Trapping - USMA-West Point

TRAPPING AT WEST POINT

Purchase your trapping permit here on WestPoint.iSportsman.Net. An individual looking to purchase a fishing permit must first create an iSportsman account which must then be approved by a West Point iSportsman administrator. Finally, as a new user, the individual must complete the mandatory safety brief (an annual requirement). Once the user has created an account and completed the mandatory safety brief, the user may call the Natural Resource Branch office to arrange a visit to coordinate the purchase of a trapping permit. At the time of that visit, the trapper will be given a trapping validation on iSportsman, may purchase the trapping permit on iSportsman via credit card and choose the desired trapping area.

ELIGIBILITY

West Point controls and vets prospective users in order to prevent interference with the military mission, to ensure safety and sustainability, and to prevent an overexploitation of natural resources. As such, West Point only permits users to trap who meet specific criteria to qualifty under one of a number of different eligible customer types. For information on customer types and definitions, new users should see the New Users page HERE. prior to creating an account.

ACCESS

1. REGISTER YOUR ACCOUNT - New users register a new account HERE and awaits an administrator to vet and approve it. Approval of the new account gives the user a Background validation, which for most users will expire after a few years and require reapproval.

2. REVIEW SAFETY BRIEF - Once an account has been approved a user will be notified by e-mail. The user thens log on to his/her account and completes a mandatory safety brief (an annual requirement) giving the user a Safety Brief validation, good for one year.

3. VISIT NATURAL RESOURCE BRANCH OFFICE - A user in good standing with both a Background and Safety Brief validation must coordinate an in person visit to the Natural Resource Branch office. At that time, the user can obtain:

3-A. TRAPPING VALIDATION & PURCHASE TRAPPING PERMIT - Natural Resource Branch staff will give trapper a trapping validation and the user can purchase his/her trapping permit via iSportsman in the office. Permit/Vehicle pass will be printed out.

3-B. TRAPPING AREA SELECTION & MAP - Trapper can pick trapping area on first-come, first-served basis - reserving that area of the trapping season - and trapping maps of the installation and specific area will be printed out for trapper at that time.

PERMITS

1. ANNUAL TRAPPING PERMIT: one year trapping permit for West Point good for 365 days from date of purchase. With this permit, a permitee may trap legal furbearer species in NYS. Big Game, waterfowl, upland bird and non-furbearer species may not be trapped.

See USMA Regulation 215-5 and annual Hunting Season Notice for local West Point rules and regulations. See NYSDEC website for state rules and regulations.

GUESTS & WALKERS

GUEST TRAPPERS

Trapping at West Point is closed to the General Public.

General Public users may neither purchase trapping permits nor trap at West Point.

GUEST - a guest is an individual in good standing that can accompany a sponsor and participate in the same activity as the sponsor. A guest angler must have a valid NYS fishing license and the sponsor must have both a valid NYS fishing license, West Point permit, and West Point guest pass. Guests must be checked in/out with sponsor remain in the same fishing area as sponsor.

NON-TRAPPING WALKERS

WALKER - is an unpermitted individual in good standing that may accompany a sponsor but may not trap like sponsor. A walker may not deploy his/her own traps. Nor may he/she check permitees or check traps without permitee. Walkers do not need NYS licenses. Walkers sponsors do not require guest passes. Walkers must be checked in/out with sponsor and within five meters of the sponsor at all times.

A sponsored permitee may bring, at most, one walker while trapping.

GENERAL PUBLIC TRAPPING

Trapping at West Point is closed to the General Public.

General Public users may neither purchase trapping permits nor fish alone at West Point.

Users that do not fit in to any of the other eleven Customer Types available at West Point, may qualify to hunt big game under restricted conditions at West Point as General Public hunters. Howeverm General Public users may not hunt small game, waterfowl, upland birds, nor trap, fish, or collect firewood on their own at West Point. See Customer Type definitions on New User Page HERE for more information.

CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT

FOR ALL TRAPPING

Check-In on iSportsman Before Entering Area: All permitees and guests/walkers will check in on iSportsman prior to entering Training Area. Users must be in the field within one hour of checking in or must otherwise check out of the area on iSportsman.
Check-Out, Check-In on iSportsman when Changing Areas: All permitees changing from one hunting area to another within same trapping area must first check out of the area they are exiting on iSportsman and then check in to the new area they are entering.
Check-Out on iSportsman After Exiting Area: All permitees and guests/walkers will check out on iSportsman when exiting Training Area. Users must be checked out within one hour of exiting the area.

* All trappers and their walkers doing any hunting related activities from walking, scouting, setting/baiting/closing/retrieving traps or cameras, etc to the actual pursuit of game must check in and check out on iSportsman.

* EXCEPTION - OPENING DAY OF REGULAR FIREARMS BIG GAME SEASON: On Opening Day of Regular Firearms Big Game Season, the iSportsman system is usually down. On this day all trapping check-in and check-out in person at Hunt Control.

LOCATION AND ACCESS

AVAILABILITY - As a miltary installation, mission related activities and safety take precedence at West Point. Areas are often closed due training, range fire, and inclement conditions. To see areas status today/tomorrow, see Areas HERE or Interactive Map HERE.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR TRAPPERS: Since Trappers must check traps, by state law and West Point regulation, at least once every 24 hours, coordination is necessary between Range Control and trapper(s) to access areas they may be suddenly closed for training.

GATES & KEYS - Access to some areas may be restricted due to locked gates e.g. Cranberry Pond, adjacent to areas downrange of artillery, is often closed. Range Control has discontinued its policy of lending keys to hunters/anglers. Locked gates will remain locked.

ROADS - for 2WD passenger-type privately owned vehicles is described variably by road as excellent, good, fair, and poor. In most cases pickup trucks and 4WD vehicles with high ground clearance should have little difficulty in reaching the areas during dry road conditions.

TYPES OF TRAPPING AVAILABLE

Trappers may pursue a several furbearer species including beaver, bobcat, mink, muskrat, otter, raccoon, red fox, gray fox, skunk, coyote, opossum, weasel, and fisher. Pursuit of otter, bobcat, and fisher must be authorized in advance by Natural Resources Branch staff.

In 2020, the iSportsman system was updated so all that trappers upon check-out will see trapping game species ordered instead of all hunting, fishing, and trapping game species.

RULES & REGULATIONS

GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS FOR ALL HUNTING ACTIVITIES

USMA Reg 215-5: This page does not contain all regulations. Consult USMA Reg. 215-5 for a complete listing. USMA Reg 215-5 is currently undergoing revision, updating. When completed, the latest version will be posted. Until then, consult 2011 version.
Annual Trapping Notice: West Point's annual Trapping Notice lists hunting season dates and bag limits. State laws govern game seasons, bag limits and permitted trapping implements and techniques unless West Point applies further restrictions.
Trapping Only: Permitees are permitted only to participate in activities indicated on permit. For annual trapping permits, this permits only trapping. Hunting and fishing are not permitted during check-in for trapping.
Required Paperwork: All permitees will have 1) West Point Permit, 2) West Point vehicle pass (printed with permit), 3) NYS License. West Point permits and NYS license will be kept on person while afield. Vehicle Passes will be left face up on front dashboard.

SAFETY

Wear Hunter Orange: All big game, small game hunters, and trappers will wear at least 100 square inches (visible from all sides) of blaze orange at all times. Waterfowl and spring turkey hunters can remove at rest, but must wear in during walk in/out.

TRAPPING MAP AND AREA REGULATIONS

Trapping Maps: Trappers at West Point use both the installation-wide West Point Trapping Map and the trapping map of his/her specific Trapping Area. Trappers will be given both when visiting NRB office to purchase permit.
Trappers are reminded that most trapping areas are comprised of multiple hunting areas and proper check in/out procedures still apply. Trappers leaving one hunting area for another in their trapping area must check out and then back in to proper new hunting area.
Hunting Map: A useful resource in navigation is the current version of the West Point hunting map. As of January 2021, the current version of the West Point Hunting Map is the 2019 version.

