Transporting, Holding, Releasing, and Dispatching Live Animals

In Pennsylvania, you must follow these laws and regulations related to live animals.

• It is unlawful for trappers to possess live furbearers taken from the wild without first securing the appropriate permit from an officer of the Game Commission.
• Animals that are not the intended target for a cable device set must be released within 36 hours of capture. This includes:
  • Domestic animals
  • Pets
  • Non-target wildlife for which there is no open season and for which the trapper doesn’t possess the necessary permits
• When dispatching trapped animals with a firearm, follow these Pennsylvania regulations.
  • To dispatch trapped animals with a firearm during deer season, trappers must use:
    • Semi-automatic or manually operated 22-caliber or smaller rifles or...
    • Manually operated 22-caliber or smaller rimfire handguns or...
    • Air- or gas-operated firearms that are 22-caliber.
  • Persons under the age of 12 may use only a manually operated 22-caliber or smaller rimfire rifle and only when accompanied by an adult.