What you need to know

Every trapper harvesting fur pelts must have a trapping licence. The licence identifies the area where the trapper can lawfully trap and provides harvest quotas for some species (such as beaver).

You must trap only during the open season (the period of time when you’re allowed to trap a certain animal).

You also have to report the number of animals you trap, sell, and keep each year under the authority of your trapping licence. The numbers from your annual harvest reports help monitor furbearer populations and inform furbearer management approaches.

The law

To trap in Ontario, you must:

  • have completed the required Fur Harvest, Fur Management and Conservation course
  • have a trapping licence
  • trap only during open seasons
  • only trap according to annual harvest quotas
  • trap only on land identified in the licence
  • have written permission from the landowner when trapping on private lands
  • follow other conditions set out in your licence and the regulations (such as trap sizes for fox)
  • only use humane, certified traps

All legal requirements for trapping in Ontario are set out in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 and regulations under the Act. For more information on these rules and requirements, read the Ontario Trapping Regulations Summary.

Types of trapping licences

Trapping licences set out the area where you can trap and the number of animals of each species you are allowed to catch.

You can apply to be licensed as a:

  • landowner:  if you trap only on your own property
  • resident:  if you trap on private lands with written permission from the landowner or on Crown land identified in the licence that is not part of a Registered Trapline Area
  • head trapper (Registered Trapline Area): if you trap in the Registered Trapline Area assigned on your licence. You may use a licensed helper (also known as a helper trapper)  but you are solely responsible for making sure your helpers follow laws and regulations
  • helper trapper (Registered Trapline Area): if you trap only within the areas on the registered trapline area identified head trapper’s licence and for furbearing mammals that count towards the head trapper’s quota
  • youth (age 12-15): can participate in most aspects of trapping, including setting traps and preparing and selling the pelts of furbearing mammals; but only under direct supervision of a licensed trapper who is at least 18 years old.

Licence qualifications (adult)

To qualify for an adult trapping licence you must:

  • be 16 years of age or older
  • successfully complete the Fur Harvest, Fur Management and Conservation Course
  • be a resident of Ontario or a Canadian citizen
  • hold a valid Outdoors Card
  • have hunter accreditation on file with the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service

Licence qualifications (youth)

To qualify for a youth trapping licence, you must:

  • be 12 to 15 years of age
  • have written consent to trap from your parent/guardian
  • successfully complete the Fur Harvest, Fur Management and Conservation Course
  • be a resident of Ontario or a Canadian citizen

Trappers and use of firearms

A person (youth or adult) carrying a gun while trapping is required to carry federal firearms accreditation (for example, your Possession and Acquisition Licence, minor’s licence, or proof of completion of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course and exams).

Youth can use a firearm as a youth trapper if you:

  • hold a valid Class A1 hunter apprenticeship safety card issued before January 1, 2019, or
  • hold a valid Outdoors Card and have hunter accreditation on file with the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service.

The youth and the supervising trapper must share one firearm.

Apply for a licence

Before you can get your trapping licence, you must complete the Fur Harvest, Fur Management and Conservation Course.

This course is available through several organizations who train and issue licences to trappers on the ministry's behalf.

Visit one of the following websites for more information:

The course:

  • is 40 hours long (32 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours of hands-on trap-setting and pelt preparation)
  • has a cost set by course providers
  • covers:
    • safety and humane trapping
    • survival skills
    • good pelt-preparation
    • maintaining sustainable harvesting levels

Once you’ve completed the course and passed both a written and practical exam, you may submit your exam report and a completed application for an Ontario trapping licence to a work centre. If the ministry authorizes the application they will then assign a trapper number and any applicable quotas before forwarding it to issuing organization (Ontario Fur Managers Federation or Provincial Treaty Organization).

Humane trapping

Licensed trappers must use humane techniques to capture furbearing animals. Animals include:

  • beaver, muskrat and otter
  • fisher, marten, mink and weasel
  • raccoon
  • skunk
  • opossum
  • red squirrel
  • lynx and bobcat
  • wolf and coyote

We work with trappers to protect these wildlife populations and habitat by:

  • managing wildlife populations
  • supporting conservation through licence fees and royalties from pelt sales
  • reducing conflicts between humans and wildlife by removing and deterring problem animals
  • collecting harvest information from trappers that provide critical information on animal populations

The Fur Institute of Canada coordinates trap-testing across Canada to ensure traps meet humane-trapping standards. This is part of Canada’s support of the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS). Traps meeting these standards can be certified for use in Ontario.

AIHTS certified traps list

Learn more about humane-trapping standards.