Section 312IAC9-3-18. Prohibited methods of pursuit and taking wild animals; exceptions

   (a) A person must not take a wild animal with a foot-hold trap possessing saw-toothed or spiked jaws.

  (b) A person must not take a wild animal with a foot-hold trap if the widest inside jaw spread perpendicular to the trap's baseplate (Figure 1) is greater than or equal to five and three-quarters (5 ¾) inches and the inside width between the trap's hinge posts (Figure 2) is greater than or equal to five and three-quarters (5 ¾) inches unless the jaws of the trap have at least a one-eighth (1/8) inch offset (Figure 3), the gap of the offset is filled with securely attached rubber pads, or the trap is completely covered by water. The hinge posts must be maintained at a ninety (90) degree angle to the trap's baseplate (Figures 4 and 5).

  (c) A person must not take a wild animal with a foot-hold trap set on land if the inside jaw spread perpendicular to the trap's baseplate is greater than six and one-half (6 ½) inches and the inside width between the trap's hinge posts is greater than six and one-half (6 ½) inches.

  (d) Notwithstanding subsection (b), a person may use species-specific foot-hold traps (Figure 6) that enclose the captured animal's foot, such as The EGG Trap™, Lil' Grizz Get'rz™, Duffer's Raccoon Trap™, Coon Cuffs™, and similar traps.

  (e) As used in this section, "offset jaws" means the jaws of a leg-hold trap in which the holding area of the jaws is separated by a gap or offset (specified measurement) when the trap is closed (not in the set position). The gap or offset must extend at least eighty percent (80%) of the holding area of the trap's jaws.

  (f) A person must not take a wild animal with a Conibear™, Dahlgren™, Bigelow™, or similar body-gripping trap if the widest vertical inside jaw spread measured at the horizontal center of the trap's jaws and the widest horizontal inside jaw spread measured at the vertical center of the trap's jaws is either of the following:

(1) larger than seven and one-half (7½) inches if square; or

(2) larger than eight (8) inches, if round.

Otherwise, the trap must be completely covered by water.

  (g) A person must not use a snare to trap a wild animal except upon land owned by the user or with the written permission of the landowner. No snare shall be used that permits a circumference greater than fifteen (15) inches unless:

(1) at least fifty percent (50%) of the loop of the snare is covered by water; or

(2) the snare employs a relaxing snare lock (a lock that will allow the snare's loop size to increase once pulling tension is no longer exerted along the snare from its anchored end).

  (h) A person must not disturb the den or house of a wild animal:

(1) by shooting, digging, cutting, or chipping into the:

(A) leaf nest;

(B) hole;

(C) burrow;

(D) tree;

(E) cavity;

(F) pocket; or

(G) den; or

(2) with:

(A) the aid of:

(i) smoke;

(ii) fire;

(iii) fumes;

(iv) chemicals;

(v) a ferret; or

(vi) another small animal; or

(B) any mechanical device, other than a trap set lawfully, introduced into the:

(i) hole;

(ii) burrow;

(iii) tree; or

(iv) den;

where the animal is hidden or sheltered.

  (i) A person must not wear or use a device to climb poles or trees for the purpose of dislodging a wild animal from a location:

(1) where the animal has secreted itself for security or protection; or

(2) in which the animal maintains a nest or den.

  (j) A person must not possess an ax, a saw, or a device to climb poles or trees while in the field or woods at night for the purpose of dislodging a wild animal from a location:

(1) where the animal has secreted itself for security or protection; or

(2) in which the animal maintains a nest or den.

  (k) A person must not chase or take a furbearing mammal between sundown and sunrise without carrying a continuous shining light that is visible for at least five hundred (500) feet.

  (l) A person must not hunt a furbearing mammal from a boat. (Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 9-3-18; filed May 12, 1997, 10:00 a.m.: 20 IR 2708; readopted filed Jul 28, 2003, 12:00 p.m.: 27 IR 286; filed Apr 4, 2008, 2:56 p.m.: 20080430-IR-312070659FRA; readopted filed Nov 24, 2008, 11:08 a.m.: 20081210-IR-312080672RFA; readopted filed May 20, 2014, 9:43 a.m.: 20140618-IR-312140017RFA)