Is It Legal to Catch Turtles in Texas

The proposal to add air rifles and arrow guns to Texas` list of legal means and methods stems from a rule-making petition submitted to TPWD in 2017 by Crosman, an air rifle manufacturer. More than 80% of the 150 public comments on the proposal supported the change. As part of his guilty plea, Leger admitted selling a 171-pound illegally captured live turtle for $1,000 in May and June 2016 and another 168-pound live turtle illegally caught for $500. The turtles were later seized from the buyer by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agents and are currently being cared for at a private facility. Leger admitted that the market value of all the turtles he illegally caught in Texas and then sold in Louisiana during the plot ranged from $40,000 to $95,000. Leger has also agreed to lose all seized turtles on its property in Sulphur, Louisiana, and will allow the U.S. to allow the Fish and Wildlife Service to return to the property, drain the ponds and seize any remaining alligator Snapping Turtles. Similarly, Leckelt, who is Leger`s half-brother, admitted that the market value of the turtles he illegally captured in Texas and sold in Louisiana during the plot ranged from $15,000 to $40,000. NOTE: State and federal laws protect sea turtles and diamond turtles. They cannot be consumed legally.

In general, these laws exist to protect turtles and the environment. It is quite possible that the laws will change at some point. After all, most laws are aimed at protecting endangered turtle species and helping them grow in numbers. Once a species has returned to a healthy number, there is a good chance that the laws will be less restrictive. If the original permit for the removal of a sea turtle from the wild allows it, the specimen may be transferred between the original accommodation facility and others, including outside the state, without additional permission from the service. Note that both parties to a transfer must create and maintain documents proving that a sea turtle was legally captured and possessed. Copies of existing authorizations should accompany consignments of sea turtles. Note: The term «turtle» includes all animals commonly referred to as turtles, turtles and pond turtles. Hi Thomas. As I understand it, they matter, regardless of their origin. So if you buy a turtle, then you get one as a gift, and if those turtles end up having 5 babies, you`ll basically own 7 turtles, even if they don`t all come from the same place. All commercial harvesting and sale of the other 30 species of turtles and turtles in Texas — about half of the 60 species in the U.S.

— has been banned. Some of these species, including alligator snapping turtles, Texas tortoises and diamond turtles, enjoy additional protection from collection and possession due to their status as threatened or endangered species. It is also illegal to destroy or disturb the nests of sea turtles. In addition, the eggs of the sea turtle should not be sold or disturbed under any circumstances. At the TPW Commission hearing on Aug. 23, Dr. Michael Forstner of Texas State University told commission members that a study of waters in three counties in South Texas where commercial turtle fishing took place 20 years ago still shows the negative effects of this action. Several studies have shown that collecting certain species of tortoises – box turtles and turtles – for the pet trade has led to population collapses. Kinosternon hirtipes, Texas tortoise Gopherus berlandieri or all the snapping turtle sea turtles alligators are the largest freshwater turtles in the world and can weigh more than 200 pounds with a lifespan of more than 100 years.

Turtles are listed as critically endangered under Texas state law, which strictly prohibits anyone from taking, catching, transporting, or selling these turtles, or attempting to do so. Turtles are also protected by Louisiana state law, which makes it illegal to sell or trade turtles. The Lacey Act makes it a federal crime to engage in interstate trade in wildlife captured in violation of state wildlife laws. Texas changed its regulations in 2007 to prevent freshwater turtles from congregating on public and state lands. However, this has resulted in conservation measures for turtles in only 2.2% of Texas waters. Recent studies have concluded that the current collection of turtles in Texas is probably not sustainable. In Texas, it is illegal to possess the following species of turtles: In 1975, the U.S. government passed regulations with the stated goal of protecting sea turtle eggs, reducing environmental damage, and reducing health risks. In short, this law makes it illegal to sell turtles under 4 inches. Here is the law.

It is illegal to possess an endangered turtle species without a license or permission from the state. Current Texas law allows unlimited collection of four species of native freshwater turtles on private property: Snapping Turtles, Red-eared Pushers, Smooth Softshell Turtles, and Spiny Softshell Turtles. Each state has very specific laws regarding turtles, especially turtle species native to the region, sometimes these laws are specific to a single state and do not apply to other states.