Turtle Regulations (Plain HTML)
A downloadable PDF version of these documents is also available.
Turtle Regulations (Plain HTML)
| State | Type of Harvest | Permit | Species Harvested | Season | Size Restrictions | Bag Limit | Total Possession Limit | Methods of Harvest | Restrictions | Unusual Additions | Source | Reviewed (person, date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Game | Sport Fishing | All except Endangered or Threatened Species | Year Round | None | 8 (of each species) | 16 (of each species) | Hand, landing net, or hook and line | No collection in nature preserves or other protected refuges | None | http://www.dnr.state.il.us/fish/Digest/09Digest.pdf | Scott Ballard IL Dept. Natural Resources Natural Heritage Biologist/Herpetologist 15 October 2009 |
| Illinois | Commercial | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | |||
| Illinois | Non-Game | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | None | ||
| Indiana | Game | Hunting or Fishing License | Game: Common Snapping Turtle, Spiny and Smooth Softshells. | Year Round | None No collection of eggs | Game: 25 | Game:50 | None specified | Turtle traps may be used but may not have an opening below the water surface. Sale of turtles is prohibited | None | http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-2009FG_lo.pdf Administrative codes; 312 IAC 9-5-6 D and 312 IAC 9-5-7 | Sarabeth Klueh Indiana Department of Natural Resources Herpetologist, Wildlife Diversity Section 31 August 2009 |
| Indiana | Commercial | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | |||
| Indiana | Non-Game | Hunting or Fishing License | Non-Game: any non-endangered, Non-game species excluding Box Turtles. | Year Round | None No collection of eggs | NA | Non Game:4 | None specified | No Collection from DNR lands Sale of turtles is prohibited | None | ||
| Iowa | Game | Sport Fishing License | Common Snapping Turtles, Painted, and Softshells | Year Round | None | No | 100lbs live or 50lbs dressed | You can take turtles only by hand, turtle hook, turtle trap or hookand- line. Turtle traps must have no more than one throat or funneling device. | If you are a nonresident of Iowa you can only take common snapping turtles, softshells and painted turtles from the Missouri, Mississippi and Big Sioux rivers. All turtle traps must have a functional escape hole provided with a minimum diameter in all directions of 7-1/2 inches to allow passage of fish and small turtles. On hoop type traps the 7-1/2 inch escape hole shall be located in the last hoop to the tail-line. Any unattended gear used to take turtles must have a metal tag bearing the owner’s name and address. All turtle traps must be lifted and emptied of their catch at least once every 72 hours. | None | http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/regulations/turtle.html http://www.iowadnr.gov/cs/files/542-0256.pdf | Scott Gritters Iowa DNR- Fisheries Biologist 8 July 2009 |
| Iowa | Commercial | Commercial license | Same as Game | Same as Game | Same as Game | Same as Game | None | Same as Game | Non residence are restricted to Boarder rivers of Mississippi, Missouri, Big Sioux and Des Moines | NA | ||
| Iowa | Non-Game | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | ||
| Kansas | Game | Fishing Licence | Common Snapping Turtle, Soft-Shelled Turtles | 1 January through 31 December | None | 8 Single species of combination | 24 Single species or combination | Legal equipment and methods for taking common snapping turtle and softshelled turtles shall be the following: Hand, hook and fishing line, set line, hand dip net, seine, turtle trap; and, gig. Artificial light and boats may be used while taking turtles | http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/index.php/news/Fishing/Fishing-Regulations/Turtles | Mark Van Scoyoc Stream Monitoring Program Coordinator Education, Exhibition, Collection, & Salvage Permits KS Department of Wildlife & Parks 25 Feb 2010 | ||
| Kansas | Commercial | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | |||
| Kansas | Non-Game | Hunting License | Non-Game species Box turtles are protected from sale, and no more than 5 can be possessed. | Year Round | 5 of any one species | NA | http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/index.php/news/Hunting/Hunting-Regulations/General-Information/Reptiles-Other-Species | |||||
