Minnesota Administrative Rules

6256.0500 TAKING TURTLES.

Subpart 1.

Scope.

This part applies to individuals possessing a turtle seller's, turtle seller's apprentice, or recreational turtle license or an angling license. The following turtle species may be taken: western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii), snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), and spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera). A person possessing or selling turtles or turtle eggs under this part must also comply with other state and federal laws that regulate these activities.

Subp. 2.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 2a.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 2b.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 3.

[Repealed, 28 SR 629]

Subp. 4.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 5.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 6.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 7.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 8.

[Repealed, L 2023 c 60 art 4 s 112]

Subp. 9.

Size limits.

A turtle seller, turtle seller's apprentice, or recreational turtle licensee or a person harvesting turtles under an angling license is restricted to taking and possessing sizes of turtles as specified in items A to C. The turtle size is determined by measuring the top shell length (carapace, not including the curvature) from above the neck to above the tail.

A.

Spiny softshells (A. spinifera) must be greater than 12 inches in shell length.

B.

Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) must be greater than 12 inches in shell length.

C.

Western painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) must be 5-1/2 inches or smaller in shell length, except persons acting under Minnesota Statutes, section 97C.605, subdivision 2c, clause (4), may take and possess western painted turtles of any length greater than four inches.

Subp. 10.

Turtle nests and eggs.

A.

A person may not collect turtle eggs from natural nests, except under a permit issued by the commissioner.

B.

A person with a turtle seller's license may not possess or sell turtle eggs, except as provided in item C. A person must have an aquatic farm license with a turtle endorsement or a private fish hatchery license with a turtle endorsement to possess or sell turtle eggs, as allowed by federal law, or to keep turtles for propagation.

C.

A person with a turtle seller's license may take the eggs from legally harvested gravid turtles and must place the eggs back into man-made nests in the wild within 48 hours of taking the eggs.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 97C.605

History:

18 SR 83; 23 SR 348; 28 SR 629; 28 SR 1127; 32 SR 1039

Published Electronically:

November 30, 2023