OTHER GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS

Do No Harm: The permitee shall not damage live vegetation, wildlife, roads, road infrastructure, cultural resources or other federal assetts. Permit holders will be held liable for any damage.
Carry In, Carry Out: Permitees may not litter. All trash and refuse shall be removed from West Point. Nor may permitees leave equipment or clothing in the field, temporarily or permanently. Everything carried in must be carried out.
Other Individuals: Hunting permits apply only to permitee. Permits may not be transferred. If the permitee is also in possession of a valid guest pass, a licensed guest may participate in the same activity as the guest pass holder i.e. permitee/sponsor.

Driving & Parking: Permitees shall not drive faster than 20 MPH on range roads at West Point and shall not drive faster than 10 MPH when passing troops. NO VEHICLES SHALL LEAVE OR BLOCK RANGE ROADS OR GATES (OPENED OR CLOSED).
Towing, Recovery, & Repair: West Point will not aid in any towing, recovery, or repair of vehicles. Good judgment and caution is encouraged when driving and parking anywhere at West Point, especially on range roads. Use of a winch is permissible.
Take Permit Afield, Display Vehicle Pass: All permitees going afield should have a printed or electronic copy of the firewood permit on his/her person and shall place paper copy of Vehicle Pass (printed out with permit) on driver's side windshield of vehicle.
Check-In on iSportation Before Entering Area: All permitees and guests/walkers will check in on iSportsman prior to entering Training Area. Users must be in the field within one hour of checking in or must otherwise check out of the area on iSportsman.
Check-Out, Check-In on iSportsman when Changing Areas: All permitees changing from one training area to another must first check out of the area they are exiting on iSportsman and then check in to the new area they are entering.
Check-Out on iSportsman After Exiting Area: All permitees and guests/walkers will check out on iSportsman when exiting Training Area. Users must be checked out within one hour of exiting the area.

TRAPPING REGULATIONS & GUIDELINES

IAW NYS Trapping Regulations: All trapping done at West Point shall be done in accordance with current New York State trapping regulations.
Check Traps Daily: All traps will be checked at least once daily and otherwise IAW NYS Conservation Laws. Unattended traps may be confiscated by West Point Game Wardens.
Label All Traps: All traps will be labeled with the owner's name and address. Unmarked, and unattended traps may be confiscated by West Point Game Wardens.
Good Judgment & Sensitivity: Trappers will use good judgment and sensitivity in setting traps such that domestic animals, non-target species, and humans are unlikely to encounter traps.
- Note: Trappers using questionable sets, even if legal, may be removed from the trapping program.
By-Catch: Non-target animals must be immediately released at the capture site, if survival probable. Severely injured by-catch, excluding domestic animals, should be dispatched on site.
Domestic Animals: Domestic animals injured or killed by trapping shall be reported to West Point Game Warden or Natural Resources for identification and, if possible, veterinary treatment.

HARVEST/TAKE REPORTING

Mandatory iSportsman Harvest Report: All trapping harvests must be reported at check out via iSportsman. The exception to this is Regular Big Game Season Opening Day when iSportsman is down when all harvests should be reported upon at Hunt Control.
Other Issues Of Interest: Please report unusual conditions/indications of disease in any caught animals or habitats as well as any tagged/collared animals to Natural Resources via phone call/email. If sending an email, please provide pictures of animal if possible.

FURBEARER POSSESSION TAGS

New York law requires successful otter, bobcat, and fisher trappers to fill out a NYSDEC Furbearer Possession Tag, allowing trappers to legally possess the pelt or unskinned animal until pelt sealing is required. NYSDEC Furbearer Possession Tags may be found HERE.

