97C.605 Turtles. 

    Subdivision 1.    License required.  A person may not 
 take, possess, or transport turtles without an angling license, 
 except as provided in subdivision 2.  

    Subd. 2.    Seller's license.  (a) A person may not 
 take, possess, transport, or purchase turtles for sale without a 
 turtle seller's license, except as provided in this subdivision. 

    (b) A person does not need a turtle seller's license or an 
 angling license: 

    (1) when buying turtles for resale at a retail outlet; 

    (2) when buying a turtle at a retail outlet; or 

    (3) if the person is a nonresident buying a turtle from a 
 licensed turtle seller for export out of state.  Shipping 
 documents provided by the turtle seller must accompany each 
 shipment exported out of state by a nonresident.  Shipping 
 documents must include:  name, address, city, state, and zip 
 code of the buyer; number of each species of turtle; and name 
 and license number of the turtle seller.  

    Subd. 3.    Taking; methods prohibited.  (a) Except as 
 allowed in paragraph (b), a person may take turtles in any 
 manner, except by use of: 

    (1) explosives, drugs, poisons, lime, and other harmful 
 substances; 

    (2) traps; or 

    (3) nets other than anglers' fish landing nets.  

    (b) A person with a turtle seller's license may take 
 turtles with a floating turtle trap that: 

    (1) has one or more openings above the water surface that 
 measure at least ten inches by four inches; and 

    (2) has a mesh size of not less than one-half inch, bar 
 measure. 

 The commissioner may prescribe additional regulations for taking 
 turtles for sale. 

    Subd. 4.    Artificial lights.  The commissioner may 
 issue permits to take turtles with the use of artificial lights 
 in designated waters.  

    HIST: 1986 c 386 art 3 s 53; 1989 c 266 s 2,3; 1Sp1995 c 1 s 
 43; 2000 c 495 s 44,45