• Only foothold, body-gripping or conibear-type traps may be used for taking beaver and otter. Traps with teeth are illegal. Exception: See below for use of snares to take beaver.
• A catching device of any type must have a permanent etching or metal tag bearing the user's name and address or Michigan Driver License number. If one or more snares are attached to a pole, both the snare and the uppermost end of the pole needs a metal tag.
• Snares may be used to take beaver from Dec. 1 to Mar. 31, statewide, if the location at which snares are placed is ice-covered. Snares must be made of 1/16-inch or larger cable and must be removed and made inoperative within 24 hours after the close of the beaver season.
• Up to 10 muskrat pelts may be legally taken in beaver or otter sets.

Notes:

1. The beaver and otter trapping season in Unit a extends through April 30 on designated trout streams only. F or a list of these streams in the Upper Peninsula, see FO-210.08.
2. The Gladwin Field Dog Trial Area is closed to trapping except for beaver and otter trapping, which is permitted from Nov. 15 through Mar. 15, 200 9
3. Fur harvesters must purchase a new license after Mar. 31. The season limit for otter does not change with the purchase of a new license. Otter taken after Mar. 31 counts against the 2008-2009 otter season bag limit. A free otter kill tag  is required.

Beaver and otter trapping is closed in the following areas:
Alger: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Benzie and Leelanau: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Schoolcraft: Seney National Wildlife Refuge, closed to otter trapping. Contact the Refuge on possible beaver trapping.

Also see  Special Management Units .