Trapping largely unregulated

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We are Grant County, New Mexico citizens working alongside others in the state to focus public attention on the fact that steel-jaw leghold traps, steel-wire snares and other barbaric body-gripping animal traps are secreted all over the Gila National Forest and on other public lands in the state.

These traps are indiscriminate and unnecessarily cruel to companion animals and endangered species, as well as to their intended victims.

We hope this public attention will lead to banning these traps from public lands.

Report Trap Encounters

The Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter is compiling information about trapping incidents. If you have an encounter with a trap on public lands in New Mexico, please report your experience to them at

notraps@kitcarson.net.

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Did you know that trapping on public lands in New Mexico is largely unregulated?*

For example, there is . . .

NO prohibition on setting traps all year round.
NO prohibition on the number of traps that may be set.
NO requirement for certification in trapping competency.
NO requirement to use humane traps, such as cage and box traps.
NO requirement that trapped animals be killed as painlessly as possible.
NO prohibition on killing a trapped animal by jumping on its head or chest.
NO limit to the number of "protected" animals allowed to be taken by traps.
NO limit to the number of "unprotected animals" allowed to be taken by traps.
NO requirement to visually mark the specific location of traps set on public lands.
NO requirement to post signs warning of the general location of traps set on public lands.
NO prohibition on convicted animal or spouse abusers from being licensed to trap animals.
NO legal recourse to a pet owner for their companion being killed or injured in a legally-set trap.
NO requirement to inform Game and Fish wardens on the specific location of traps set on public lands.
NO prohibition on setting traps on or in the immediate vicinity of any road not maintained with public funds.
NO prohibition on setting traps on or in the immediate vicinity of trails that do not appear on a government map for the general public.
NO requirement that a trapper pay medical expenses for treatment of injuries sustained by companion animals or humans caught in their traps.
NO prohibition on setting traps in public land areas that are home to river otters, lynx, Mexican gray wolves and other threatened and endangered species.

Also:

Trappers are on the honor system to check their traps only once every 24-hours.
Trappers are on the honor system to report the numbers and species of animals they've trapped.
Trappers are on the honor system to mark their traps with their name or officially-issued ID number.
Trappers are on the honor system to disclose to the IRS how much income they've received from trapping.
Traps may be placed as close to one-quarter mile (about a five-minute walk) of an established public campground, roadside rest area, picnic area or boat launching area.
Traps are permitted as close to 25 yards (about 30 steps) of any official U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management system trail or the shoulder of any public road annually maintained with public funds.
The New Mexico Department of Game & Fish has no real idea what trapping has done over the years to New Mexico's wildlife because they haven't been monitoring what, when, where, and how many animals have been trapped.

Source: 2010-2011 New Mexico Big Game and Trapper Rules and Information

*There is one area, though, where trapping regulations are stringent: tampering with traps in the State of New Mexico is illegal. It is also illegal to kill a trapped animal to put it out of its misery.

Please call the Governor of New Mexico (505-476-2200) and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (505-476-8000) and politely tell them you do not want cruel traps on public lands in New Mexico. Also, you can contact the New Mexico Game Commissioners here.