POSSESSION
1. It is unlawful for any person to possess more than ten (10) native fresh-water turtles without a valid commercial turtle permit. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to allow a person holding 10 or less turtles to engage in any commercial enterprise involving native fresh-water turtles.
2. It is unlawful for any person to collect any native fresh-water turtle eggs from the wild.
3. It is unlawful to import live native fresh-water turtles or the eggs of such from another state unless such turtles or eggs were lawfully acquired in accordance with the laws and regulations of that state. A permit is required if the turtles were wild caught. A record of each turtle (source, age category, species, sex if known) must be retained by person receiving. Georgia does not regulate non-native species.
4. The following list of species native to Georgia may not be held as a pet regardless of its origin or morphology: Bog Turtle, Box Turtle (Eastern, Florida, Gulf Coast, Three-toed), Diamondback Terrapin, Gopher Tortoise, Map Turtle (Alabama, Barbour’s, Northern), Any Sea Turtle or Spotted Turtle
TAKING FROM THE WILD
1. There is no closed season for the harvest of freshwater turtles
2. Harvesting turtles from private land, State Parks and Historic Sites or Wildlife Management Areas is prohibited without obtaining written permission or a special trapping permit
COMMERCIAL
1. It is unlawful for any person to possess more than ten (10) native fresh-water turtles without a valid commercial turtle permit
2. Any person holding a valid commercial turtle permit may acquire live native fresh-water turtles from any source or direct trapping, provided that such turtles have been lawfully taken.
3. Any person possessing a commercial turtle permit may not take the following species in numbers greater than the respective limit on an annual basis:
Apalone ferox FloridaSoftshell Turtle 100
Apalone spinifera Spiny Softshell Turtle 100
Chelydra serpentina Common Snapping Turtle 300
Chrysemys picta Painted Turtle 300
Kinosternon baurii Striped Mud Turtle 300
Kinosternon subrubrum Eastern Mud Turtle 300
Pseudemys concinna River Cooter 100
Sternotherus minor Loggerhead Musk Turtle 300
Sternotherus odoratus Common Musk Turtle 300
Trachemys scripta Pond Slider 1,000