Best Management Practices:

One of the biggest undertakings of moving regulated trapping into the modern age as a conservation tool was to establish ethical guidelines focusing on the humaneness and effectiveness of the activity. Whether for season fur trapping, or damage control mitigation, licensed trappers must strive to be educated on the most up-to-date ethical standards.

Both The United States and Canada have developed a set of guidelines for how best to carry out trapping activities in North America. Canada’s Best Trapping Practices have been developed and carried out by Fédération des Trappeurs Gestionnaires du Québec, Fur Institute of Canada, Ministère des Forêts, and de la Faune et des Parcs (Québec). The United States Best Management Practices have been developed by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. Both programs are always evolving with the assistance of science, biology, and licensed trappers.

Best Management Practices (United States)

Best Trapping Practices (Canada) 

The following is from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies:

Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Trapping in the United States was written by the Furbearer Conservation Technical Work Group of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. Development of this document would not have been possible without the cooperation and participation of many state wildlife agencies, expert trappers and trapper organizations.

The purpose of the BMP process is to scientifically evaluate the traps and trapping systems used for capturing furbearers in the United States. Evaluations are based on animal welfare, efficiency, selectivity, practicality and safety. Results of this research are provided as information to state and federal wildlife agencies and trappers. BMPs are intended to inform people about traps and trapping systems considered to be state of the art in animal welfare and efficiency. Through the use of BMP guidelines, trappers can continue to play an important role in furbearer management programs across the United States. View the AF&WA BMP Fact-sheet.

Please click the images below to download the BMP files for the pertaining species. The files are in PDF format. These BMP files will be updated as they become available.

Presented by Fédération des Trappeurs Gestionnaires du Québec, Fur Institute of Canada, Ministère des Forêts, and de la Faune et des Parcs (Québec). Data provided was designed around trap testing completed through the work of the Trap Research and Development Committee of the Fur Institute of Canada. They are intended as general guidelines for trap users.