POSSESSION

1.  Any person while in the act of taking or attempting to take reptiles or possessing reptiles must first possess a hunting license, unless  otherwise exempt, for land-dwelling reptiles (Box Turtles) and a fishing license, unless otherwise exempt, for water-dwelling reptiles.

2.  Oklahoma law does not distinguish between native and non-native turtles. It refers to them only as land turtles or water turtles. It is therefore assumed imported non-native species fall under the same laws.

3.  Terrestrial (land) turtles may not be sold. No aquatic turtles may be sold or purchased without the proper commercial turtle harvester or buyer’s license.

4.  It is unlawful to collect, possess, sell or purchase in Oklahoma, the Alligator Snapping Turtle, the Western Chicken Turtle and the Common Map Turtle.

5.  Box turtles can be collected and possessed for personal use but all commercial trade is prohibited.

6.  Possession limit for any unprotected species is 6 per species

TAKING FROM THE WILD

1.  A fishing license is required to take unprotected aquatic turtles for personal use. They may not be sold. A hunting license is required to take Box Turtles

2.  The taking of the Western Chicken turtle, Common Map turtle and alligator snapping turtle is prohibited

3.  The daily bag and possession limits for each species is 6. There is no closed season for unprotected species.

4.  Turtles may be taken for personal use from all waters except the Wichita Mountains NWR is closed to turtle harvest

5.  All soft-shell turtles greater than 16 inches front to back must be returned to water immediately

6.  Shooting of turtles is prohibited in accordance with Federal Regulations

COMMERCIAL

1.  A commercial turtle harvester license is required for legal water-dwelling turtles if the taking or possession is for commercial purposes. Note: Not all bodies of water are open for commercial harvest. Records are required.

2.  No person may buy, transport out of state or export aquatic turtles from Oklahoma without having applied for and received an aquatic turtle buyer’s license. Records are required.

3.  It is unlawful to commercially take any Box Turtle, Alligator Snapping Turtle Macroclemys temminckii, Chicken Turtle Deirochelys reticularia, Map Turtle Graptemys spp., Painted Turtle Chrysemys ssp., Razor-backed Musk Turtle Sternotherus carinatus, any State and/or Federal threatened or endangered species and any soft shell turtle greater than sixteen (16) inches in length