Fill out furbearer possesion tags immediately. They are not official pelt seals but must accompany pelt or unskinned animal at all times. Unfortunately, every year trappers unknowingly commit violations by not properly filling out their tags. Fines can vary.

Be sure to carry to a pen. (Tags filled in pencil not legal). Keep the pen next to your body in cold weather so that the ink will not freeze.
On deer/turkey carcass tags, the month/date must be cut out or marked out. Month on one side, dates (in numbers) on another.
Finally, there are several blocks on tags which successful trappers frequently either leave blank or fill incorrectly. For West Point:
- COUNTY of KILL: West Point is in Orange County. Constitution Island is in Putnam County.
- TOWN of KILL: Township. West Point, use Highlands, Woodbury, or Cornwall. For Constitution Island: Phillipstown.
- NEAREST VILLAGE: Use "West Point".
- WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT UNIT: West Point, West of Hudson River - WMU is 3P. Constitution Island, WMU is 3N.

Be sure that all areas are filled correctly. The New York Regulation Guide you receive when you buy your license also explains how to fill out your tags. If there is still confusion, contact the Natural Resources Branch for answers to any remaining questions.

PELT SEALS

New York State also requires pelt sealing for harvested bobcat, otter, fisher (all found on West Point) and marten (not found on West Point). Pelts are sealed by a NYSDEC representative attaching plastic seal(s) to the pelt(s) or unskinned carcass of otter, bobcat, fisher, or marten. In order to make arrangements to get pelt sealed, contact the local regional NYSDEC wildlife office at New Paltz.

The pelt must be sealed before it is exported from the state, sold or given to another person, mounted or tanned, or before ten days have passed since the close of the trapping season in which the animal was harvested. Once sealed, the seal must remain attached to the pelt or carcass until it is processed for display or use.

NEW YORK STATE TRAPPING LICENSES

All tra[[ers must have a New York trapping license and a West Point trapping permit to trap at West Point. West Point discontinued the in-person sale of NYS licenses over five years ago.

Trappers looking to purchase NYS Trapping License may do so online via the NYSDECAL System HERE, via telephone at 1 (845) 866-933-2257, at local town offices or sporting goods retailers.

To purchase a license, you need a previous license issued by any state or Canadian province if recognized by New York State or proof of completion of a Hunter Education Safety course from any state.

Military personnel stationed in New York qualify for resident licenses. A New York driver's license or a copy of your assignment orders will satisfy the proof of residency requirement. Cadets from other states as full-time students also qualify for New York resident licenses.

Please note: NYS fosjomg licenses purchased online are instantly valid, hunting licenses/tags purchased online or by phone, require a wait of up to 14 business days to receive your licenses/tags by mail before going hunting. To get licenses/tags instantly, purchase them in person.

NOTE REGARDING ALL INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE: All hunting, trapping, and fishing on West Point must be in accordance with New York State regulations and West Point regulations as stated in USMA Regulation 215-5. All information posted here is meant to supplement New York State regulations as set by the NYSDEC and West Point Regulations as stated in USMA Regulation 215-5. No information posted here should be interpreted as authorizing individuals to otherwise violate New York State regulations or West Point regulations as stated In USMA Regulation 215-5. If any clarification is necessary, please contact the Natural Resource Branch Office.

1. REGISTER YOUR ACCOUNT - New users register a new account HERE and awaits an administrator to vet and approve it. Approval of the new account gives the user a Background validation, which for most users will expire after a few years and require reapproval.

2. REVIEW SAFETY BRIEF - Once an account has been approved a user will be notified by e-mail. The user thens log on to his/her account and completes a mandatory safety brief (an annual requirement) giving the user a Safety Brief validation, good for one year.

3. VISIT NATURAL RESOURCE BRANCH OFFICE - A user in good standing with both a Background and Safety Brief validation must coordinate an in person visit to the Natural Resource Branch office. At that time, the user can obtain:

1. ANNUAL TRAPPING PERMIT: one year trapping permit for West Point good for 365 days from date of purchase. With this permit, a permitee may trap legal furbearer species in NYS. Big Game, waterfowl, upland bird and non-furbearer species may not be trapped.