| Michigan | Game | Fishing License | Snapping and Softshell | Snapping and Softshell July 15 –September 15 All other turtles (except Blanding's, wood, box, and spotted) year round | Snapping 13 inch minimum carapace length. Softshell None. | 2 in combination (no more than 1 of each species) | 4 in combination (no more than 2 of each species) | Hand, Trap, Seines up to 12 X 4 feet, had net, or hook and line | Set lines may not be used to take turtles | None | http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/full-no-ads_272056_7.pdf | Thomas M. Goniea, Biologist FISHERIES DIVISION, MDNR 25 August 2009 |
| Michigan | Commercial | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | |||
| Michigan | Non-Game | Fishing License | All other turtles (painted, musk, map, red-eared slider) | Year Round No collection of Blanding's, wood, box, and spotted without Cultural and Scientific Collector's Permit | None | no more than 2 turtles and no more than 1 of any one turtle species | no more than 4 turtles and no more than 2 of any one turtle species | Same as Game | NA | NA | ||
| Minnesota | Non-commercial | Fishing License Recreational Turtle License (if traps used) | Snapping, Spiny Softshell, and Western Painted Turtle | Year round except: Snapping May and June, Spiny Softshell June 1 – July 15 | Snapping minimum 12in, Spiny softshell minimum 12in, and Western painted turtle maximum 5.5in, except for turtle races then minimum 4in | Snapping =3, | Snapping =3, | Angling or hand Traps require recreational turtle license | Harvest by explosives, drugs, poisons, spears, bows, lime, and other harmful substances is prohibited | Retail customers do not need a turtle license and residents under age 18 may take, possess, rent or sell up to 25 turtles for use in a non-profit turtle race. Cannot operate more than 3 traps with a recreational licence | http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/fishing/index.html https://webrh12.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/rules/?id=6256.0500 | Krista Larson Nongame Research Specialist Ecological Resources Division Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources 18 Dec 2009 |
| Minnesota | Commercial | Turtle Seller’s License | Same as Non-commercial | Same as Non-commercial | Same as Non-commercial | No | No | Trap, Hook, Net, other approved gear | Same as Non-commercial | Cannot operate more than 40 submerged Traps | ||
| Minnesota | Non-Game | Fishing License, Research Permit | Species not listed as Endangered or Threatened | NA | NA | Western Painted up to 25 for turtle races. | Western Painted up to 25 for turtle races. | NA | NA | |||
| Missouri | Game | Fishing License | Common snapping turtles , Smooth Softshell, and Spiny Softshell | Snapping = Year round Soft-shelled = July 1 – December 31 | None | 10 Total Common Snapping Turtles=5 Softshell Turtles=5 | 20 total Twice the bag limit | Methods: Snagging, snaring, grabbing, bow, crossbow, trotline, throwline, limb line, bank line, jug line, hand, handnet or pole and line | No Traps | None | http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/3csr/3c10-6.pdf | Jeff Briggler Herpetologist Missouri Department of Conservation 26 April 2010 |
| Missouri | Commercial | Commercial Fishing License | Same as Game | Year round | None | None | None | Hoop Nets | Only in Mississippi, Missouri, and boundary waters with Arkansas on St. Francis Rivers | None | http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/3csr/3C10-10.pdf | |
| Missouri | Non-Game | None | All species of turtles except for endangered turtles, Alligator Snapping Turtles, and game species | Year Round | None | NA | 5 total Single species or combination | NA | Residents of Missouri only; Only can possess up to 5 specimens for educational purposes; No collecting on public lands; Sale of turtles is prohibited | None | http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/3csr/3C10-9.pdf | |
| Nebraska | Game | Fishing License | Snapping Turtles | Year Round | None | 10 | 20 | Hand, hand net, hook – and –line, bow-and-arrow, or gaff hook, | No Traps | None | http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/fishing/guides/fishguide/2008FishGuide.pdf | Mike fritz 28 April 2010 |
