a leg-hold trap may trap for wolf with a leg-hold trap that has a jaw spread not exceeding 23 centimetres if the person is permitted to do so by the district manager in the district in which the permission is sought and the person uses the trap in accordance with the terms of the permission. O. Reg. 667/98, s. 24 (2).

(3) The District Manager may give permission if in his or her opinion the trap can be used in a manner that ensures public safety and if there is little risk of a species other than wolf being caught in the trap. O. Reg. 667/98, s. 24 (3).

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Section 27

27. (1) A person shall not possess a body-gripping trap unless the person,

(a) is lawfully entitled to use the trap;

(b) was lawfully entitled to use the trap within the five years preceding the date on which the person was found to be in possession of the body-gripping trap;

(c) engages in activities related to the manufacture, repair, sale, transportation or storage of the traps or the conduct of research with respect to those traps;

(d) is a collector of traps and the trap is rendered incapable of being used for trapping; or

(e) possesses the traps for educational purposes in the course of employment by an educational institution or government.  O. Reg. 667/98, s. 27 (1).

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to traps in a museum or public display if most of the funding for the museum or display comes from a government in Canada.  O. Reg. 667/98, s. 27 (2).

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Licence

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• Anyone who wishes to trap in Ontario must have a licence to do so. For information on licensing, see "Licensing."

• If using a firearm to dispatch animals, a person must possess a Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence

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Limits

• O. Reg. 667/98, subsection 10(4)-The head trapper and all helper trappers shall not cumulatively exceed the quotas fixed in the licence of the head trapper

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Area​

• Areas are specific to Wildlife Management Units in Ontario. To find out what WMU you are in, visit www.ontario.ca  or go to our Seasons page.