1501:31-13-05 Turtle and frog regulations.

(A) Throughout the state, except at Pymatuning lake, it shall be unlawful for any person to take bullfrogs or greenfrogs, snapping turtles or softshell turtles from May first to six p.m. on the second Friday of June each year.

(B) Throughout the state, it shall be unlawful for any person to take, possess or transport, bullfrogs , greenfrogs, snapping turtles or softshell turtles which have been taken in Ohio from May first to six p.m. on the second Friday of June each year.

(D) It shall be unlawful for any person to take more than ten bullfrogs or greenfrogs in any one day, or have in possession more than ten bullfrogs or greenfrogs taken from Ohio. This does not include those purchased out of state that are accompanied with a bill of lading at any time except as provided for Pymatuning reservoir, or as provided in rule 1501:31-25-04 of the Administrative Code.

(E) It shall be unlawful for any person to buy or sell bullfrogs or greenfrogs taken from Ohio. However, bullfrogs or greenfrogs that have been shipped from outside Ohio that are accompanied by a bill of lading may be bought and sold, persons possessing a permit issued under authority of section 1533.71 of the Revised Code may sell bullfrogs or greenfrogs taken from ponds or lakes they own or lease as a wholly enclosed preserve.

(F) Persons selling bullfrogs or greenfrogs under authority of this section shall record each sale, listing date of the sale, number sold and the name and address of the person to whom they were sold. These records shall be available for inspection by any division of wildlife employee during reasonable daytime hours.

(G) Legally acquired snapping and softshell turtles may be bought for consumption as food. All persons raising and/or selling snapping and softshell turtles for purposes other than consumption as food must obtain a permit as required under section 1533.71 of the Revised Code.

(1) Persons buying, selling, bartering, trading or giving away snapping or softshell turtles for food consumption must keep accurate records and retain them for five years, which include:

(a) The taxa and number of snapping and softshell turtles sold, purchased, traded, bartered or given away.

(b) The complete name and address of the person from whom or to whom the snapping or softshell turtle where purchased, sold, bartered or given.

(H) It shall be unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take snapping and softshell turtles by shooting, except with longbow and arrow.

(I) It shall be unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take snapping and softshell turtles with a steel or spring trap.

(J) It shall be unlawful for any person to set, use or maintain a turtle trap having any mesh measuring less than four inches on a side; however, traps may be constructed with square mesh less than four inches when such traps are provided with an escape ring of at least six inches in diameter leading out of the trap and such escape ring is held open at all times to permit the escape of fish.

(K) It shall be unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take turtles by means of a trap having wings or leads.

(L) All reference to bullfrogs, greenfrogs, snapping and softshell turtles in this rule shall be defined as;

Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

Greenfrog (Rana clamitans)

Snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina)

Spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera spinifera)

Smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica mutica)

(M) All definitions set forth in rule 1501:31-1-02 of the Administrative Code shall apply to this rule.

Effective: 07/01/2009

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 01/30/2009 and 06/30/2014

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10

Rule Amplifies: 1531.06, 1531.08, 1531.10

Prior Effective Dates: 2-27-75; 6-1-79; 6-1-84; 4-17-89; 3-1-00; 2-1-02; 1-1-04, 11-24-08