Use this service to register to use the following traps under general licence (GL01 and GL02):
View general licences for birds.
You need 1 registration per trap user. This registration will be valid for any property you have permission to set traps on.
A new licence is being introduced by the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024. This will replace the current trap registration process.
Scottish Parliament have yet to confirm the commencement date for the new licence.
You will need to complete a training course before applying for a wildlife trap licence to use traps to catch birds or spring traps to catch mammals.
Find out more about trap registration and training.
If you need assistance with this service, contact the NatureScot Licensing Team
© The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
A portable cage-trap with a closed compartment to confine a live bird as a decoy. It has one or more capture compartments with spring or gravity activated trap-doors that are either top or side mounted. Traps with one or more capture compartments mounted directly above the decoy compartment are excluded.
© The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
A portable spring-operated cage-trap made up of two shell sections hinged along one edge. It's sections are connected by one or more springs kept open by a split-rod/trip-perch (as made by Elgeeco, or an equivalent). When open (set) the minimum distance between two corners of the trap must be 39 cm. The trap must not shut tightly along the majority of its meeting edges.
© The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
A portable spring or gravity operated cage-trap. It has a single compartment with either one or two side or top-mounted, spring activated trap-doors that can be set independently.
© The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
A cage large enough to be entered by the operator. It is covered in mesh and has either a roof-funnel, ground-funnel or a ladder/letterbox entry point, for birds to gain access.