A. No resident who has reached his twelfth birthday shall capture, trap or possess any fur-bearing animal or attempt to do so without first procuring a resident trapper's license; or, in the case of a resident who has reached his twelfth birthday but not his eighteenth birthday, a resident junior trapper's license.
B. No nonresident shall capture, trap or possess any fur-bearing animal or skunk or coyote or attempt to do so without first procuring a nonresident trapper's license.
C. No nonresident who resides in a state that does not permit New Mexico residents to procure nonresident trapper's licenses may purchase a New Mexico nonresident trapper's license.
D. Trappers shall release all fur-bearing animals trapped during closed seasons, and resident trappers who release all fur-bearing animals during open seasons need not procure a trapper's license.
E. Trappers on official business, paid from state and federal funds and under supervision of the department of game and fish [department of wildlife], the New Mexico department of agriculture or the United States fish and wildlife service need not purchase a trapper's license.
F. Trapping of animals, both fur-bearing and nongame, by a resident in order to protect his livestock or domesticated animals or fowl shall not be subject to rules and regulations on trapping made pursuant to Section 17-5-4 NMSA 1978 or to licensing requirements provided in this section.
G. The state game commission [state wildlife commission] may by regulation require holders of trapper's licenses to use bobcat pelt tags and may specify the conditions for use of the tags.