See USMA Regulation 215-5 and annual Hunting Season Notice for local West Point rules and regulations. See NYSDEC website for state rules and regulations.

GUESTS & WALKERS

A sponsored permitee may bring, at most, one walker while trapping.

GENERAL PUBLIC TRAPPING

Check-In on iSportsman Before Entering Area: All permitees and guests/walkers will check in on iSportsman prior to entering Training Area. Users must be in the field within one hour of checking in or must otherwise check out of the area on iSportsman.

Check-Out, Check-In on iSportsman when Changing Areas: All permitees changing from one hunting area to another within same trapping area must first check out of the area they are exiting on iSportsman and then check in to the new area they are entering.

Check-Out on iSportsman After Exiting Area: All permitees and guests/walkers will check out on iSportsman when exiting Training Area. Users must be checked out within one hour of exiting the area.

* All trappers and their walkers doing any hunting related activities from walking, scouting, setting/baiting/closing/retrieving traps or cameras, etc to the actual pursuit of game must check in and check out on iSportsman.

* EXCEPTION - OPENING DAY OF REGULAR FIREARMS BIG GAME SEASON: On Opening Day of Regular Firearms Big Game Season, the iSportsman system is usually down. On this day all trapping check-in and check-out in person at Hunt Control.

LOCATION AND ACCESS

TYPES OF TRAPPING AVAILABLE

USMA Reg 215-5: This page does not contain all regulations. Consult USMA Reg. 215-5 for a complete listing. USMA Reg 215-5 is currently undergoing revision, updating. When completed, the latest version will be posted. Until then, consult 2011 version.

Annual Trapping Notice:​ West Point's annual Trapping Notice lists hunting season dates and bag limits. State laws govern game seasons, bag limits and permitted trapping implements and techniques unless West Point applies further restrictions.

Trapping Only: Permitees are permitted only to participate in activities indicated on permit. For annual trapping permits, this permits only trapping. Hunting and fishing are not permitted during check-in for trapping.

Required Paperwork: All permitees will have 1) West Point Permit, 2) West Point vehicle pass (printed with permit), 3) NYS License. West Point permits and NYS license will be kept on person while afield. Vehicle Passes will be left face up on front dashboard.

Wear Hunter Orange:​ All big game, small game hunters, and trappers will wear at least 100 square inches (visible from all sides) of blaze orange at all times. Waterfowl and spring turkey hunters can remove at rest, but must wear in during walk in/out.

Trapping Maps: Trappers at West Point use both the installation-wide West Point Trapping Map and the trapping map of his/her specific Trapping Area. Trappers will be given both when visiting NRB office to purchase permit.

Trappers are reminded that most trapping areas are comprised of multiple hunting areas and proper check in/out procedures still apply. Trappers leaving one hunting area for another in their trapping area must check out and then back in to proper new hunting area.

Hunting Map: A useful resource in navigation is the current version of the West Point hunting map. As of January 2021, the current version of the West Point Hunting Map is the 2019 version.

Do No Harm: The permitee shall not damage live vegetation, wildlife, roads, road infrastructure, cultural resources or other federal assetts. Permit holders will be held liable for any damage.

Carry In, Carry Out: Permitees may not litter. All trash and refuse shall be removed from West Point. Nor may permitees leave equipment or clothing in the field, temporarily or permanently. Everything carried in must be carried out.

Other Individuals: Hunting permits apply only to permitee. Permits may not be transferred. If the permitee is also in possession of a valid guest pass, a licensed guest may participate in the same activity as the guest pass holder i.e. permitee/sponsor.

Driving & Parking: Permitees shall not drive faster than 20 MPH on range roads at West Point and shall not drive faster than 10 MPH when passing troops. NO VEHICLES SHALL LEAVE OR BLOCK RANGE ROADS OR GATES (OPENED OR CLOSED).

