Turtle harvest question

I have posted the Administrative Code that pertains to the taking of turtles below. According to the IAC, turtles may be taking with a trap, a net, or another mechanical device that has no opening below the surface of the water, hands, a gaff and any method provided by 312 IAC 9-7-2 for sport fishing.

Let me know if you have any additional questions.


312 IAC 9-5-6 Collection and possession of reptiles and amphibians native to Indiana
Authority: IC 14-22
Affected: IC 14-22
Sec. 6. (a) An individual may take reptiles or amphibians from the wild only as authorized under this section.
(b) Except as provided in this section, an individual must not take more than two (2) per day and not more than four (4) from April 1 through March 31 of the following year of any one (1) species of reptile or amphibian native to Indiana.
(c) An individual may take not more than four (4) of the following species of turtles per day, singly or in aggregate:
(1) Eastern snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina).
(2) Smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica).
(3) Spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera).
A turtle taken under this subsection may be taken only between July 1 and March 31 of the following year and be at least twelve (12) inches in carapace length.
(d) As used in this section, "carapace length" means a straight-line measure along the top surface of the carapace that runs from the central point on the front edge of the carapace, directly behind the turtle's neck, to a central point on the hind edge of the carapace, directly above the turtle's tail.
(f) An individual must not possess more than four (4) live reptiles or amphibians of any one (1) species native to Indiana except:
(1) as authorized in subsection (e);
(2) with a turtle possession permit under section 11 of this rule;
(3) with a wild animal rehabilitation permit under 312 IAC 9-10-9;
(4) with a scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6; or
(5) with a wild animal possession permit under 312 IAC 9-11.
(g) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an individual may take turtles at any time of the year.
(h) An individual may take frogs as established in subsection (e) from June 15 through April 30 of the following year.
(i) An individual may take turtles by any of the following methods:
(1) A trap, a net, or another mechanical device that has no opening below the surface of the water.
(2) Hands.
(3) A gaff.
(4) Any method provided by 312 IAC 9-7-2 for sport fishing.
(l) Notwithstanding subsections (b) through (e), an individual must not take the following from the wild:
(1) A reptile or amphibian egg.
(2) An eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina).
(3) An endangered species of reptile or amphibian.
(m) An individual must not sell a reptile or amphibian except for the following:
(1) A reptile or amphibian lawfully possessed and fitted with a passive integrated transponder under section 9(h) of this rule.
(2) A bullfrog or green frog tadpole in accordance with section 7(g) of this rule.
(n) An individual must not sell the offspring of an amphibian taken under this section.
(o) An individual possessing a valid reptile captive breeder license issued under section 9 of this rule may sell the offspring of a species of snake listed in section 9 of this rule, taken under this section, to any person.
(p) An individual must not release back into the wild a reptile or amphibian taken from the wild under this section except as follows:
(1) A reptile or amphibian may be released without a permit issued under subdivision (2) if the reptile or amphibian:
(A) has not been held in an enclosure with another reptile or amphibian;
(B) has not been in captivity for more than thirty (30) days; and
(C) is released at the point of capture.
(2) The division issues a permit to an individual to release an animal, and the individual releases the animal under the terms of the permit.
(q) An individual may possess a live eastern box turtle only with a:
(1) turtle possession permit under section 11 of this rule;
(2) wild animal rehabilitation permit under 312 IAC 9-10-9; or
(3) scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6.
(r) An individual may possess a live endangered species of reptile or amphibian only with a:
(1) wild animal possession permit under 312 IAC 9-11;
(2) wild animal rehabilitation permit under 312 IAC 9-10-9; or
(3) scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6.
(s) An individual may possess a live venomous reptile only with a:
(1) wild animal possession permit under 312 IAC 9-11; or
(2) scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6.