| Nebraska | Commercial | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | |||
| Nebraska | Non-Game Species in Need of Conservation | No Take | False map Turtle Blanding’s Turtle | No Take or Possession | No Take or Possession | No Take or Possession | No Take or Possession | No Take or Possession | No Take or Possession | |||
| Nebraska | No Permit Personal Use Only | Western Painted Turtle | Year Round | None | 10 | 10 | Any Method | None | None | |||
| Nebraska | No Permit Personal Use Only | Yellow Mud Turtle Ornate Box Turtle Smooth Softshell Spiny Softshell Red-eared Slider | Year Round | None | 3 | 3 | Any Method | None | None | |||
| North Dakota | Game | Game | Fishing License | Snapping turtle | Year round | NA | NA | Season Limit 2 | Hook and Line Only | Hook and line only | http://gf.nd.gov/regulations/fish/pdf/fish-guide.pdf | Patrick Isakson Nongame Biologist North Dakota Game and Fish Dept. 29 October 2009 |
| North Dakota | Commercial | Commercial | Directors Permit | All species | Permit specified | NA | Permit Specified | Permit specified | Permit specified | Permit specified | ||
| North Dakota | Non-Game | Non-Game | Directors Permit | All Species | All Species | NA | Permit Specified | Permit Specified | Permit Specified | Permit Specified | ||
| Ohio | Game | Fishing License | Snapping and softshell | from 6 p.m. the second Friday in June through April 30 | None | Turtles may not be taken by shooting with a gun or crossbow, or by use of a spring or steel trap A turtle trap with mesh less than 4 inches square must have an opening at least 6 inches in diameter leading from it. Wings and leads are unlawful. | None | http://www.dnr.ohio.gov/wildlife/dow/regulations/fishing_general.aspx http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/portals/9/PDF/pub03.pdf | Ron Ollis Law enforcement administration ODNR-Division of Wildlife 22 April 2010 | |||
| Ohio | Commercial | Same as Game | Same as Game | Same as Game | Same as Game | Same as Game | Same as Game | Same as Game | Same as Game | |||
| Ohio | Non-Game | Propagating License | Any non listed species | Year Round | None | NA | 4 of each species | NA | Must obtain permit and be P.I.T. Tagged | none | ||
| South Dakota | Game | Same as Non-game | Same as Non-game | Same as Non-game | Same as Non-game | Same as Non-game | Same as Non-game | Same as Non-game | Same as Non-game | http://www.sdgfp.info/Publications/FishingHandbook.pdf | Doug Backlund S. D. Dept. of Game Fish and Parks 2 March 2010 | |
| South Dakota | Commercial | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited | |||
| South Dakota | Non-Game | Fishing License | All species except False Map | Year Round | None | 2 of each species | 4 of each speices | Hook and line, legal minnow seines, gaff hooks, spears, or legal turtle trap. Traps with mesh less than 4 inches square must have an opening at least 6 inches in diameter leading from it or an entrance opening suspended at or above the water level. | Unlawful to use firearm | Fishing License | ||
| Wisconsin | Game | Fishing, Small Game, Sports, Conservation Patron, Setline*, or Set or Bank Pole*. Existing Senior Citizen Recreational Cards also qualify | Snapping and Softshells | July 15 through November 30 | 12-16 Inches for snapping | NA | 3 statewide. The one exception is on the Mississippi River, where the possession limit is 10 for snapping turtles and 5 for softshell turtles | hand, dip net, hook and line, set line, set or bank poles, hooking, or hoop net trap. The numbers of hoop traps that can be operated are 10 in Iowa-Wisconsin or Minnesota-Wisconsin boundary waters and 3 in all other waters of the state. | Traps must be made of stretchable fabric (e.g., nylon) and must have a minimum mesh stretch of 6 inches. No wire mesh is allowed | http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/captive/HerpsRegs.pdf | Not currently reviewed by the State | |
| Wisconsin | Commercial | Commercial License | Snapping and Softshells | |||||||||
| Wisconsin | Non-Game | Class A Captive Wild Animal Farm License | Species not listed as Endangered or Threatened | July 15 through November 30 | NA | 5 Individuals |