Towing, Recovery, & Repair: West Point will not aid in any towing, recovery, or repair of vehicles. Good judgment and caution is encouraged when driving and parking anywhere at West Point, especially on range roads. Use of a winch is permissible.

Take Permit Afield, Display Vehicle Pass: All permitees going afield should have a printed or electronic copy of the firewood permit on his/her person and shall place paper copy of Vehicle Pass (printed out with permit) on driver's side windshield of vehicle.

Check-In on iSportation Before Entering Area: All permitees and guests/walkers will check in on iSportsman prior to entering Training Area. Users must be in the field within one hour of checking in or must otherwise check out of the area on iSportsman.

Check-Out, Check-In on iSportsman when Changing Areas: All permitees changing from one training area to another must first check out of the area they are exiting on iSportsman and then check in to the new area they are entering.

Check-Out on iSportsman After Exiting Area: All permitees and guests/walkers will check out on iSportsman when exiting Training Area. Users must be checked out within one hour of exiting the area.

TRAPPING REGULATIONS & GUIDELINES

IAW NYS Trapping Regulations: All trapping done at West Point shall be done in accordance with current New York State trapping regulations.

Check Traps Daily: All traps will be checked at least once daily and otherwise IAW NYS Conservation Laws. Unattended traps may be confiscated by West Point Game Wardens.

Label All Traps: All traps will be labeled with the owner's name and address. Unmarked, and unattended traps may be confiscated by West Point Game Wardens.

Good Judgment & Sensitivity:​ Trappers will use good judgment and sensitivity in setting traps such that domestic animals, non-target species, and humans are unlikely to encounter traps.

By-Catch: Non-target animals must be immediately released at the capture site, if survival probable. Severely injured by-catch, excluding domestic animals, should be dispatched on site.

Domestic Animals: Domestic animals injured or killed by trapping shall be reported to West Point Game Warden or Natural Resources for identification and, if possible, veterinary treatment.

Mandatory iSportsman Harvest Report​: All trapping harvests must be reported at check out via iSportsman. The exception to this is Regular Big Game Season Opening Day when iSportsman is down when all harvests should be reported upon at Hunt Control.

Other Issues Of Interest: Please report unusual conditions/indications of disease in any caught animals or habitats as well as any tagged/collared animals to Natural Resources via phone call/email. If sending an email, please provide pictures of animal if possible.

Be sure to carry to a pen. (Tags filled in pencil not legal). Keep the pen next to your body in cold weather so that the ink will not freeze.

On deer/turkey carcass tags, the month/date must be cut out or marked out. Month on one side, dates (in numbers) on another.

Finally, there are several blocks on tags which successful trappers frequently either leave blank or fill incorrectly. For West Point:

COUNTY of KILL: West Point is in Orange County. Constitution Island is in Putnam County.

TOWN of KILL: Township. West Point, use Highlands, Woodbury, or Cornwall. For Constitution Island: Phillipstown.

NEAREST VILLAGE: Use "West Point".

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT UNIT: West Point, West of Hudson River - WMU is 3P. Constitution Island, WMU is 3N.

NEW YORK STATE TRAPPING LICENSES

Annual Trapping Notice: West Point's annual Trapping Notice lists hunting season dates and bag limits. State laws govern game seasons, bag limits and permitted trapping implements and techniques unless West Point applies further restrictions.

Wear Hunter Orange: All big game, small game hunters, and trappers will wear at least 100 square inches (visible from all sides) of blaze orange at all times. Waterfowl and spring turkey hunters can remove at rest, but must wear in during walk in/out.

Good Judgment & Sensitivity: Trappers will use good judgment and sensitivity in setting traps such that domestic animals, non-target species, and humans are unlikely to encounter traps.

Mandatory iSportsman Harvest Report: All trapping harvests must be reported at check out via iSportsman. The exception to this is Regular Big Game Season Opening Day when iSportsman is down when all harvests should be reported upon at Hunt Control.