Trapping

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service carefully manages trapping activities on national wildlife refuges to ensure that safe, effective practices are used, to ensure the sustainability of wildlife populations, and to protect refuge infrastructure.  

Trapping may be used as a wildlife management tool and may be available for public recreation. The use of trapping is determined on a station-by-station basis in accordance with a refuge’s conservation purpose and related legal authorities.

Refuges that allow trapping as public recreation may require trappers to obtain a refuge special use permit. Special use permit rules ensure that trapping activities are compatible with refuge purposes. Special use permits are not required in waterfowl production areas within wetland management districts.

Trapping in waterfowl production areas is open each year, subject to state laws and regulations. The Fish and Wildlife Service opens national wildlife refuges to recreational trapping in accordance with the Refuge Recreation Act (as amended in 1973), the Refuge Administration Act (as amended in 1997) and the National Environmental Policy Act.

Some national wildlife refuges may prohibit recreational trapping even though trapping for management purposes is occurring. All trapping must be done in accordance with state laws, regulations and licensing requirements.



In Alaska, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act allows for subsistence uses, including trapping, on all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands.



The Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to informing the public about where trapping may occur.

  • We have installed signs at all refuges where trapping may occur.
  • We encourage you to contact your local refuge or district manager or visit the individual refuge or wetland management district wetland management district
    A wetland management district is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office that manages waterfowl production areas in one or more counties. Waterfowl production areas are small natural wetlands and grasslands that provide breeding, resting and nesting habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, grassland birds and other wildlife. The Fish and Wildlife Service acquires waterfowl production areas under the authority of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act, primarily using funds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps. The Refuge System’s 38 wetland management districts comprise thousands of waterfowl production areas – almost all in the Prairie Pothole Region of the Northern Great Plains.

    Learn more about wetland management district
    website for specific information and regulations.

Where Trapping Occurs

Trapping is authorized to occur on the following national wildlife refuges, in accordance with state laws, state regulations, state licensing requirements and the National Wildlife Refuge System mission. Although authorized, trapping may not occur regularly at all the locations listed below. Trapping may occur intermittently from year to year or seasonally at any of the locations.

Alabama

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge

Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

Alaska

Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Becharof National Wildlife Refuge

Innoko National Wildlife Refuge

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge

Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge

Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge

Selawik National Wildlife Refuge

Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge

Togiak National Wildlife Refuge

Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge

Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge



Arizona

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

Arkansas

Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge

Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Cache River National Wildlife Refuge

Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge

Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge

Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge

Logan Cave National Wildlife Refuge

Overflow National Wildlife Refuge

Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge

California

Butte Sink Wildlife Management Area

Colusa National Wildlife Refuge

Delevan National Wildlife Refuge

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Salinas National River Wildlife Refuge

San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge

Sutter National Wildlife Refuge

Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge

Delaware

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Florida

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge

Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge

Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge

Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge

Georgia

Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge

Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge

Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge

Hawaii

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge

Huleia National Wildlife Refuge

Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

Maui National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Oahu National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Illinois

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Great River National Wildlife Refuge

Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge

Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge

Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge

Indiana

Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge

Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge

Iowa

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Iowa Wetland Management District

Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge

Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge

Kansas

Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge

Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

Kentucky

Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge

Louisiana

Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge

Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge

Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge

Delta National Wildlife Refuge

Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge

Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge

Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge

Red River National Wildlife Refuge

Sabine National Wildlife Refuge

Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuge

Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge

Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge

Maine

Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge

Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge

Franklin Island National Wildlife Refuge

Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge

Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge

Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge

Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge

Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge

Maryland

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Patuxent Research Refuge

Massachusetts

Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Michigan

Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

Michigan Wetland Management District

Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

Minnesota

Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

Big Stone Wetland Management District

Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District

Fergus Falls Wetland Management District

Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge

Litchfield Wetland Management District

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

Morris Wetland Management District

Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Rydell National Wildlife Refuge

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge

Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge

Windom Wetland Management District

Mississippi

Coldwater River National Wildlife Refuge

Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge

Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Hillside National Wildlife Refuge

Holt Collier National Wildlife Refuge

Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge

Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge

Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge

Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Tallahatchie National Wildlife Refuge

Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge

Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge

Missouri

Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge

Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge

Great River National Wildlife Refuge

Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge

Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge

Mingo National Wildlife Refuge

Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge

Montana

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Nebraska

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Valentine National Wildlife Refuge

Nevada

Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge



New Hampshire

Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge - Pondicherry Division

Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge

New Jersey

Cape May National Wildlife Refuge

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge

New Mexico

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

New York

Amagansett National Wildlife Refuge

Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge

North Carolina

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge

Currituck National Wildlife Refuge

Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge

Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge

North Dakota

Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge

Audubon National Wildlife Refuge

Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge

J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge

Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge

Ohio

Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

Oklahoma

Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge

Little River National Wildlife Refuge

Oregon

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge

Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

Pennsylvania

Erie National Wildlife Refuge

South Carolina

Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge

Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

Tybee National Wildlife Refuge

Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge

South Dakota

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge

Waubay National Wildlife Refuge

Tennessee

Chickasaw National Wildlife Refuge

Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge

Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuge

Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge

Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge

Texas

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge

Utah

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

Vermont

Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge

Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge - Nulhegan Basin Division

Virginia

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge

Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge

Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge

Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge

Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Washington

Columbia National Wildlife Refuge

Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Hanford Reach National Monument/Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer

Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge

Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

West Virginia

Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Wisconsin

Horicon National Wildlife Refuge

Leopold Wetland Management District

Necedah National Wildlife Refuge

St. Croix Wetland Management District

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge

Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Wyoming

Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge

U.S. Minor Outlying Islands

Guam National Wildlife Refuge

Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge

 

Story Tags

Trapping

Recreational Activities