in-20240306-IR-312240086FNA: RIVER OTTER TRAPPING AMENDMENTS

Notice of First Public Comment Period LSA Document #24-86 Sec. 18.2. (a) An individual may trap a river otter (Lutra (Lontra canadensis) from beginning November 15 through and ending either: (b) In order to trap a river otter, Except as provided under IC 14-22-11-1, an individual must possess may not trap a river otter unless the individual possesses at least one (1) of the following valid Indiana trapping licenses: or be exempt from needing a license as authorized in IC 14-22-11-1: (c) An individual must may not take more than two (2) river otters per in a river otter trapping season. An individual that who sets the a trap that caught the captures a river otter must shall count the river otter toward his or her the bag limit for the river otter trapping season. limit. (d) An individual that kills a river otter: (d) An individual who traps a river otter alive and does not include it in that the individual's bag limit must shall release the river otter into the wild in the location in which it was where the river otter is captured immediately upon discovery or notification after discovering that a river otter has been is caught in the trap. (e) An individual must not may trap a river otters except in a county the director designates on an annual basis by temporary rule otter in any county in the state. (f) Annually, the director shall establish by temporary rule The statewide quota for a river otters otter that may be taken during a river otter trapping season The director may close the season established under subsection (a) by temporary rule upon a determination that the allowable harvest of river otters for the year has been reached. is seven hundred fifty (750). The department shall track the statewide quota for river otters on the department's website. (g) An individual shall not trap a river otter after the: (g) (h) An individual who takes a river otter must shall report the take or cause the reporting of ensure the take is reported by providing the information required on by the department's electronic harvest reporting system within not later than twenty-four (24) hours of the after taking of the river otter. The An individual who reports the reporting a take on the department's electronic harvest reporting system must under this subsection shall provide true and accurate information to the department. An individual shall keep the confirmation number provided by the department's electronic harvest reporting system must be maintained with the river otter until the river otter is checked in with a designated department employee or at an official river otter checking station. (h) (i) An individual who takes a river otter during the river otter trapping season must shall retain possession of the river otter and cause ensure delivery of the skinned hide and carcass, including the head, of the river otter to a designated department employee or official river otter checking station within not later than fifteen (15) days after the month of harvest. the river otter is harvested. The department employee must: shall: (i) (j) A river otter, including the hide and any other part or portion of the river otter, taken during the river otter trapping season must may not be: (j) (k) After registering the river otter and obtaining the tag from the department in accordance with under this section, an individual who takes a river otter may: (k) (l) An individual may possess the untanned hide of a river otter that was lawfully obtained at any time of year. (l) (m) An individual must may not possess a live river otter except as follows: (m) (n) An individual must may not sell a live river otter unless that person the individual has a breeder, dealer, or exhibitor license issued by the United States Department of Agriculture under 9 CFR, Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Parts I through IV. (o) An individual who takes a river otter with a trap that captures and immediately kills the river otter: