Seasonal trapping regulations and information.
In addition to general harvest regulations, the following provisions apply to treaty trapping in the 1837 and 1842 Ceded Territories in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Generally, the same species can be trapped during the same season in both the Minnesota and Wisconsin portions of the Ceded Territories. However, there are some differences.
This page does not detail trapping regulations in their entirety. Additionally, your Tribe may have more restrictive regulations. Check with your Tribe for their full code of regulations.
Small game trapping seasons begin at 6:00 am of the opening date and close at 11:59 pm of the closing date.
Wisconsin 1837 and 1842 Ceded Territories
- October 1 - April 30: Open trapping season for otter and beaver.
- Saturday nearest October 17 - March 31: Open trapping season for fisher.
- October 1 - March 31: Open trapping season for all other small game species.
- Badger, marten, and lynx are protected in Wisconsin and cannot be trapped.
Minnesota 1837 Ceded Territory
- October 1 - March 31: Open trapping season for all small game species, except those listed below.
- No open trapping season for lynx, female pheasants, ruffed grouse, or sharp-tailed grouse.
Traps may not be set on any privately owned land, except in Minnesota when lands are designated by state law as open to hunting by the general public.
You must attach to each trap or snare a metal tag that is stamped or engraved with your name, address, or NAGFA ID and the initials of your Band (as shown below).
Bands may establish otter, bobcat, and fisher quotas for both Minnesota and Wisconsin, and a marten quota for Minnesota. Information about quotas is available from your Band's conservation department, registration station, or GLIFWC.
Members must possess a valid small game trapping permit while engaged in trapping.
Wisconsin 1837 and 1842 Ceded Territories
- Members trapping otter, bobcat, or fisher must be in possession of a valid carcass tag while trapping.
- There is a bag limit of 1 sharp-tailed grouse per day. Otherwise, there is no limit on the number of animals you may take by trapping each day unless established by your Band.
Minnesota 1837 Ceded Territory
- There are generally no daily bag limits for small game species. The number of otters, fishers, bobcats, and martens you my take is limited to the number of tags/stamps you have.
| Bad River | BR | Lac du Flambeau | LDF |
| Fond du Lac | FDL | Lac Vieux Desert | LVD |
| Lac Courte Oreilles | LCO | Mole Lake | ML |
| Mille Lacs Band | MLB | St. Croix | SC |
| Red Cliff | RC | Keweenaw Bay | KBIC |
Registration of marten (MN only), otter, bobcat, and fisher is required. All other small game species do not require registration. See the "Gidagaa-bizhiw," "Ojiig," "Waabizheshi," and "Nigig" sections for more information on registration requirements.
General requirements, as set out below, apply to trapping in Minnesota and Wisconsin. For specific method restrictions see the "Treaty Trapping Regulation Summary"
Traps and snares may only be placed during the open season. Traps and snares may be set and checked at any time of day or night.
Bait and scent may only be placed during the open season. Bait cannot contain honey (WI only) metal, plastic, glass, wood, or non-degradable materials. All other general restrictions on the use or placement of bait apply.
Water sets may only be used during the open season for muskrat, beaver or otter. There is no required time period for checking water sets.
Dry land sets and snares must be checked, and all animals removed, at least once each day. There are some exceptions to this requirement in Wisconsin and Minnesota.