Reptiles & Amphibians
Reptile and Amphibian Seasons & Limits |
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Species |
Season |
Daily Bag Limit |
Possession Limit |
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Game Turtles |
Eastern Snapping Turtle |
July 1 - March 31 |
4* |
8* |
Smooth Softshell Turtle |
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Spiny Softshell Turtle |
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Restrictions |
Turtle traps may be used, but may not have an opening below the water surface. 12-inch minimum carapace length. |
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Game Frogs |
Green Frog & Bullfrog |
June 15 - |
25* |
50* |
Restrictions |
Frogs may be taken with the following: a gig or spear with a head not more than 3 inches in width and a single row of tines; bow and arrow; club; hands alone; hand line with not more than one hook or artificial lure attached; .22-caliber firearm loaded with bird shot only; or an air rifle that fires a lead pellet (.177 diameter minimum) at least 500 feet per second where legal to use. |
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Reptiles and Amphibians
All reptiles and amphibians native to Indiana are regulated species.
Species of frogs, lizards, salamanders, snakes, toads, or turtles on the state- or federal-endangered species list may not be taken at any time. Eastern box turtles are also protected and cannot be collected from the wild at any time.
The collection limit for native nongame amphibians and reptiles is two per day and four per year (from April 1 through March 31 of the following year) for any one species. The possession limit is four per species.
Eastern snapping, smooth softshell, and spiny softshell turtles can be taken only between July 1 and March 31 of the following year and must be at least 12 inches in carapace length.
Carapace length is the straight-line measure along the top surface of the shell from the central point of the front edge directly behind the turtle’s neck to a central point on the back edge directly above the turtle’s tail.
A license is required to take a reptile or amphibian from the wild (see Reptile/Amphibian Seasons & Limits table for seasons and limits).
Indiana residents older than 17 must possess a valid hunting or fishing license while collecting species of reptiles and amphibians from the wild. All nonresident adults and nonresident youth must possess a nonresident annual hunting license while collecting reptiles and amphibians from the wild.
License holders must obey season dates and bag limits, and use legal methods. An individual with a valid hunting or fishing license may take game frog and game turtle species from a DNR property where hunting or fishing is authorized. Air rifles and firearms cannot be used at state parks.
Other species of reptiles and amphibians may not be taken from any DNR property.
The daily bag limit is 25 for game frog species and four for game turtle species. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.
Reptiles and amphibians collected from the wild in Indiana may not be sold. Only legally collected amphibians or reptiles held for fewer than 30 days may be released at their original capture site if they have never been housed with another animal.
Leave box turtles in the wild!
In Indiana, box turtles are protected, and it is illegal to take them from the wild.
Box turtles don’t make good pets. They can live for several decades and can easily outlive their owner. They are difficult and expensive to care for and cannot legally be released into the wild after being captive. DNR does not accept unwanted box turtles.
Anonymously report any collection or sale of box turtles to the DNR Division of Law Enforcement at
812-837-9536.
on.IN.gov/box-turtle
