Bill Text: MS SB2167 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Trapping; restrict use of conibear or body-gripping traps on public lands.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2012-03-06 - Died In Committee [SB2167 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2012-SB2167-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
By: Senator(s) Stone
Senate Bill 2167
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO RESTRICT THE USE OF CERTAIN SIZE CONIBEAR OR BODY-GRIPPING TRAPS ON LAND WITHIN PUBLIC LANDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 49-7-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
49-7-13. (1) Any resident of the state sixteen (16) years of age or older, upon application, is entitled to receive a state trapper's license with tag for the sum of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00), plus the fee provided in Section 49-7-17. This license shall be required of each helper or assistant sixteen (16) years of age or older employed or used by a trapper.
(2) (a) No person shall trap on the lands of another unless he has the permission of the landowner.
(b) No person shall use a conibear or body-gripping trap with an inside diameter jaw spread exceeding six (6) inches on land within public lands. Conibear or body-gripping traps in excess of six (6) inches may be used only in water on public lands.
(3) Each trap shall have an identification number permanently inscribed on the trap or attached to the trap by a metal tag. Every trapper shall visit his traps at least every thirty-six (36) hours. The conservation officer may take up any traps not properly marked.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall place or set a trap on or within one hundred (100) feet of any street or public road. Public roads shall not be construed to mean public waterways.
(5) This section shall not apply to a landowner trapping on his own lands except subsection (4).
(6) A trapper shall be allowed to trap fur-bearing animals during trapping season, and sell the pelts of fur-bearing and nuisance animals during the trapping season and for ten (10) days after the close of the season. The meat of legally acquired raccoons, opossums and muskrats may also be bought and sold during trapping season, and for ten (10) days after the close of the season.
(7) A municipality or county, or any person who has contracted with a municipality or county for the purpose authorized in this subsection, may place or set only snare traps within one hundred (100) feet of any road or street located within such municipality or county. Before the action authorized by this section is taken, the governing authority of the municipality or the board of supervisors of the county shall make a finding that such placement of snare traps is reasonable and necessary to protect the public safety by removing fur-bearing and nuisance animals that threaten the safety of public roads and bridges. Snares shall be submerged at least fifty percent (50%).
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.
