Trapping Within the Law

You found a productive creek-bottom run and you want to set a few traps before the season heats up. But which traps are actually legal in South Carolina? Do you need a special license to keep the raccoons you catch? And when exactly does the season open? Get these details wrong before you ever bait a set and you are looking at misdemeanor charges, fines, and losing your equipment. This lesson makes the legal framework automatic.

Quick recall

Quick recall from the Legal Framework module — what state agency sets furbearer trapping rules in South Carolina?

Quick recall from the Legal Framework module — what state agency sets furbearer trapping rules in South Carolina?

SCDNR — SC Department of Natural Resources USDA Wildlife Services EPA — Environmental Protection Agency

Check answer

What traps are legal for raccoon in SC

South Carolina law lists the specific devices a trapper may use for furbearers. Five categories cover legitimate raccoon trapping:

1. Enclosed foothold traps — the “dog-proof” style (Duffer, egg trap, coon-cuff, Duke DP). These are the preferred raccoon tool and are treated in the next lesson.
2. Standard foothold traps — jaw spread of 5¾ inches or less on land; 7¼ inches or less for water sets.
3. Body-gripping traps — generally sold as “Conibear” style. Water or slide sets only; no bait allowed. These are illegal on land.
4. Water-set snares/cable restraints — water sets only.
5. Live traps — cage-style, no restrictions on set type.

Every other device — leg-hold traps over the size limit, killing traps on land without authorization — is prohibited unless SCDNR specifically authorizes it.

The why Why are body-gripping traps restricted to water sets?

A land-set Conibear in the path of a dog, turkey, or deer can be lethal to non-target animals. Water sets limit access to animals that actually enter the water — mostly raccoons, muskrats, and otter — dramatically improving selectivity. SC law codifies this: body-gripping traps are permissible only on vertical water sets and vertical slide sets, never baited. See SC Code § 50-11-2460.

Season dates — non-commercial vs. commercial

Two separate season structures govern raccoon trapping in South Carolina:

Category	Season window	Land requirement
Non-commercial	September 15 – March 15 (raccoon/opossum)	Private land with permission
Commercial	December 1 – March 1	Private land with permission

Beaver have a year-round non-commercial season. Other furbearers (fox, bobcat, mink) open at Thanksgiving under non-commercial rules.

Verify current SCDNR regulations before you hunt — these dates change yearly. See https://www.dnr.sc.gov/regulations.html and https://www.eregulations.com/southcarolina/hunting/trapping-commercial-fur-harvesting.

The 5-pelt cap and when you need a commercial license

This is the line most new trappers miss:

• Non-commercial trapping: You may possess up to 5 furbearing animals or pelts at one time without a commercial license. This is for personal use — you are not selling anything.
• Commercial trapping: If you want to sell any fur — even a single pelt — or if you possess more than 5 furbearers, you need a Commercial Fur Harvest License in addition to your standard hunting license.

The Commercial Fur Harvest License costs $25 for SC residents and $200 for non-residents. Hunters under 16 may trap with either a valid hunting license or proof of approved trapper education.

Edge case CITES tags for bobcat and otter

If you accidentally catch a bobcat or otter in a raccoon set and intend to sell the pelt, federal CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) tags are required before the pelt leaves South Carolina. SCDNR processes these for a $3.00/order fee and accepts requests only November 1 – April 30. Raccoons are not CITES-listed, so no federal tag is needed for raccoon alone. Always check current federal requirements.

Quick-reference: legal vs. illegal

Knowledge check

A friend wants to run a trap line and sell the pelts. He has a regular SC hunting license. What else does he need?

A friend wants to run a trap line and sell the pelts. He has a regular SC hunting license. What else does he need?

A Commercial Fur Harvest License ($25 resident) Nothing — a hunting license covers trapping and selling A SCDNR depredation permit

Check answer

Knowledge check

You want to run a land-set Conibear (body-gripping trap) for raccoon. What does SC law require?

You want to run a land-set Conibear (body-gripping trap) for raccoon. What does SC law require?

It is prohibited — body-gripping traps on land are not legal for this use You can run it with bait on land You can run it without bait on land

Check answer

Take it to the woods

Before you put out a single trap this season, run through this compliance checklist. A game warden checking your line will look at exactly these items.

Pre-season trapping compliance check

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• ⚠ Safety Valid SC hunting license in hand or accessible in your phone.
• If selling any fur or possessing more than 5 animals: Commercial Fur Harvest License obtained.
• ⚠ Safety Verified current season dates at dnr.sc.gov — not last year's dates.
• Every trap in your kit matches a legal category (enclosed foothold, standard foothold within jaw limits, water-set Conibear/snare, or live trap).
• ⚠ Safety Every trap has your name and address or SCDNR Customer ID on it or on an attached tag.
• Written or verbal permission confirmed for every tract you plan to trap.

Sources

• SCDNR regulations portal: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/regulations.html
• SC Trapping and Commercial Fur Harvesting (eRegulations): https://www.eregulations.com/southcarolina/hunting/trapping-commercial-fur-harvesting
• SC Code § 50-11-2460 — Traps allowed; identification requirement (via Animal Legal and Historical Center): https://www.animallaw.info/statute/sc-fur-article-12-trapping-furbearing-animals-regulation-dealers-buyers-processors-and

(Verify current SCDNR regulations before you hunt — season dates, fees, and legal trap specifications change yearly.)