GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

S                                                                                                                                                     6

SENATE BILL 647

Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Committee Substitute Adopted 4/22/15

Third Edition Engrossed 4/30/15

Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Committee Substitute Adopted 6/10/15

Finance Committee Substitute Adopted 9/21/15
Sixth Edition Engrossed 9/22/15

 

Short Title:        Amend Trapping Law.

(Public)

Sponsors:

 

Referred to:

 

March 30, 2015

 

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to amend the trapping law relating to conibear type traps.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 113‑291.6 reads as rewritten:

"§ 113‑291.6.  Regulation of trapping.

(d)        Conibear type traps that have an inside jaw spread or opening (width or height) greater than seven and one‑half inches and no larger than 26 inches in width and 12 inches in height may only be set in the water and in areas in which beaver and otter may be lawfully trapped. For the purposes of this section:

(1)        A water‑set trap is one totally covered by water with the anchor secured in water deep enough to drown the animal trapped quickly.

(2)        In areas of tidal waters, the mean high water is considered covering water.

(3)        In reservoir areas, covering water is the low water level prevailing during the preceding 24 hours.

(4)        Marshland, as defined in G.S. 113‑229(n)(3), is not considered dry land.

(d1)      "Bucket sets" are prohibited on dry land.

(d2)      Conibear type traps set with bait and having an inside jaw spread or opening (width or height) greater than six and one‑half inches and no more than seven and one‑half inches may be set on dry land only within an enclosure approved by the rules of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission subject to the following minimum requirements:

(1)        No openings on the enclosure may exceed 60 square inches.

(2)        The trap trigger shall be recessed at least eight inches from all openings.

(d3)      Conibear type traps set without an enclosure as described in this section and without bait may be set on dry land.

(d4)      Baited conibear type traps without an enclosure may be set subject to the following requirements:

(1)        On any lands, including private lands and game lands, baited traps without an enclosure may be set on dry land if the bottom of the trap is elevated at least four feet above the ground.

(2)        On private lands, baited traps without an enclosure may be set in buildings and structures or as authorized by a depredation permit issued by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

…."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 113‑270.5(a) reads as rewritten:

"(a)       Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, no one may take fur‑bearing animals by trapping, or by any other authorized special method that preserves the pelt from injury, without first having procured a current and valid trapping license. All individuals newly licensed under this section after October 1, 2016, shall complete a trapper education course approved by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. When the trapping license is required, it serves in lieu of a hunting license in the taking of fur‑bearing animals. If fur‑bearing animals are taken as game, at the times and by the hunting methods that may be authorized, hunting license requirements apply."

SECTION 3.  Individuals taking the trapper education course required under G.S. 113‑270.5(a), as amended by Section 2 of this act, may be charged a fee to cover the cost of administering the education course.

SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2015, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.