1998 Minnesota Statutes

     97C.605 Turtles. 

    Subdivision 1.    License required.  A person may not 
 take, possess, buy, sell, or transport turtles without an 
 angling license.  

    Subd. 2.    Sales license.  A person may not take, 
 possess, transport, or purchase turtles for sale without a 
 turtle seller's license.  A turtle seller's license is not 
 required to buy turtles for retail sale to consumers: 

    (1) at a location licensed by the department of agriculture 
 or health for sale or preparation of food; 

    (2) of a person licensed by the department of agriculture 
 or health for sale or preparation of food; or 

    (3) of a person buying turtle at a retail outlet.  

    Subd. 3.    Taking; methods prohibited.  (a) Except as 
 allowed in paragraph (b), a person may take turtles in any 
 manner, except by use of: 

    (1) explosives, drugs, poisons, lime, and other harmful 
 substances; 

    (2) traps; or 

    (3) nets other than anglers' fish landing nets.  

    (b) A person with a turtle seller's license may take 
 turtles with a floating turtle trap that: 

    (1) has one or more openings above the water surface that 
 measure at least ten inches by four inches; and 

    (2) has a mesh size of not less than one-half inch, bar 
 measure. 

 The commissioner may prescribe additional regulations for taking 
 turtles for sale. 

    Subd. 4.    Artificial lights.  The commissioner may 
 issue permits to take turtles with the use of artificial lights 
 in designated waters.  

    HIST: 1986 c 386 art 3 s 53; 1989 c 266 s 2,3; 1Sp1995 c 1 s 
 43