Trapping seasons

Find trapping season for different furbearers, plus harvest reporting information.

Click here for more information about trapping regulations.

2025 Trapping season dates

Species	Open season
Beaver1	Jan. 1 – April 15, 2025 and Nov. 1, 2025 – April 15, 2026
Bobcat1,2, coyote1, fox1, weasel	Nov. 1 – Nov. 30, 2025
Fisher1	Nov. 1 – Nov. 22, 2025
Mink1, river otter1	Nov. 1 – Dec. 15, 2025
Muskrat, opossum, raccoon, skunk	Jan. 1 – Feb. 28, 2025 and Nov. 1, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026

1 – pelt sealing and reporting required
2 – bobcats may only be trapped or salvaged in zones 1-8

Harvest reporting (pelt checking)

Harvest reporting rules for bobcat and otter

Bobcat and otter must be checked within 4 working days of the end of the season at a physical check station. Bobcats and otters cannot be reported online. The seal you receive from the check station must remain attached to the pelt until the pelt/carcass is prepared for mounting or the pelt is sold or tanned.  Click here to find a check station.

Harvest reporting rules for beaver, coyote, fisher, fox, or mink.

You must report harvested  beaver, coyote, fisher, fox, mink within 4 working days of the end of their respective seasons.

2 ways to report:

• Use MassFishHunt to report a harvest online
  You will get a confirmation number after completion. You must write this number on a harvest tag of your own making, which should still be attached to your game. Confirmation numbers must remain attached until the pelt/carcass is prepared for mounting or the pelt is sold or tanned.
• Take your harvested game to an official check station. Click here to find a check station. The seal you receive from the check station must remain attached to the pelt until the pelt/carcass is prepared for mounting or the pelt is sold or tanned.