Can you hunt muskrat

However, huts must be restored to their approximate original condition to prevent freeze-up. Traps — Beginning March 16, non-floating colony traps must be under at least 2 inches of water and trapping on the outside of any muskrat house or structure is prohibited; traps may be placed completely inside a muskrat house or structure of any size; except when used on fl oat sets, foothold traps that are not enclosed must be submerged under water at all times or have a protective covering; body-gripping traps used in a water set can have no more than 2 inches of the trap above water or a protective covering.

Cable devices — muskrat may be captured statewide using legal cable devices. Beginning March 16, using cable devices on the outside of any muskrat house or structure of any size is prohibited. Firearms, archery equipment — Muskrat may be hunted statewide with rimfire cartridges of. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department, along with the North Dakota Fur Takers Association, recommends that all traps be visually inspected and all captured animals be removed at no greater than hour intervals, and that rubber gloves be worn for skinning and handling of all furbearers.

That's why you need to use a tranquilizer gun in order to determine the sex after you shoot them. Thread Tools. All times are GMT The time now is AM. User Name. Remember Me? Sponsor Forums. Mark Forums Read. Find all posts by openfire. Find all posts by HunterDave. Join Date: Apr Posts: Find all posts by Rules.

Find all posts by Lefty-Canuck. Quote: Originally Posted by Rules Do you really need a license to shoot muskrats? Find all posts by H Find all posts by AlbertaAl. Quote: Originally Posted by Rules Just curious, I had no idea that you could not kill muskrats without a trappers license, can you shoot magpies without a license or are they protected too?

Their musk glands produce a mild and inoffensive odor. Within communities having 10, or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within feet of any residence or occupied building.

Right to Use. Species Description. If you do not want to trap the muskrat yourself, contact a licensed nuisance wild animal control operator. Muskrats can sometimes be prevented from digging in a pond dam or bank by rip-rapping. Drawing the pond down at least 2 feet below normal water levels during the winter can also encourage them to leave.

Once it is drawn-down, you can trap or shoot where legal the muskrat, then fill the dens, burrows and runs and rip-rap the dam with stone to prevent muskrats from re-colonizing. A concentrated effort to reduce the breeding population of muskrats during winter through regulated trapping can also help reduce damage in spring and summer.

Muskrats are an important source of food for a variety of species, including mink, hawks, owls, river otters, coyotes, foxes, and bobcats. DNR IN.