Reptiles & Amphibians
|
Reptiles/Amphibians Seasons and Limits |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Species |
Season |
Daily Bag Limit |
Possession Limit |
Restrictions |
|
Game turtles |
||||
|
Common Snapping Turtle |
year round |
25* |
50* |
Turtle traps may be used but may not have an opening below the water surface. |
|
Smooth Softshell Turtle |
||||
|
Spiny Softshell Turtle |
||||
|
Game frogs |
||||
|
Bull Frog |
June 15–Apr. 30 |
25* |
50* |
Frogs may be taken with gig or spear with a head not more than 3 inches in width and a single row of tines, long bow and arrow,club, hands alone or pole or hand line with not more than one hook or artificial lure attached. Firearms used for frog hunting are restricted to a .22-caliber firearm loaded with bird shot only. |
|
Green Frog |
||||
|
* Singly or in aggregate, which means the catch limit includes any combination of the species. |
||||
Reptiles and Amphibians
All reptiles and amphibians native to Indiana are protected by law.
Eastern box turtles cannot be collected from the wild at any time.
Species of frogs, lizards, salamanders, snakes, toads or turtles on the state or federal endangered species list may not be collected from the wild at any time.
Species specified as game animals (see table above) may be collected from the wild with a hunting or fishing license.
License holders must obey season dates, bag limits and use legal trapping methods. An individual with a valid hunting or fishing license may take game frog and turtle species from Fish and Wildlife areas where hunting or fishing is authorized.
Non-game reptiles and amphibians may not be taken from any DNR property without a scientific purposes license.
For a list of Indiana’s native species go to: Fishing.IN.gov.
The possession limit for non-endangered non-game species is four, with the exception of the Eastern box turtle.
Collected species may not be sold.
Indiana residents over age 17 must have a valid hunting or fishing license in possession while collecting species of reptiles and amphibians from the wild.
All non-resident adults and most non-resident youth must possess a non-resident annual hunting license.
Legally collected amphibians or reptiles kept in captivity less than 30 days may be released only at their original capture site if they have never been housed with another animal.
Be on the lookout for these salamanders!
If caught, please cut the line, release unharmed, and contact (812) 334-1137.
Hellbenders
- A giant aquatic salamander that can reach 2 ½ feet in length
- Found in the tributaries of the Wabash and Ohio Rivers in Southern Indiana
- Prefer cool, rocky, swiftly flowing streams
- Their presence indicates good water quality
- Feed mainly on crayfish, not fish
- They are NOT venomous
- Their slime is not poisonous
- They have no negative effects on fish populations
- Endangered in Indiana
Mudpuppies
- A large aquatic salamander that can reach 16 inches in length
- Found throughout Indiana
- Live in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams
- Their presence indicates good water quality
- Feed on crayfish, larval insects, and small fish
- They are NOT venomous
- Their slime is not poisonous
- They have no negative effects on fish populations
- Special concern in Indiana
Regulations in red are new this year.
Purple text indicates an important note.
