[Reprinted from original]
Season Date Changes for Beaver, Mink and Muskrat Trapping
On Nov. 25, 2020, DEC adopted new season date regulations for beaver, mink and muskrat trapping in portions of New York. The new season dates will expand trapper opportunity in central and western New York, streamline water trapping dates, and more effectively manage New York’s healthy beaver population. These season date changes were initially proposed from results of a 2017 survey of furbearer trappers and hunters to determine season timing preferences. Trappers and furbearer hunters both indicated a preference for dates that would maximize pelt quality to promote wise, sustainable use of our abundant furbearer resources in New York.
Due to the lengthy rule-making process, these season date changes were not adopted in time to impact trapping season start dates for the 2020-21 season. However, beaver trappers in central and western New York will now be able to set traps through Apr. 7, 2021, and other water trapping season date changes will go into effect beginning in 2021. The full season date changes are outlined below.
ffective immediately, beaver trapping season throughout the entire Southern Zone (with the exception of New York City and Long Island) will now run through Apr. 7. Beginning in 2021, the beaver season will run from Nov. 10 – Apr. 7 throughout the Southern Zone (excluding New York City and Long Island). In the Northern Zone, the beaver trapping season is unchanged and is open from Nov. 1 through Apr. 7.
In central and western New York (WMUs 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7M, 7P, 7R, 7S, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8M, 8N, 8P, 8R, 8S, 8T, 8W, 8X, 8Y, 9A, 9C, 9F, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9P, 9R, 9S, 9T, 9W, 9X, 9Y), the mink and muskrat trapping season will now run from Nov. 10 – Feb. 15 each year. The season in southeastern New York remains unchanged, running from Nov. 10 – Apr. 7. There will be no changes to the Northern Zone mink and muskrat season this year; however, the season will run from Nov. 1 – Apr. 15 starting in 2021.