1. (a) Recreational harvest.

   1. (1) The open season for the recreational harvest of fur-bearing animals is September 1 of one year to August 31 of the following year.
   2. (2) The daily bag limit is one fur-bearing animal and the possession limit is two fur-bearing animals. A fur-bearing animal that has been reduced to a finished product shall not be considered part of the possession limit.
   3. (3) Fur-bearing animals, pelts, and carcasses possessed under this subsection shall not be sold.

2. (b) Commercial harvest.

   1. (1) The open season for the commercial harvest of fur-bearing animals is November 1 of one year through March 31 of the following year. Nutria may be taken from September 1 through August 31 of the following year.
   2. (2) There are no bag or possession limits.
   3. (3) From April 6 through October 31 no licensed trapper may possess more than two undried pelts taken under a trapper's license.

3. (c) Means and methods.

   1. (1) Only the following means and methods are legal for taking fur-bearing animals:

      1. (A) firearms;
      2. (B) steel leghold and conibear-style traps;
      3. (C) falconry;
      4. (D) live or box trap;
      5. (E) dogs;
      6. (F) snare;
      7. (G) lawful archery equipment;
      8. (H) electronic or hand-held calls; and
      9. (I) artificial light.

   2. (2) Exceptions. No person may:

      1. (A) take river otter with firearms;
      2. (B) take fur-bearing animals with steel leghold or conibear-style traps, except during the open season for commercial harvest;
      3. (C) set steel leghold or conibear-style traps within 400 yards of any school; or
      4. (D) use smoke, explosives or chemical irritants of any kind to harry or flush fur-bearing animals.

   3. (3) Special provisions.

      1. (A) Conibear-style traps with a diagonal opening dimension greater than ten inches shall not be set on land or in less than six inches of water.
      2. (B) Snares, steel leghold traps, conibear-style traps, and live or box traps shall be examined at least every 36 hours.
      3. (C) Animals taken by the means and methods listed in this section shall be removed upon discovery.

Source Note:The provisions of this §65.375 adopted to be effective September 16, 1996, 21 TexReg 8520.