Furbearer Hunting
To hunt furbearers, you need to possess a junior hunting, small game, small/big game, sportsman, super sportsman, non-resident hunting, or non-resident super sportsman license. A trapping or big game license does not allow you to hunt furbearers. Furbearers may be hunted with a bow or firearm as described below. All laws pertaining to the use of a spotlight and firearm apply.
- You may hunt red and gray fox, coyote, bobcat, raccoon, skunk, mink, weasel and opossum.
- If you take a bobcat, it must be tagged and sealed.
- You may use a call, including an electronic call.
- You may hunt furbearers only after sunrise on the opening day. They may be taken at any hour, day or night, for the rest of their hunting season.
- Skunk may be hunted during their open trapping season.
- Mink may only be hunted in the Southern Zone with a firearm not larger than .22 caliber during their open trapping season. Mink may not be hunted with a firearm in the Northern Zone
- Muskrat may only be hunted on Lake Champlain during the open trapping season with a firearm not larger than a .22 caliber.
- You may hunt furbearers during the day using any handgun, shotgun, rifle or bow. You may hunt at night as described below.
Furbearer Hunting at Night
You may hunt furbearers at night, with or without a light, as follows:
- Use any handgun or bow.
- Use a shotgun loaded with shot (any size).
- Use a rifle chambered in any cartridge, except that you may not possess a centerfire rifle afield, during the day or night, during any open season for deer in areas restricted to using a shotgun only for deer.
- If hunting without a light, the use of a light gathering ("starlight") scope is legal on any firearm listed above.
NOTE: Westchester County and Long Island - Rifles are not allowed
Selling Furbearers
- Furbearers may be bought and sold with or without pelt attached to the carcass.
- Bobcat pelts, or carcasses with pelt attached, shall be possessed or transported only in the manner described in Pelt Sealing.
More about Furbearer Hunting:
- Bobcat Hunting Seasons - Maps showing the areas open for bobcat hunting.
- Coyote Hunting Seasons - Maps showing the areas open for coyote hunting.
- Raccoon, Red & Gray Fox, Opossum & Weasel Hunting Seasons - Maps showing the areas open for red fox, grey fox, opossum, weasel and raccoon hunting and season dates.
