Frog & Turtle Regulations

Reptiles and amphibians may not be taken by shooting, except green frogs and bullfrogs which may be taken with archery equipment.

Frog Season

Frog season is open from 6 p.m. on June 13, 2025 (the second Friday in June) through April 30, 2026. Only bullfrogs and green frogs may be taken. No more than 15 (singly or in combination) may be taken or possessed in any one day. Bullfrogs and green frogs may be taken by any method except:

• By shooting, except with archery equipment;
• A foothold or body-gripping trap;
• Deleterious or stupefying substances;
• Chemicals;
• Smoke;
• Explosives.

Turtle Season

Turtle season is open July 1 through December 31, 2025. Only snapping and softshell turtles may be legally taken. Snapping turtles and softshell turtles must have a straight-line carapace length of 11 inches or greater to be taken, and there is no daily limit. A turtle trap must be marked with the name and address or customer identification number of the owner or user. All traps must be checked once every 24 hours.

It is illegal to take, collect, or possess the eggs of snapping turtles or softshell turtles from Ohio lands or waters.

How to Measure a Straight-Line carapace length.

Snapping turtles and softshell turtles may be taken by any method except:

• By shooting;
• Turtle traps having mesh measuring less than 4 inches on a side, unless such traps are provided with an escape ring of at least 6 inches in diameter leading out of the trap and held open at all times;
• Turtle traps placed in water having wings or leads;
• A foothold or body-gripping trap;
• Deleterious or stupefying substances;
• Chemicals;
• Smoke;
• Explosives.