Between March 1 and May 15, 2025, site validation coupons for river otter were issued to those who purchased their new trapping license for the 2025-2026 season. A small number of these site coupons were used to validate otters harvested during the final weeks (i.e., after Feb. 28) of the 2024-2025 season, resulting in some trappers now lacking 4 valid coupons for the upcoming season.
To ensure all trappers have the correct coupons for 2025-2026:
- If you used any 2025–2026 coupons during the spring 2025 otter season, you can request a full set of four replacement coupons at any Electronic License System (ELS) vendor starting August 1. Four will be issued regardless of how many unused 2025-26 coupons you may still have. Please discard any existing 2025-26 coupons from your original set to avoid accidental use.
- If you still have ALL your original 2025–2026 coupons and did not use ANY last spring, they remain valid for use this fall. You are not affected by this change.
- If your 2025–2026 coupons were lost or misplaced, you may request duplicates following the usual process.
- Reminder: The bag limit for river otter remains four per season. Trappers may not exceed the season limit, even if they are in possession of more than four coupons.
Important: If you used 2025-2026 coupons but did not (or are unsure if you did) enter a post-Feb. 28 harvest date when registering an otter last spring, we cannot verify whether a 2025-2026 coupon was used. In this case, please contact the DNR License Center directly to request replacements.
If you have any questions about your coupons or eligibility, please contact the DNR for assistance at 888-646-6367.
