Hi all,

I'm new here and looking for some information on road right of ways. Does anyone know how many feet we can trap in the road right of ways (from center). I know it varies some county to county and township roads are likely different. I've looked online and see 60' and 80', but this cant be from center? CSAH

Any help is appreciated!

It varies to much to give a solid answer. Townships and counties each have their own amount of ROW, getting a straight answer from a township or county is Also difficult

I think 33 feet from center, at least that's what I went by. The township roads always brought some colorful culvert arguments.

For 2 straight years I lost my fire # to the town plowing to far over.

Best bet is locating sets in daytime, setting traps at dark and pulling before daylight. Also eliminates daytime dogs and trap thieves.

ROW's are usually marked on county, state and federal roads. township roads have no ROW, and the owner/farmer pays taxes to the center line of that road. CSA highways are usually marked somewhere along the ditch.

Not only are RW's different on different class roads but some are non existent or not defined for usage across the State. Some local governances have passed ordinances that prohibit trapping of any kind in RW's in their jurisdiction. RW trapping is a no mans land of trapping opportunity that is under great legal debate and is quickly being chiseled away from trappers as anti's focus on ending it.

Trapping close to roads used by the public holds inherent risk for trappers and trapping as a whole.
If you have to go around getting permission to trap row you might as well work on getting permissions on ground away from the row also.

IT is defined in the regs I trapped the row for many years in my area with hardly a problem delt with a great bunch of land owners for many years.

In rural ag areas infested with coon, ROW are a perfect match for dogproofs. Many farmers and ranchers appreciate the trappers efforts.

Dont be the fella , like the idiot in Wisconsin, that need so much clarification that he ruined ROW trapping in that state for everyone else that knew what they were doing.

And what is that definition that is in the regs? Local no trapping ordinances supersede State trapping regs and Ban all RW trapping in several counties and growing. Most secondary county RW's are under the ownership of the adjacent landowner who pay taxes on that RW(which is for road maintenance and not stipulated for public recreational use). Minimum maintenance roads have no RW. I also trapped RW's extensively for years but the past IS NOT the present nor the future. RW trapping in MN is not universal everywhere nor guaranteed. I'm not saying you can't trap RW's it is just not clearcut where they are or aren't trappable anymore and trappers are getting entangled in this conflict as well.

Do you mean Shane Moss?

“Do you mean Shane Moss?“


No it was TRAPPER SKREK!!! Single handedly ruined long line mink trapping in WI forever. The WI Trapper Association helped some too by making sure it got put in the Regulations to “protect” us trappers.

Les is right on the money, someone should ax this thread.

Your right about who that was, sorry Shane.

I just thought I would bring it up" lest we forget" because I dont believe you tarred and feathered that guy, and you still should......and I'm from MN, but an attack on trapping in one state should matter to trapping as a whole.

I'm gonna help Wisconsin remember their evil doers for ever, lol. Somebody should have fell on their sword over that.

As I posted there are some things in the regs on trapping in the row, yes not all areas of the state are the same on this subject, there is 1 township down here where you can not trap the row, as I stated I have never had a prob trapping the row for many many years. We as trappers need to be willing to work with and respect those on whos land we trap.and in return it will never be a problem. What this really boils down to is definition of what you can do in the row, the best thing any trapper can do is to get with and talk with your area CO ask him all the your questions and then go from there. Your CO will clear things up for you and you can move on.

So how did one guy ruin trapping for everyone.
I would like to hear that one.
PM if you like.

Gotta agree with Les on this one.


Be quiet and either trap the ROW or don’t